OCLC names IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellows for 2008

DUBLIN, Ohio, USA,  20 August 2007 —OCLC, along with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the American Theological Library Association, and OCLC PICA, today announced the IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellows for 2008.

The 2008 IFLA/OCLC Fellows were named by Jay Jordan, OCLC President and CEO, at a news conference during the IFLA World Library and Information Congress: 73rd IFLA General Conference and Council in Durban, South Africa. The 2008 Fellows are:

• Ms. Hanan Erhif, Information Specialist, Moroccan Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, Rabat, Morocco
• Mr. Atanu Garai, Online Networking Specialist, Globethics.net, New Delhi, India
• Mr. Kamal Kumar Giri, Library Officer, Ministry of Water Resources, Gulmi, Nepal
• Ms. Sarah Kaddu Birungi, Librarian, National Library of Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
• Ms. Cyrill Walters, Librarian (Music Specialist), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa

The IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellowship Program supports library and information science professionals from countries with developing economies. The Fellowship program provides advanced continuing education and exposure to a broad range of issues in information technologies, library operations and global cooperative librarianship. Since its inception in 2001, the program has welcomed 38 librarians and information science professionals from 26 countries.

"We are thrilled with the quality and the diversity of this year's class," said Mr. Jordan. "We have not had Nepal, Uganda, or Morocco represented in the program before.  As I always tell the Fellows during their first week on our campus, we will learn more from them than they will learn from us, and I know that we are going to learn a great deal from this year's class."

During the five-week program, which will run from April 27 through May 31, 2008, the Fellows will participate in lectures, seminars and mentoring. Four weeks will be based at OCLC headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, USA, and one week will be based at OCLC PICA in Leiden, Netherlands. Topics and issues include information technologies and their impact on libraries, library operations and management, and global cooperative librarianship.

Visits to selected North American and European libraries, library organizations, and cultural heritage institutions provide an opportunity for Fellows to meet leading practitioners and discuss real-world solutions to the challenges facing libraries today. By observing an OCLC Members Council meeting, the Fellows gain insight into issues affecting global library cooperation and are exposed to the governance of a global library cooperative.

Fellows turn their learning and experiences into specific professional development plans that guide their continued growth as well as their personal contributions to their home institutions and country of origin.

"The achievements of the Fellows have been staggering," noted Mr. Jordan.  "Several are now working on their PhDs at universities from Malaysia to Pakistan to Missouri. Others are teaching future librarians, sharing their lessons. And one Fellow is rebuilding the war-ravaged archives of his home country."

The selection committee for the 2008 Fellowship program included:  Barbara Kemmis, American Theological Library Association; Sjoerd Koopman, IFLA; Janet Lees, OCLC PICA; Nancy Lensenmayer, OCLC; George Needham, OCLC; Norma Read, University of Cape Town, South Africa; and Barbara Schleihagen, German Library Association, Berlin, Germany.

The list of program sponsors now includes OCLC, IFLA, the American Theological Library Association, and OCLC PICA.  The organizations that sponsor the Fellowship program are seeking additional sponsorships from other interested organizations.  More information is available from George Needham, Vice President, OCLC Member Services at needhamg@oclc.org.

Application information for the 2009 Fellowship Program is available on the OCLC Web site < http://www.oclc.org/community/careerdevelopment/fellows/default.htm>.

About OCLC
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, USA, OCLC Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing information costs. More than 60,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories around the world use OCLC services including cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent and preservation services. OCLC and its worldwide member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, making it the world’s largest and richest database of bibliographic information.  For more information, visit <www.oclc.org>.

About IFLA
Founded in Edinburgh in September 1927 during the International Congress of Libraries (the 50th Anniversary Conference of the British Library Association), IFLA <www.ifla.org> was established as a small association of mainly national library associations and academic libraries. Today, IFLA's purpose is to promote international understanding, cooperation, discussion, research and development in all fields of library activity, including bibliography, information services and the education of personnel, and provide a body through which librarianship can be represented in matters of international interest.

About ATLA
Established in 1946, the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) is a professional association of more than 900 individual, institutional, and affiliate members providing programs, products, and services in support of theological and religious studies libraries and librarians. ATLA's ecumenical and international membership represents many religious traditions and denominations.  For more information visit <www.atla.com>.

About OCLC PICA
As the European library cooperative, OCLC PICA <http://www.oclcpica.org/> offers a broad range of leading edge, high-tech solutions for professionals and end users of academic and public libraries, information centres of the government and health sector, museums, archives and other cultural institutions. Thousands of users daily rely on OCLC PICA systems and services for efficient cataloguing, library management, retrieval, resource sharing, portals and preservation. Earlier this year, OCLC acquired the remaining shares of OCLC PICA Group B.V. to become the sole shareholder of the organization.

Find out more about OCLC

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