Member Profile

Each month the IASL web site features an IASL member. The member can be an individual, association or institution.

Member profile for March 2008 - Katharina B.L. Berg

Katharina Berg

My life as a librarian started when my son had almost finished his education and more time was available. The years at the University of Oregon, as a Political Science student, were not enough to get a job so I decided to go back to school. As a German born, US naturalized citizen living in Brazil, my degree from an international school had to be revalidated before qualifying for the University of Sao Paulo entrance exams. It took almost two years: learning my lessons each morning by watching television and taking tests every three months. This mix of distance learning and home schooling (developed, supported and aired by the foundation of a Brazilian television network) was of an impressive quality and sound pedagogical basis. Some of the most renowned Brazilian educators collaborated with actors to teach using all of the audio visual resources available. I became very involved and excited about the alternatives to book learning, passed the exams and after four years received my degree as a librarian. My focus then and now is on “information literacy” and the impact of ICT on education.

After having worked at international and private schools and also organized public library systems, I am today a consultant to school libraries, introducing educators to new medias, information skills and collaborative planning. Multiple intelligences (Howard Gardner), Teaching for Understanding (David Perkins), Transdisciplinarity ( Edgar Morin) and ‘Three Worlds” (Karl Popper) are my very special interests. At the moment I am organizing a workshop “Dancing in the Library”, gathering information on small NGO community libraries as substitutes for school libraries, planning a school library seminar and returning to academic life.

On a trip to Europe, I decided to make an “IASL Stopover” in Dublin, which led the way to a trip and presentation in Hong Kong as well as nomination to the opening of the Latin America and Caribbean Director. It is very exciting to travel around the world, join people with the same interests and different cultures and backgrounds and share with them.

My first challenge as IASL Director is to promote the school library professionals especially here in Brazil. This year a local conference is being planned for Sao Paulo, Brazil and hopefully it will result in the consolidation of a national school librarian association. I also am working towards a greater integration of Portuguese and Spanish speaking professionals and more translations for non English speaking members.

I am lucky that my profession is my hobby.

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Last updated 6 March 2008 (KSB)