Library Services to Multicultural Populations Section

Minutes
Standing Committee Meeting II., 27 August 2002, Glasgow

Chair: Jane Dreisig (Denmark)

Attendees:& Clara M. Chu (USA), Lourina K. de Voogd (Netherlands), Barbro Ejendal (Sweden), Yasuko Hirata (Japan), Souad Hubert (France), Benedikte Kragh-Schwarz (Denmark), Asbjørn Langeland (Norway), Christine McDonald (USA), Carmen Madrid (Spain), Kirsten Leth Nielsen (Norway), Ekaterina Nikonorova (Russian Federation), Robert Pestell (Australia), Jane Pyper (Canada), Maria Tapaninen (Sweden), Susy Tastesen (Denmark), Kristina Virtanen (Finland), Barbara von Wahlde (USA)

Visitors: Manmohan Bains (UK), Domenico Ciccarello (Italy), Donna Serafin (USA)

Apologies: Adriana Tandler (USA)

No response: Margaret Evans (UK), Ana Asensio (Spain), Inese Smith (UK)

Reporter: Kirsten Leth Nielsen (Norway)

AGENDA

1. Welcome and Apologies
2. Introduction and Information
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Reports
1. A. Glasgow Workshop
2. Open Forum
3. IFLA booth
4. IFLA Booth
5. Division VIII
6. Children's Library Guidelines
7. FAIFE
5. IFLA 2003 in Berlin
1. Workshop: Multicultural libraries in German speaking countries. Status and prospects
2. B. Postconference/satellite meeting: Utrecht, the Netherlands
3. Open Forum in Berlin
6. IFLA 2004 in Argentina
7. IFLA 2005 in Norway
8. Other Committee Matters
1. Elections in 2003. Working group?
2. Midwinter meeting in 2003. Date and location.
3. Membership of the section: a plan for recruiting
4. IFLA archives of the Committee
5. Promotional Leaflet
6. Establishing of a calendar (nominations, terms of office etc.)
9. AOB

Welcome and Apologies

Jane Dreisig (Denmark) opened the meeting by thanking everyone for a very successful conference in Glasgow. There was an extraordinary amount of energy and support for all of the Section's activities. She also appreciated that so many members were willing to take on responsibility and to help each other create programs and activities that will be beneficial to our Section as well as to others. Likewise, she thanked the many members that were still present to participate in this last meeting of the conference.

Introduction and Information

The suggested revisions to the Strategic Plan could not be added to the document since there was no access to a computer at the conference. However, the plan was approved by the Committee and Donna Serafin volunteered to make the revised edition available on the listserv as soon as possible upon her return to the USA.

Approval of Agenda

Reports

A. Glasgow 2002 «Seventh Heaven» Workshop - The workshop was a great success with 45 participants and an interesting debate after the lecture. Jane Pyper (Canada) will write a report about the workshop and distribute it on the listserv and the Section's website.

B. Glasgow Open forum - Kristina Virtanen (Finland), representing our Section at the Open Forum meeting, reported that there was a misunderstanding of the theme and therefore the meeting was not as successful as had been anticipated. Apart from the Section on Library Services to Multicultural Populations, all the other representatives had chosen to do a presentation about their respective section. Our presentation had a special theme (on staff training) as was decided at the IFLA Coordinating Board meeting in Elsinor, Denmark. Kristina Virtanen was thanked for doing a very good job! The committee officers agreed to voice a complaint to the chair of the Coordinating Board at their meeting to be held August 23, 2002.

C. IFLA Booth - Kristina Virtanen (Finland) and Maria Tapaninen (Sweden) represented the Section at the IFLA booth and reported that many conference attendees stopped by and that all the Section's newsletters and flyers were distributed. Both suggested a two hour time slot would be preferred to the current one hour. Jane Dreisig and Kirsten Leth Nielsen will bring this information to the Coordinating Board meeting.

D. Division VIII: Latin America Meeting - Christine McDonald (USA) and Carmen Madrid (Spain) reported that the division wanted a joint programme on a full day workshop in Argentina 2004 with a suggested theme of «Library services to indigenous peoples". The deadline for reporting the title and the programme of the workshop to Jane Dreisig will be before the midwinter meeting in 2003. Members in charge of the workshop are Christine McDonald (USA) and Carmen Madrid (Spain).

E. New edition of "Children's Library Guidelines" - Benedikte Kragh-Schwarz (Denmark) and Kirsten Leth Nielsen (Norway) reported that they have provided John Dunn, editor of the "Children's Library Guidelines" with additional information and suggestions about multicultural aspects of library service. John Dunne gave an assurance that he would consider the comments carefully.

F. FAIFE - Benedikte Kragh-Schwarz (Denmark) and Kirsten Leth Nielsen (Norway) have contacted Susanne Seidelin, Director of FAIFE, to discuss joint meetings in the future. A half day workshop or session was suggested for Argentina in 2004. Benedikte Kragh-Schwarz and Kirsten Leth Nielsen will keep in contact with Susanne Seidelin and report to Jane Dreisig before the midwinter meeting in 2003.

IFLA Conference 2003 in Berlin

A. Workshop - Libraries for Children and Young People Section purposed a joint workshop (half a day?) on the theme «Children's libraries: creating a culture of understanding in the world of violent conflict». The theme is relevant and interesting for us and we decided to agree to cooperate with the Children's Section. Clara M. Chu (USA) will be the officer in charge of this matter. We want to get a confirmation on the cooperation of this theme quickly since we already have another suggestion for a workshop in Berlin (Multicultural Libraries in German Speaking Countries: Status and Prospects). It is therefore important to get a quick response from the Children's Section. Deadline for this is September 1. Deadline for information of the title and whether it will be a half day or a full day workshop will be September 15.

