AMICAL - May 2007
Library at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (Morocco) -- Photo taken by
Harvey Varnet at the AMICAL conference (May 2007)
June 06, 2007
February 28, 2007
Ending my Circulation at Mohammed VI Library in Ifrane
The week is nearing an end and I am preparing to leave Ifrane for Boston. I've written a report clarifying what I have done here at the library, and what I have learned myself. I feel that for me the experience has been extremely rewarding. I've absorbed cultural, linguistic, and intellectual facts and feelings from many different people I've met during the past 6 weeks. These people include those I've spent time with talking to on train rides; those who have extended friendship to me in a wonderfully generous fashion; those in the library who have shared with me their felings about their work; those faculty here at Al Akhawayn who have likewise shared with me their knowledge; and others. I take back with me many memories and much experience from living in another culture other than my own. I return with a much fuller idea as to what exactly is "the Arab world".
I hope I've left some impression here at the library. If I have not touched every person, I know that I have shared some positive communication with a few staff members. The student and faculty survey will have to be posted without my presence here, as the software is still not available. The library will most likely post a blog of its own, as it has already started to do this. And most important, I hope I've opened up communication between Al Akhawayn and Boston University -- as I've shared many emails of my colleagues in Boston, with colleagues here.
February 14, 2007
Mugar in Morocco - Photos
these 2 photos to Mugar in Morocco.
Thanks.
Diane d'Almeida
Thanks.
Diane d'Almeida
Mugar in Morocco - Photos 2
these 2 photos to Mugar in Morocco.
Thanks.
Diane d'Almeida
Thanks.
Diane d'Almeida
February 13, 2007
End of Third/Beginning of Fourth Week in Morocco
After 3 full weeks here I feel some things have been accomplished at the library. I've given 3 workshops to librarians, and the ones on databases seem to be particularly interesting to them. Their familiarity with the 22 databases is an area that they are interested in strengthening. I am fine-tuning a student library survey, and have been surprised and pleased with the enthusiastic input from my colleagues here. They are outspoken about issues they want to see covered in the survey. Professor Lotfi, the Director, is also directly involved in this survey. I continue to work on a bibliography of Portuguese Studies works, seeking input from colleagues in Portugal (who I know personally). I am also investigating library catalogues of universities known to have good Portuguese study programs.
Over the past weekend I had the pleasure of contacting 2 former GSLIS Moroccan students! They were both amazingly cordial, warm, and welcoming to me. Samira (Mme Samira KHALLOUK) arranged for me to be taken around the city of Rabat one evening. She was extremely helpful and was truly a friend to me in Rabat. I travelled the next day to Casablanca, to a Book Fair (Salon de Livre) and there met and had lunch with Fatima TAIBANE who is a charming Moroccan woman. Because her brother had recently married, I had lunch with her extended family. We sat around a large plate of couscous, and the aged and ancient Berber grandmother dressed colorfully in her Berber costume was the highlight. I feel extremely lucky to be here, and to have met so many wonderful people. My weekend continued at the home of a new friend (met on the plane over) -- a Moroccan woman, with whom I spent 2 days walking around Rabat.
January 30, 2007
Second Week in Ifrane
At the beginning of the 2nd week, I have made some plans for workshops: today I gave one on best practices for the Refererence Interview to 7 librarians. We decided to have a weekly librarian meeting, and future subjects will cover: searching databases; what are blogs?; and other subjects we decide on. I will also give 2 workshops to a class (32 students) of students studying The History of the Arab World -- and we will cover at least the Encyclopedia of Islam, digitally.
At the end of the first week, I feel that I am beginning to know my colleagues here and their various tasks. They are all serious workers. I've spent an hour a day on the Reference Desk with Said, a colleague, and I'm sharing "best practises" of this job. I am working on a survey for students, and Monday I'll give a workshop for all those involved in Reference.
Imagine that today, the end of the first week, there is a snow storm in Ifrane, Morocco -- we are in the mountains, where the King has a palace. It is quite amazing to look out the window of my very elegant office and see a thick blanket of snow!
I continue to make contacts and to make plans to travel this weekend. Hopefully once out of Ifrane, there will be no snow.
First days in Ifrane I have met with the Director Prof. Lotfi and his staff. All are extremely cordial, and the lines of communication are formally open. My projects include: creating a student questionnaire for feedback; share my reference knowledge with librarians here on databases and the steps involved in a formal Reference Interview. I will also look into the possibility of creating a bibliography of works to be purchased to support a Portuguese Studies department at the University.
I've signed up for 3 courses, the first of which starts at 8 AM: Basic Arabic; History of the Arab World; and Arab Literature. I look forward to this! even if it will be only 6 weeks.
Communication on the campus is Arabic and French, and some English as there are also some American students. All courses are in English.
The library is magnificent -- all wood inside. It looks out on the Mosque. The atmosphere at the University is very positive, and people could not possibly be more cordial and helpful and interested in learning from me.
My first impression is that they have a good system set up, but that Reference is a weak point in library services. The Director is the first to admit this.
I have now several projects that the library wants to follow with my lead. They are the ones mentioned in the first paragraph. After meeting with head of Reference, and the head of ommunication within the Library, I will conduct a workshop for Reference librarians next week. I will also work on a document to be used for faculty outreach. I will, also, attend my 3 classes and work on learning the Arabic langauge.
As the week ends, I realize that the Mohammad VI library shares some of the same problems as Mugar at BU. It's hard to get faculty and students in for instruction workshops. Outreach is perhaps a better tactic -- either going to offices of faculty, to show them on their computer, or putting on something like an Open House in the library. One student attend a workshop. Many had signed up. I've created a student survey, which will be examined on Monday and then made available electronically on Monday. On verra.......
January 22, 2007
Mugar in Morocco - A librarian on ILL for 6 weeks, circulating at the Univ. Al Akhawayn
On January 20 I travelled to Ifrane, Morocco which is a small University town just south of Fez. I will be spending 6 weeks in the Mohammad VI Library, at the University Al Akhawayn. on a Fulbright scholarship Hopefully it will be a mutually beneficial experience: for me, so I can expand my poor knowledge of the Arab world, literature, and culture; and for the library where I hope to share my knowledge of libraries and all the facets that make up my work at Boston University, in Mugar Library. I am the Modern Foreign Language & Linguistics Bibliographer, as well as the Communications Bibliographer.
On day 2 I spent time with all members of the library: the Director, Professor Lotfi, has many plans for me. I will also be taking 3 courses here (in English, as most of the University offers classes in English): Basic Arabic; History of the Arab World; and Arab Literature. My projects for the library will include the following: create a student survey to ascertain possible changes that are needed; share my reference knowledge with librarians here on databases and the steps involved starting with a Reference Interview and all along the way. I will also look into the possibility of suggesting works for a possible Portuguese Studies department at the University.
more later......