Going Global: Vermont Going Global: Vermont Librarians’ International Librarians’ International

Experiences and Experiences and ReflectionsReflections

Laurie Kutner (UVM) (Costa Rica)Laurie Kutner (UVM) (Costa Rica)Mara Saule (UVM) (Latvia)Mara Saule (UVM) (Latvia)

Paul Philbin (UVM) (Tanzania)Paul Philbin (UVM) (Tanzania)

What makes Monteverde unique?

• Density of biological diversity: 6 different life zones; largest private reserve system in C.A.

• International eco-tourist destination/ small rural community

• History, social/cultural context

Coming to Monteverde, April 19, 1951Coming to Monteverde, April 19, 1951Quaker SettlementQuaker Settlement

So, what can a librarian do in a beautiful place like this???

Monteverde …

• Sizeable research community in small area

• Cloud forest ecosystem, tropical biology, sustainability issues, social issues

• International and local researchers

• Multitude of study abroad programs/ infrastructure

Equals lots of information generation

Cutting-edge research on the information fringe …

• Information technology infrastructure issues

• Paradox of access• Knowledge of resources

available/ accessible• Researchers from US

institutions can compensate – local researchers can’t

• Local researchers’ inaccessibility of access to local research information

** Social capital/ social networks play major role in successful information access **

So – what did you DO??

Information access at MVI library

• Library web site (digital presence)

• Monteverde Research Digital Collection

• Monteverde Digital Library projects (Water Resources, Sustainable Futures, Community Health)

Syracuse University Interns 2008 – Sustainable Futures DL

• Project direction (UVM)

• 2 SU MLIS grad students in CASDL program

• Involved in all aspects of creating SFDL

• 260 digital objects in library

• Bilingual access

MVI Digital Library Project 2009

• Same structure as 2008

• Ongoing support from MVI, UVM, SU, USF

• One returning SU intern, one new one

• Subject for this year’s digital library project: Community Health

Reflections …

• Into the future • Int’l work = highly

rewarding• Service-oriented

profession with valuable skills

• Numerous formal/ informal ways to identify int’l opps.

Thanks for listening!