A1. Study tour to a library in Berlin 2003 - Half day. Officers in charge: Susy Tastesen (Denmark), Benedikte Kragh-Schwarz (Denmark). Deadline: October 1.

B. Post-conference/satellite meeting Berlin 2003 «Public Libraries and Multilingual Collections» will be the theme for the IFLA post-conference to be held in Utrecht, Netherlands. Lourina K. de Voogd (Netherlands) presented the committee a draft program. She asked for suggestions for speakers for both themes and particularly for a keynote speaker to address the marketing theme. Speakers from Latin America and United Kingdom would be particularly welcomed. Maria Tapaninen (Sweden) volunteered to contact the Section on Marketing for a keynote speaker and will inform Lourina. The committee suggested that the following two additional topics be added to the conference: 1.) «International book fairs and their role in acquisitions» and 2.) «Collection development policies». Clara M. Chu (USA) informed us about a publication «Guidelines for collection development» which she will post on the listserv. A draft of the final program for the post-conference will be published December 15, 2002.

C. Open Forum in Berlin 2003 - Jane Pyper (Canada) and Christine McDonald (USA) reported from the meeting that next year's theme is «What has Division III done to reflect human culture development: Best practices» There will be further discussion about the theme at the Coordinating Board meeting. Suggestions as to possible lecturers are Adriana Tandler (USA) or Gary Strong (USA).

IFLA 2004 in Argentina

Christine McDonald (USA) and Carmen Madrid (Spain) reported that Division VIII wanted a joint programme, preferrably a full day workshop, in Argentina 2004. The suggested theme is «Library Services to Indigenous People». The issue of providing library service to First Nation indigenous populations will be explored from the point of view of indigenous people. The deadline for supplying the correct title of the programme to Jane Dreisig will be before the midwinter meeting in 2003. Members in charge of the workshop are Christine McDonald (USA) and Carmen Madrid (Spain).

IFLA 2005 in Norway

Planning has begun for the pre-conference to be held in Stockholm in 2005. The theme of the conference will be staff training on multicultural library services and issues adressing the concept of culture/multiculture/multilingualism. The following issues were briefly discussed: a.) training programme for library staff on multicultural themes based on the draft report from Jane Dreisig (Denmark) and Kristina Virtanen (Finland) b.) the definition of multicultural based on the report from Ekaterina Nikonorova (Russian Federation) and Jane Pyper (Canada). Clara Chu will provide and distribute information on the listserv about a project on staff training in Canada. Officers in charge of the satellite meeting are Barbro Ejendal (Sweden) and Maria Tapaninen (Sweden).

A. The 25th anniversary of the Section 2005 - Norway will arrange a reception on the occasion of this event. Officers in charge: Kirsten Leth Nielsen and Jane Dreisig.

B. Workshop session -We did not discuss this, but will have the issue on the agenda at the mid-winter meeting in 2003.

Other Committee Matters

A. Elections in 2003.
2003 is election year for the Committee. We need to recruit and nominate/renominate standing committee members and the offices of Chairperson, Secretary and Information Officer. It was decided to establish a working group for this purpose. Susy Tastesen (Denmark) and Kristina Virtanen (Finland) volunteered to do the job. Jane Dreisig will send all papers concerning nominations and elections to Susy Tastesen and Kristina Virtanen before Nowember 15. Jane will also distribute information about the process, conditions and deadlines for nominations and elections on the listserv before November 1. In the same letter she will call for members from the United Kingdom, Italy and Latin America. Susy Tastesen and Kristina Virtanen will report to Jane Dreisig before February 28 (next midwinter meeting 2003).

B. Midwinter meeting in 2003.
The committee was fortunate to have two persons, Ekaterina Nikonorova (Russian Federation) and Souad Hubert (France) kindly offer to host the midwinter meeting. After some discussion, it was decided to meet in Paris. Thanks to Ekaterina and Souad for their hospitality! The midwinter meeting will be held on March 3-4, 2003.

C. Membership of the section: a plan for recruiting
During the last year, the membership was reduced to 70 section members. This is a disturbing tendency that we have to change. Barbara von Wahlde (USA) volunteered to formulate a strategy for active recruiting. The strategy will be on the agenda and discussed at the midwinter meeting in Paris next year.

D. IFLA archives of the Committee
Barbara von Wahdle (USA) reported about the Section's archives held at the University of Pittsburg (USA) and also by Marie Zielinska. Based on correspondence with IFLA headquarters, it was decided to send the Section's archives to IFLA headquarters. Barbara von Wahlde will follow-up on the matter.

E. Promotional leaflet /brochure
Clara M. Chu (USA), Benedikte Kragh-Schwarz (Denmark) and Kirsten Nielson (Norway) have updated the leaflet in accordance with the revised strategic plan. Donna Serafin will revise the leaflet and send a draft on the Listserv. Deadline: two weeks. The committee will also have a deadline of two weeks for approval.

F. Establishing of a calendar
(nominations, terms of office, etc.) The item was cancelled as being needless.

AOB

A representative from Italy, Domenico Ciccarello, offered to translate the section's publication Multicultural Communities: Guidelines for Library Services into Italian. Kirsten Leth Nielsen and Jane Dreisig will follow-up on this.

Respectfully submitted,
Kirsten Leth Nielsen, Secretary