IASL ANNUAL REPORT 2007

Report submitted by the International Development Special Interest Group, Co-ordinator, Gerald Brown
Please direct any communication in response to this report to the SIG - International Development Co-ordinator.

Major accomplishments for IASL:

The following activities have been undertaken within the objectives of the SIG, and in relation to the Mission of IASL

Objective 1: To identify areas of expertise available among the membership for school library development projects

  • Mentorship activities have been carried on with Katharine Berg (Brazil), Rose Dotten (Canada) and Angel Leung (Hong Kong) with respect to their role and work as Regional Directors and the SIG-ID.
  • Bahamas. Communications to connect an adopt-a-school project
  • Canada. Canadian College of Teachers. Assisted with jury for the Croskery Award for Leadership in Education
  • Canada. Canadian Library Association. World Libraries Interest Group – provided input on tsunami funds for Sri Lanka, assisted with conference program suggestions, shared IASL promotional material and conference details
  • Canada. Manitoba. Assisted with arrangements for a workshop with Dr. Dianne Oberg on “Focus on Inquiry”
  • Canada. Ontario. Recommendation of Stephen Heppell as conference 2007 speaker
  • IASL. Updated SIG Contact List for leadership personnel in developing countries
  • India. Provided samples of research and problem-solving model folders for student use
  • India. Nagaland. Recommendations for facilities planning and funding
  • Philippines. Worked in collaboration with staff at University of North Eastern Philippines to develop and present workshops on “Reading”, ISLD,“Young Adult Literature”, and “Problem-solving models” for use with the Faculty, and in regional workshops with school and public library personnel
  • Philippines. Manila. Workshop planning, collaboration and networking
  • Sri Lanka. Assisted with a research proposal on rural literacy initiatives

Objective 2: To identify partners who need assistance in applying for grants (or similar funding) for projects, which fall within the objectives of IASL.

  • Shared Credential Equivalency Criteria for International workers to Canada as developed by the Canadian Library Association
  • Canada. Nominated individuals for awards in CSLA, and other educational associations
  • Kenya. Assisted with Study Tour Travel Options in Canada following the World Urban Forum held in Vancouver

Objective 3: To function in a consultative capacity to members in general with relation to grants, matching expertise, or communication issues

  • Bolivia. Shared newsletter material from former regional director Gloria Hall, 91-95 and assisted in appeals for funding for school development projects
  • Canada. Promoted IASL at the joint conference of CADE (Canadian Association for Distance Education) and AMTEC (Association for Media and Technology in Education in Canada) at their conference in Winnipeg in May
  • Canada. Manitoba. Distributed information about and from the Manitoba School Library listserv “Schlib” as appropriate to the membership, and with special attention to School Libraries and the application of technology, Facilities, Resources
  • Canada. Manitoba. Represented IASL at a joint research symposium with University of Manitoba, Canadian College of Teachers and Phi Delta Kappa at University of Manitoba on “Building Scholarly Communities”
  • Canada. Ontario. Encouraged distribution of IASL conference brochures at the Ontario Libraries Superconference, in Toronto, Ontario in January
  • Canada. Saskatchewan. Assisted in promoting IASL at the SSLA conference in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan through distribution of program brochures
  • Canada. Distributed copies of the 2006 Conference Proceedings CD to all institutions providing teacher librarianship training in Canada
  • Canada. Ontario. Distributed article from Elizabeth Noble regarding state of school library development in Ontario, Canada
  • IASL. Worked collaboratively with the Membership Committee with ideas and comments on developmental programs
  • Laos. Commented on research questions for use in Information Literacy research projects with secondary school students
  • Malaysia. Distributed information about the Fellowship Training Program that is available to developing countries
  • Malta. A letter of congratulations and offer of support was provided to Dr. Paris on her appointment as Dean for the School of Library Science in Malta.
  • Papua New Guinea. Distributed information about call for papers for the Council of Educational Advisors Conference in PNG in 2008 (with a special appeal for school library leaders to respond)
  • PNG. A letter of sympathy was extended to the family of Daniel Paraide, former recipient of the Leadership development Award 1988, who passed away suddenly this winter.
  • Thailand. Assisted with research feedback on Information Literacy projects
  • Ukraine. Presentations will be made at the Fourteenth International Conference “Crimea 2007” on the theme “Libraries and Information Resources in the Modern World of Science, Culture, ducation and Business” in Sudak, Crimea, Ukraine from 09-17 June. IASL will be amply promoted to this group.
  • Zimbabwe. Distributed progress report and appeal from Jackson Ndlov.

