This week in Austin its a return to classes plus reconnecting and writing!

 Students in the Monday morning "Library Instruction and Information Literacy" class will lead us in understanding key readings and resources--the Big6, Carol Kuhlthau's "Zones of Intervention," and ACRL's "Information Literacy Higher Education Competency Standards." We will also hear updates on the class project consisting of creating online tutorials for the public access technology stations in the Fine Arts Library at UT-Austin.

Students in the Monday night "Public Libraries" class will present the first two of four 'public libraries issues panels.' This week we will hear from  the panels on censorship and non-book programming. At 8 p.m. we welcome THE Michael Porter, Libraryman, President of Library Renewal, and newly elected ALA Executive Board member!

Meanwhile, one of our contributors to the tribal libraries and archives book is in town as well. Lawrence Lessig is giving a talk on Campus on Tuesday a.m. and the Austin Forum on Tuesday night features a talk on geological sequestration, and the Soulphonics have their long-awaited CD release party at the Carousel Lounge on Wednesday night.  John Lahr speaks about Tennessee Williams at the HRHRC on Thursday night.

Writing? I'm wrapping up the first solid draft of my paper for the TILTS conference. I'm on the 10-11:30 a.m. panel on 12 March and am using this opportunity to continue to think through issues related to libraries and traditional cultural expressions. Our panel theme is "A Googolplex of Books: Changing Libraries and Archives" and my contribution will be "Changing Thought for Those Working in Libraries: Respect for Traditional Cultural Expressions Within the Ethos of Equity of Access."

The IFLA Library Services to Multicultural Populations has wrapped up its midyear meeting and I will soon be returning to Austin. Mid-year assessment is so crucial to not only maintaining connections but also to making progress. The IFLA SIG on Indigenous Matters has much to do between now and the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in August. In addition to our meetings, the wonderful Fundacion de Tres Culturas set up visits to libraries that offered unique services, especially services for multicultural populations including recent immigrants. Public libraries continue to shine in adjusting their policies in providing borrower's cards, offering support for English language learners, space for exhibits and community events, and even the creation of a graphic novel featuring a librarian super hero! Congratulations and bravo to librarians in Granada, Huelva, and Cartaya!

Meanwhile, my thoughts this week are also with our library whanau in Aotearoa/New Zealand, especially in Christchurch. News is sparse but at this point there are reports of property damage to friends' homes but no injuries. Let us hope that news remains the same.

The International Federation of Library Associations and Organizations (IFLA) approved the establishment of an IFLA Special Interest Group (SIG) in December 2008. I am honored to serve as the SIG's first Convener. 

You can follow the activities of the SIG in several ways:

1. The SIG Task Force has a website at : http://www.ifla.org/en/indigenous-matters

Here you’ll find the text of original charge, the roster of initial SIG Task Force members, and the excellent work prepared by the Task Forces.

 

2. The SIG Task Force has a FaceBook Group that anyone can join. Just search for the “IFLA SIG on Indigenous Matters” group (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=66990630010).

3. Presentations on the SIG are scheduled at the following conference venues:

2011:

4-8 April; International Indigenous Librarians Forum, Karaskjok, Norway

https://sites.google.com/site/indigenouslibrariansforum/home]

20-23 April: PCAACA Conference, San Antonio, Texas

http://www.pcaaca.org/

27-30 April: Alaska Native Libraries Archives Museums Summit; Northern Light, Anchorage, Alaska

http://library.state.ak.us/pdf/ANLAMS.pdf

25-28 May: CLA Annual Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

http://www.cla.ca/conference/2011/

5-10  June: Tribal College Librarians Professional Development Institute, Bozeman, Montana

http://www.lib.montana.edu/tcli/

23-28 June: ALA Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana

http://www.alaannual.org/

21-23 July: FORO: Transborder Library Forum, Austin, Texas

http://blogs.lib.utexas.edu/texlibris/tag/transfronterizo-de-bibliotecas/

13-18 Aug: IFLA World Library and Information Congress. San Juan, Puerto Rico

http://conference.ifla.org/ifla77

I'm reactivating this old blog and will use it to provide updates including news reports and images!