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June 20, 2007

International Librarianship

Posted on behalf of Lisa Coats--

On June 14th the Reference Section presented a program hosted by Monmouth University Library. It was attended by 26 people including librarians from public, medical, special and academic libraries, as well as a few library science students.

After a networking session over coffee, Lisa Coats, a Librarian at MU Library and a member of the Reference Section, gave a tour of the library. Part of the beautiful building was originally a summer ‘cottage’ designed for Murry and Leonie Guggenheim in 1903 and completed in 1905. Leonie passed away in 1959 (Murry died in 1939) and the estate was conveyed to then Monmouth College in 1960. Some modifications were made to convert the home into a library and it was dedicated as the Murry and Leonie Guggenheim Memorial Library on September 24, 1961. In 1978 it was entered into the National Register of Historic Places.

Years later, after the completion of a 14 million dollar restoration and renovation project completed in 2005, the mansion is finally more equipped to house a university collection, while maintaining much of the original structure for administrative, circulation, and reference space. It is now known as the Monmouth University Library, though many of the offices, study rooms and the Library Café are considered part of the “Guggenheim Wing”.

The tour concluded in the Instructional Lab where Dr. Ravindra Sharma, the Dean of MU Library, spoke on the development of international librarianship and its importance in the twenty-first century. Dr. Sharma began his talk by giving a brief introduction on the beginning of libraries and presented the history of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). He also espoused on his visits to libraries in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Mexico, Northern Ireland, and France. Dr. Sharma encouraged the attendees to get involved with IFLA, read and write for journals on international librarianship, and to urge the American Library Association (ALA) to focus more on librarianship outside of the United States. He entertained questions at the end of his talk and joined the group for lunch where he continued the discussion.

The NJLA Reference Section would like to thank Dr. Sharma for speaking and for hosting this successful event.

Posted by reference at June 20, 2007 4:26 PM

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