Symposium on Area Studies Librarianship

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Symposium on Area Studies Librarianship

• Global Librarianship
• Atifa Rawan
• July 14, 2006

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Overview

• The term Global Librarianship, area studies
  librarianship, and international librarianship
  have been used interchangeably.
• Specialized field - an area of commitment on the
  part of libraries, research communities and
  individuals

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Impacting Factors1. Changing composition of
the population around the world.
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2. Technology and mass media is bringing worlds
communities much closer
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3. Internationl migration, as part of the
transnational revolution, is reshaping socieities
and politics around the world

• .

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Population Changes Ethnic Groups in the United
States

• The United States is a very diverse country
  racially.
• The United States has 31 ethnic groups out of its
  299,159,770 millions population
• Ethnic groups are united by common cultural,
  behavioral, linguistic, or religious practices.
• An ethnic group is also a cultural community

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Languages Spoken in the US

• Approximately 336 languages are spoken by the
  population.
• Over 30 million Americans, 12 of the population,
  speak Spanish as a first or second language,
• Chinese, mostly of the Cantonese variety, is the
  third largest language spoken in the United
  States
• French, the fourth largest foreign language
  followed by German, Italian, Polish, Greek,
  Russian, and other languages.

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Trends/Issues

• Growing body of data

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Transformations

• Countries that were previously off-bounds to US
  scholars have undergone fundamental
  transformations and, as a consequence, have
  become more accessible

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Archives that were closed are now available
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Changes have placed new and differing demands and
challenges on area specialists

• Obtaining affiliation and clearance
• Health problems
• Political instability
• Economic instability
• Security

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Responsibilities of Area Librarians

• Variety of activities and responsibilities are
  carried by area librarians such as
• cataloging and preservation
• reference and teaching
• involvement in cooperative programs
• focused on new networking and technology
  developments
• committed to their own professional development
  and service

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Competencies/Qualifications Required

• Knowledge of foreign languages and culture
• Subject and area expertise
• Knowledge of area studies and familiarity with
  variety of subject areas
• Computer literate
• Grant-writing and fund raising skills
• Management and cross-cultural communication
  skills
• Diplomatic skills

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Library Rebuilding in Afghanistan A Case Study

• I made six trips to Afghanistan since April 2002
  with funding from
• The Asia Foundation
• Private Donors
• International Arid Lands Consortium
• (IALC) Sustainable Development of
• Drylands Project via a Cooperative
• Agreement with USAID
• Washington State University/USAID

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What I Have Accomplished to Date

• Library Assessments at various libraries mostly
  in Kabul
• Developed collection policies
• Developed partnerships relationships with
  officials and key players in Afghanistan and
  outside of Afghanistan
• Secured funding
• Provided staff training
• Digital Library initiatives
• Creation of an Integrated Library System
• Completed several presentations and short
  articles.
• Close communications with officials in
  Afghanistan and other organizations and
  institutions abroad.
• Grant proposals

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University of Kabul Campus and surroundings 2002
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Higher Education System 1978-2001

• 25 years of wars and devastation
• 1994 the entire system especially in Kabul was
  gutted with only handful of male students left in
  the department of religious students and College
  of Medicine
• 1998 even the department of religion was closed
• 2002, the university system reopened to students
  with no or limited facilities and resources such
  as labs, libraries, etc.

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Kabul University Library 2002
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Damaged Libraries and Books Polytechnic
Library- April 2002
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Books Donated and Received at Kabul University
Library in 2003
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University of Education Library staff and faculty
training - 2003
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Kabul University in June 2004
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Created the first academic electronic library in
Afghanistan in 2004

• Remodeled and refurbished a facility in the
  College of Agriculture, Kabul University.
• Purchased computers and equipment.
• Installed and acquired critical electronic
  resources.
• Established a partnership relationship with other
  international and national organizations.
• Made the arrangements with university officials
  and hired and trained field coordinators.

