The Mortenson Center for International Library Programs
The Mortenson Center for International Library programs was founded at the University of Illinois in 1991, thanks in great part to a generous donation made by C. Walter and Gerda B. Mortenson. The couple was committed to the "promotion of international education, understanding, and peace through library programs, and an earlier donation had been used to found the Mortenson Distinguished Professorship for International Library Programs. While this position no longer exists, its spirit is upheld in the Center's annual Associates Program. This program is a three-and-a-half week, non-degreed professional development program, and is offered to librarians from outside the United States. Since 1991, the program has hosted and educated over 1,300 librarians from over 90 countries around the world. (Mortenson Center for International Library Programs, 2016)
In 2016, The Mortenson Center partnered with the ALA to present a new initiative known as Project Welcome. This project is a one-year planning grant from May 2016 until April 2017, and focuses on developing recommendations and an “action agenda on information resources, services, training, and research needed to support the resettlement and integration of refugees and asylum seekers in the United States (US).” In order to serve existing refugees in libraries, the Center is assessing information needs and gaps within library services by learning from International Librarians, American Librarians, international and national government agencies, as well as domestic resettlement and social services. (Mortenson Center, Para. 1-2, 2016).
The Libraries for Peace movement and website were established by the Center in 2016, in order to promote their vision and mission "of strengthen[ing] international ties among libraries and librarians worldwide for the promotion of international education, understanding, and peace." (Mortenson Center, Para 9, 2016)
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- History and Background Leah Brochu
