Special Interest Group - International Development

PIALA CONFERENCE -- 17 to 21 November 2008
HAWAII, GUAM, YAP, PALAU, POHNPEI, CHUUK, KOSRAE, SAIPAN, MARSHALL ISLANDS, AMERICAN SAMOA

These countries are part of the Micronesia region of the South Pacific which lies south of The Philippines, East of Papua New Guinea, and north of Australia. Each country has its own library association, and they all work together for an annual conference and other co-ordinated professional development events. This year the conference was organized and held in YAP, Federated States of Micronesia.

Saipan delegation
Saipan delegation with Glenn Wakai (Hawaii)

Palau delegation
Palau delegation

Hawaii delegation
Hawaii delegation

Guam delegation
Guam delegation

The theme for the conference was “New Beginnings: The Library as an Information and Resource Basket”. The title is significant since most people in the region weave and use baskets of various sizes to carry their personal effects much as other people would use purses, suitcases or shopping bags. They are very practical and inexpensive tools. Gerald Brown was the keynote speaker. As the Honorary Ambassador for International Association of School Librarianship, he brought a global perspective to the theme, by emphasizing the importance of “People” as the main ingredient in any leadership and resource basket. Later in the conference, he also lead workshops on Collaborating with your (School) Administrator, on the Role of IASL, and on assisted in a session on Technical Services for the Beginning Librarian. In addition, consultations were held with the Superintendent of Education for YAP, the Principal of Yap High School along with the library and computer education staff, the Librarian and Administration of the College of Micronesia Yap Campus, and also with the staff in a small rural school. A short training session was also undertaken with some Peace Corps Volunteers who were destined to work in libraries in smaller schools.

Chuuk delegation
Chuuk delegation

American Samoa delegation
American Samoa delegation

Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL), a resource centre funded by US Office of Education is providing outstanding support and leadership in the region. Presentations on PREL’s material, electronic and human resources available, on access to subscription services, guidance on grant writing projects, and Internet Literacy for Librarians were significant features of the conference. Jane Barnwell and her staff are to be highly commended for their leadership, nurturing and support for colleagues in the region. The PREL website has a wealth of resources in its basket too.

Following the close of the conference, PREL provided a specially funded workshop on Grant Writing. Comments from participants praised the scope and depth of the training, and were optimistic in their new skills to put together proposals for consideration.

At various times during the conference, presentations on the state of libraries, on programs currently successful, on innovative practices, and on the results of applications of funded professional development were given by representatives from each of the PIALA component countries. They were exciting commentaries on ‘the resourcefulness of individuals in meeting local needs, and in their ability to network across large distances. There is a need to get the Proceedings completed soon, and to have them distributed both in print and electronically. Ruth Horie from University of Hawaii has undertaken this task.

PIALA president
Incoming Piala President, Aratino Helieisar (Pohnpei) with delegates

School librarian
Local rural elementary school librarian with Isabel Rungrad, State Librarian

The social and cultural events of the week were superb. The food was delicious; the weather always warm (with rains and wind only at night); and the local people friendly and helpful. Swimming, diving and snorkeling were also readily available. This was a fine opportunity for revitalization of ones vision and perspective. Heartiest commen-dation to the organizers, and to all the presenters. You did yourselves proud !!

First lady and banguet
First Lady (left) with her daughter enjoy the tradtional foods banquet with delegates

Marshall Island delegates
Marshall Island delegates performed a dance in honor of MH national day

I am appreciative of the individuals and agencies that made it possible for me to attend and participate in this conference. I hope I will have an opportunity to do so again in the near future through particularly focused staff development sessions, in collaboration with the University of Guam, PREL, and each of the local organizations of PIALA.

Contact for PIALA is President, Atarina A. Helieisar, Chief Law Librarian, FSM Supreme Court, National Government.

Chuuk Library Association (CLA)
Lynn Sipenk, President
Federated States of Micronesia  96942

Guam Library Association (GLA)
R.A. Meyer, President
E mail: rameyerguam@gmail.com
(Elementary school librarian)

Kosrae State
Aaron Sigrah, Head Librarian

Marshall Islands
Sistina Elbon, President
Marshall Islands Library Association (MILA)

Palau Library Association
TBA

Pohnpei
Bruce E. Robert, President
Libraries, Archives, Museums of Pohnpei (LAMP)
Federated States of Micronesia  96941

YAP State Library Association
President – Isabel Rungrad, Yap State Librarian

Respectfully submitted, Gerald R. Brown
Winnipeg, Manitoba
2008.12.08

Last updated 16 December 2008 (KSB)