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March 13, 2006
China Day 1: Visit to the China Library Association
It seems that every event on this trip is preceeded by a rather impressive meal. After a fabulous lunch, our delegation was bused over to the China Library Association and China National Library for our professional program of the day. Ms. Tang Gengsheng, Secretary General of the China Library Association, was our meeting head at the library, and with Carol Brey-Casiano, helped facilitate a discussion between the over 10 Chinese librarians and the large group of American delegates.
While I'd like to share the details I leared about CLA here, I'll reserve that for a later time, so that I highlight some of the question and answer session (with names where possible, I'm still learning names, despite the handy name tags we wear at all times).
Krista Griffiths, who works specifically with disabled and blind services at the state library of Utah, asked: Can and do libraries in China offer services to the blind and disabled? How?
The librarian from one of the Beijing district libraries mentioned that, through support from the Society of Sciences and the Society of Natural Sciences, a room has been built in the library specifically to meet the needs of the blind and disabled, as well as providing items and resources, including braille items, computers, and other equipment for blind and disabled patrons. A specially designed and paved walkway leads blind people straight from the front door to the reading room, and the room includes a special blind/disabled restroom. Computer classes, social programs, and reading activies have been developed by the library to meet in this room, and professionals from 8 countries have come to visit this very special resource.
Do libraries in China have Friends of the Library associations, and do they aid in fundraising (such as book sales) for libraries?
Many libraries have Friends groups and volunteers. While many donations come in from individuals to support the library, book sales and other fundraising events are not a regular occurence in China, but Secretary General Gengsheng very much likes that idea, and would like to encourage libraries in China to try it. Carol mentioned Friends of Libraries USA to the group as a way to find resources to enhance the Friends experience in China.
I'll cover more of the questions later, since the Business Centre is closing soon.
March 13, 2006 10:48 AM