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News about the disastrous earthquake that devastated Haiti no longer occupies front pages of newspapers, but the earthquake‘s effects continue to disrupt everyday life of the Haitian people.

Haitian libraries were not spared by this natural disaster and many have sustained heavy damage.

LACUNY IRRT would like to express our deep concern and sympathy to Haitian librarians and encourage all CUNY librarians to support them by making a donation for the cause of rebuilding Haitian libraries

Please check the following links:

Libraries without borders: http://www.librarieswithoutborders.org/home.php

Libraries Without Borders is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in New York City. Its mission is to support education in developing and disaster affected areas by providing children, students and adults access to well-equipped, up-to-date and efficient libraries. Access to knowledge is a key factor in social and economic development. By facilitating the growth of libraries in Africa, Asia and the Americas, Libraries Without Borders aims to provide the knowledge that is the engine of human development. The organization is affiliated with Bibliothèques Sans Frontières.

ALA IRRT page: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/irrt/index.cfm

ALA Haiti fund: ALA established Library Relief Fund to help rebuild libraries and archives in Haiti. ALA, acting on a resolution adopted by its Council on Jan. 19 during the ALA’s Midwinter Meeting, has created the “Haiti Library Relief Fund” to collect monetary donations to help rebuild libraries and archives that were destroyed or damaged during the devastating earthquake on Jan. 12.

Donations can be made by credit card or check through www.ala.org/haiti.

ALA Haiti Library relief: http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/iro/iroactivities/haitirelieffund.cfm

Though there is a strong interest in donating books directly to Haiti immediately, but libraries in Haiti are not in a position to receive books until further notice.

Your books, however, can still help libraries in Haiti. Better World Books (BWB), an affinity partner of ALA, has set up a special program to receive and raise money for Haitian libraries from the books you donate. For more information on how to donate, please visit the Better World Books site (opens a new page).

ALA is a member of the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield (USCBS), the organization that is the equivalent of the Red Cross for cultural heritage and preservation. The USCBS belongs to the larger Associations of National Committees of the Blue Shield (ANCBS).

The Blue Shield wants to support recovery, restoration and repair measures necessary to rebuild libraries, archives, museums, monuments and sites. Therefore it is calling upon archivists, restorers, curators, librarians, architects and other experts to register online as a volunteer.

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the :  http://haiti2010.blueshield-international.org/

ORGANIZATIONS working WITH LIBRARIES IN HAITI

•       FOKAL (Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty) - an independent foundation in Haiti supported by the Open Society Institute and other international and local organizations. http://www.fokal-usa.org/index.htm

•       Haiti Reads - Haiti Reads strives to make books available to all children and adults regardless of current enrollment in an educational institution. http://haitireads.org/default.aspx

•       Libraries without borders - After the earthquake that struck the Port-au-Prince region on Tuesday, January 12, Libraries Without Borders affirms its solidarity with the people of Haiti. LWB and its French affiliate, Bibliothèques Sans Frontières, are involved in a number of projects in the capital and throughout the country

.•       Haiti Soleil -  Haiti Soleil is a nonprofit corporation based in Berkeley, California. Haiti Soleil is founded on the belief that to bring about social change in Haiti, the country needs to empower young people by giving them access to safe nurturing spaces, and providing them with opportunities for intellectual exchange and creative expression. http://haitisoleil.org/

IFLA:  same as ALA works with Blue Shield organization

PSC CUNY wiki page devoted to HAITI relief:   http://psccunyhaiti2010.pbworks.com/

LACUNY International Relations Round Table (IRRT)

Ewa Dzurak, College of Staten Island This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Songqian Lu, NYCCT  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We're pleased to announce that CUNY Libraries has set up a library faculty exchange with Shanghai University and Shanghai Normal Universities in Shanghai, China starting Spring 2010.

Five CUNY campuses [Baruch, Lehman, Queens, Staten Island, York] have agreed to host visiting Chinese faculty from these institutions.

In exchange, in Spring 2010 CUNY plans to send two library faculty to each institution for one-month Residencies. We invite and encourage Applications.

Please read the Instructions (PDF) for more specific information.

Then carefully complete the Application (RTF).

The Exchange Program is open to all CUNY library faculty, regardless of campus affiliation or years of service. You will need to demonstrate expertise in a service or administrative area.

Applications [including copy of your CV] are due December 15, 2009. You will need the approval and signature of your Chief Librarian.

The Screening Committee will notify you of your Candidacy by January 15, 2010. However, all Applicants face final approval from our Chinese hosts.

For more information about Shanghai Universities:

Shanghai University and Libraries:
http://www.shu.edu.cn/en/indexEn.htm
http://www.lib.shu.edu.cn/englishver/index.htm

Shanghai Normal University: http://wwwen.shnu.edu.cn/en/index_en.jsp

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details

Library Association of City University of New York (LACUNY) International Relations Round Table (IRRT)'s objective is to provide a framework for information sharing among librarians and library staff interested in international librarianship activities at all CUNY libraries and other academic libraries. The LACUNY IRRT aims to increase communication among LACUNY members about international visits, exchanges and programs in which LACUNY members are involved. To increase the general awareness of contributions made by LACUNY librarians at the international level, IRRT will sponsor programs once a year.