Objective 4. Identify resources to meet individual and group needs

  • Canada. Assisted local aboriginal writers to connect with publishing agents
  • Canada. BC. Langley. Assisted in promoting publication “Library Information Skills: Survival Guide”
  • Canada. BC. North Vancouver. Promoted publication “Libraries, Literacy and Literature in the Information Age”
  • International Information Literacy Resource Directory. Submitted several documents from workshops and seminars with IASL leadership and participants
  • Malta. Continued to provide professional periodicals from local sources and memberships to the School of Library Science at University of Malta.
  • It has been a pleasure to work with Dr. Fran Luther on the organization of the Locally-Produced Materials display and bibliography.

Surveys to assess local needs and response to programs

  1. Conducted, analyzed, edited and distributed a Survey of 268 individuals and associations around the world to identify issues of importance for international development. Copies of the report have been shared with all members of the Board and Executive, and will be distributed widely to membership and survey respondents. Recommendations will be brought forward to the Board in Taiwan.
  2. Conducted, analyzed, edited and reported on a Survey of 36 registered participants in a UNESCO-IFLA Bangkok Workshop on Information Literacy in Schools. This was a follow-up survey to identify how the materials and ideas from the workshop have been used or adapted by the participants. This report has been shared with all the participants and organizers in the original workshop. It has also been shared with IASL Board and Executive, as a possible tool to be considered to evaluate some of the long term implementation following IASL conferences.

Auction

While this is not a part of this SIG responsibilities, it needs to be noted that the organization and operation of the Auction takes the time and energy of many people. Their work is greatly appreciated. Letters of thanks have been written to each volunteer expressing the appreciation of IASL for their support

Meetings of Note

  1. Opportunity, at no cost to IASL, to meet personally with the colleagues in Philippines and Ukraine were undertaken this year.
  2. Numerous E mail communications are handled on a daily basis for the association related to this SIG

Current Concerns

  1. Costs to attend the conference are relative prohibitive for individuals from developing countries.
  2. The Leadership Development Award must cover a greater amount of the travel costs for the recipient.
  3. Assistance in identify sources for funding for distance education programs for members or potential members in developing countries is important.
  4. Electronic access is often impossible for many people in developing countries. IASL must provide other options to assist them in understanding what they need to do to overcome these issues.
  5. There is a need for IASL to establish POLICIES that tell the world what IASL stands for, and what the membership believes. The following are some of the areas that need attention, according to feedback from the general membership:
    • Glossary of definitions that are accepted across the profession
    • Terminology for differentiated school library staffing patterns
    • Job classifications to match the above staffing patterns
    • Educational requirements recommended to meet these job classifications
    • Guidelines for the Components of a Quality School Library and Information Services Program
    • Information Literacy and its implications for School Librarianship
    • Information Literacy and its implications for School Administrators
    • Information Literacy and its implications for Parents
    • Evidence-based practice and its implications for program funding
    • Methods of assessment for school library programs
    • Methods of assessment for school library personnel

Recommendations

  1. That Ad Hoc Committees be established, with international representation, to address each of the above POLICY matters, and that the general membership be kept apprized of the progress of the committees.
  2. That the results of the Exhibit of Locally Producted Materials arranged by the Publications Dissemination Committee be shared widely among the membership as soon as possible after the onference.
  3. That the Vice Presidents, Co-ordinators of Special Interest Groups and other Leaders be invited to examine the Survey results noted in item 5.2 above, and that they be encouraged to bring forward practical implementation proposals for budget consideration by the Board, or that the ideas otherwise be implemented as soon as possible.

Last updated 10 July 2007