Tania Libertad Matute Izaguirre's testimonial

My name is Tania Libertad Matute Izaguirre, I am from San Pedro Sula Honduras, and I work at the Pedagogical National University Francisco Morazán (UPNFM) in Academic library since 2007.

This was my first experience in this International Librarian Networking Program, for me has been a challenges because I had to communicated in other language (English) with my partner Georgia from Trinidad y Tobago but It was good for me, helped me to practice and developed more this skill.

My experience in this program had been great, allowed me to learn about my partner’s work also I could know about her library. In this times of COVID 19, have been difficult for everyone, as librarians we had to work hard more to continue offer library services in a virtual mode and generate biosecurity protocols for the reopening of libraries, with my colleague, we share this experiences and the way our libraries have handled these times of quarantine due to the pandemic.

I glad to have been part of this program.

Sarah N. Ogembo's testimonial

My partner for this networking session was Nondumiso Nzama from South Africa. A Bachelor’s Degree holder, she started her career path by volunteering at the community library, and the Durban Natural Science Museum. Her personal interests which include, but are not limited to, reading, visiting art exhibitions and museums and travelling contributed to passion for the profession. In South Africa, the National Library has two branches, while the municipality library where she works has 92 libraries. In her observation, the value of libraries, and what librarians do is not highlighted or emphasized as should be.

She loves children, and outreach services to them make her happy. She aims to inculcate a reading culture at the earliest possible opportunity. Sadly, some companies, organizations and institutions in South Africa do not recognize Bachelor of Information Science as full library qualification, and one is expected to compliment that with a postgraduate degree, or another Bachelor’s Degree in Technology.

Nondumiso is a perfectionist, and her attention to detail is crucial especially for her target audience. In South Africa, as is the case in many African countries, the use of technology in the library is not where it should be, and this is one of the areas that she hopes to improve, through resource mobilization. Her passion to the profession has seen her network and benchmark with the Research Data Management Librarians Academy, and the Library and Information Association of South Africa whose websites are a rich source of information. It was an honor to share experiences with a brilliant light in the profession, who is greatly committed to make changes in the lives of people through information and knowledge management.   

Beatrice Ampadu's testimonial

Being part of the International Librarians Networking Program has really helped me. I have the opportunity to learn from my colleague in terms of some of the work ethics and also the ability to keep learning no matter what. The networking with my colleague through WhatsApp and email allowed us to share stories of our career motivated and facilitates a smooth transfer of the knowledge.

I have gain experience by reinforcing my skills and which has again improve my work. New ways of doing thing that offers me the ability to complete basic work tasks on our own. It serves as a refresher programs with problem-solving sessions that each of us have in our various work environment. This made us to discuss best practice in mitigating the challenges.

Through exchange ideas from my colleague, I have a new skills on some library software that will make me more efficient and capable of handling different responsibilities and challenges. Having has this opportunity through this program, my colleague is vest in library software and assisting me to apply this skills to aid me organise the library material.

Yusuf Ganyana's testimonial

I wish to take this opportunity to thank you all for the opportunity to participate in this program.

The highlight has been the quality of the people I got to journey with, Caroline and April were two amazing librarians from Kenya and Canada respectively. Thanks to them, there was a lot to learn and take away especially in the digital literacy space. Through them, I was able to start Laibu Mkononi (Swahili for "a library on the palm of your hand" Twitter: @LMkononi) program which seeks to empower vulnerable children between 6-13 years with devices preloaded with quality educational content, storybooks, educational videos, and games so that they can continue to learn during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

IRRT gave us a very different type of approach to network and share ideas, which I find has more impact. It presented an opportunity to compare notes and talk about best practices in and out of the library environment, with thought-provoking content that I am sure will continue after this program.

Mulugeta Woldetsadik's testimonial

Mulugeta wrote the post "Testimonial about My Experience In the International Librarians Networking Program" on his blog sharing his experience in the International Librarians Networking Program.

Click here to read the article.

Article about ALA Emerging Leaders program in American Libraries magazine

An article about the Emerging Leaders program was just published in the American Libraries publication. Meet Group E participants who are managing the International Librarians Networking Program.

Link to the article:

https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2020/05/01/emerging-leaders-2020/

March issue of IRRT’s International Leads

The latest issue of International Leads (March 2020) is now available on the International Relations Round Table website.
 
Included in the issue is the 2020 ALA Emerging Leaders group working with IRRT.

Link to March issue of IRRT’s International Leads:
http://www.ala.org/rt/sites/ala.org.rt/files/content/intlleads/leadsarchive/202003.pdf