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Library checkout desk before remodeling
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First Step Cleaning the Room
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Staff helping out with shopping
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Second Step Painting the Room
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Hanging the Drapes Made for the Room
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Electrical Wiring for Internet Access
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Students organizing and sorting books
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The Agricultural Electronic Library Ready for
Opening
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The Grand Opening Ceremony-Ribbon Cutting by
Minister Fayez
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Student Making Speech at Grand Opening
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Atifa with students who worked organizing and
cleaning books
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Medial Library Project Collaboration with
Canadian Institutions

• In October/November of 2003, I trained library
  staff and purchased supplies and equipments.
• In 2003, I started working with Dr. Richard
  Gordon, professor of Radiology at the University
  of Manitoba, and his students on collecting books
  for the library. Richard Gordon initiated the
  The Kabul Medical Library Project.
• In the fall of 2003, Dr. Gordon and his student
  volunteers at University of Manitoba began a
  nationwide campaign to collect monetary and
  textbook donations, from medical libraries,
  private organizations, physicians, teachers,
  professors, and community supporters.

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Cont.

• The Canadian military delivered about 1,700
  reference textbooks (400 boxes) in June 2004 to
  the library of the Medical Science University in
  Kabul while I was there for this event.
• The book trucks arrived on June 23, 2004 and
  officials from the Canadian Embassy, the Canadian
  Forces, the Chancellor of Kabul Medical Science
  University, and other administrators all
  celebrated this momentous occasion.
• In the next couple of days, I worked with the
  medical library staff and volunteers and
  organized and unpacked these books. I also
  provided further training to the library staff.
  See Dr. Gordons web page for more information at
  about this project at- http//www.umanitoba.ca/fac
  ulties/medicine/radiology/stafflist/rgordon.html

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Kabul Medical University Building
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Canadian Force Delivering Books to Kabul Medical
Science University
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Unloading the truck
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Dr. Cheragh Ali with Lt. Colonel Carl Walker,
Task Force Kabul Surgeon and Commanding Officer
for the Canadian Military Hospital in Kabul, Lt.
Gaudet , Canadian Forces, Mr, Nabi, the Head of
Library
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Lt. Gaudet, Dr. Cheragh Ali and Atifa
Certificate presented to Dr. Cheragh Ali by Lt.
Gaudet
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Kabul Medical Institute Donated Books
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Medical Library Staff Access to the Internet
May 2005
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Digital Libraries Afghanistan Academic Library
Initiatives Since 2005

• 2005-Invitation to participate in Digital
  Libraries Alliance (DLA), as part of Afghan
  e-Quality Alliances 21st Century Universities
  for Afghanistan Initiative. Both Yan Han (UA
  Systems Librarian) and I have traveled twice to
  Afghanistan with funding from the
  USAID/Washington State University. DLA goals in
  Afghanistan
• Build capacity for libraries and librarians
• Work with open source digital libraries platforms
• Provide and enhance access to scholarly
  information resources
• Open content that all of Afghanistan higher
  education institutions can benefit from

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Integrated Library System
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ILS Sample Page
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On Going Efforts1. Formation of a library group
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Current Ongoing efforts

• 2. Proposal to create a library school program
  and curriculum
• 3. Working with SIRLS in developing online
  courses for undergraduate Library Science program
  at Kabul University
• 4. Continuation of Digital Libraries efforts
• 5. NEH proposal to digitize grey literature
  during jihad period at Afghanistan Center at
  Kabul University

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Other Activities

• Learning more about other NGOs and international
  organizations roles and activities in Afghanistan
  and keeping contact with them.
• Representing the University of Arizona
  Presenting Dr. Nuristani his doctoral honorary
  plague on behalf of the University of Arizona

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Keeping up with current social and political
situation in the country

• City of Kabul Market Place
• School Children in Kabul

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Global Librarianship is all about Broader
Understanding of our World and Making a Difference