Carolyn DoiAsturias Library Project Manager & McGill Student Committee Liaison

Librarians Without Borderscarolyn.doi@mcgill.ca

Project development 2009 - 2011

More about me…LWB member since Fall 2008 (McGill Student Committee)

Music Librarian at McGill University since July 2010

Involved in the Asturias Project since it’s inception in 2009

Worked with past McGill LWB chair, Valli Fraser-Celin to organize the first trip to Guatemala in April 2010

Currently the LWB McGill Committee Liaison

Project manager for the 2011 Asturias Library Project

More About Asturias…Challenges“Chronic malnutrition, limited access to health care, widespread poverty, racism and structural violence against the indigenous Mayan population all present significant challenges to our educational project”

Unique approach to education•Teachings of Paulo Friere - “Pedagogy of the Oppressed”

•Promoting an environment of equality and diversity

•INTECAP

Asturias receives support from:•Staff & Volunteers

•Ashoka Fellowship

•The International Community• School visits• Donations

Quetzaltenango (Xela)

Where is Asturias?

Asturias Library Project Timelines

2010 Guatemala Trip• 10 day trip to Guatemala, organized by McGill student

committee• 11 Participants from the LWB McGill Student committee• Created a document of Library recommendations: http://www.slideshare.net/carodoi/asturias-academy-library-librarians-without-borders-manual-of-recommendations

2010 Asturias Library Project Goals• Get to know the community where Asturias is located.

• Better understand the needs of the school.

• Create a document of library recommendations that reflects the needs of the community.

Since we were there last…

New Library space - Opened in January 2011

New librarian - Steve Mullany (former director of development)

New director of development/trip organizers - Malea Hetrick and Chris Warren

Before…

…and after

2010 -2011 Asturias Library Project

• LWB Umbrella Project 2010 – 2011 school year

• Cross committee participation in the project

• Collection Development projects• Guatemala Trip open to all student

committees

Collection Development Projects• Asturias indicated a priority to get more

books on the shelves.• Student Committee participation:

– Dalhousie– Western– McGill– U of T

2011 Guatemala Trip - Participants

In-Country Trip Costs

• $485 per person

• $200 deposit required by March 16

• Paid to Asturias (they organize all in country arrangements – food, accommodation, transportation, etc.)

• In-country cost will be lowered to $450 if paid in full on March 16 through Asturias’ globalgiving.org page http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/asturiaslibrary/

Itinerary• Final itinerary posted onlineCultural activities include:

Retalhuleu: • Xocomil Water Park• Takalik Abaj Ruins

In and around Xela:• Salcaja (learn about traditional weaving, drink rompopo, see

oldest church in central america• Ixkik Museum of Traditional Mayan Clothing• Aguas Amargas Natural thermal baths

Rio Dulce: • Check out Libraries in Livingston, Ak'Tenamit, hike through

jungle• Explore river in Kayak, hike canyon, etc.

ItineraryVolunteer work activities:• Observe class

• Help in library

• Help in English/Music class

• Recess games

Workshops/Learning:• School tour and history

• Popular education workshop

• History of Guatemala workshop

• Community organizing and change making workshop

2011 Asturias Library Project Goals•Assist with transition of the school library into a community library•Provide information/guidance on professional development tools for librarianship

• Library activities that can be implemented into the curriculum

Trip Blogging

Share your experiences while on the ground in Guatemala

Will be embedded in the LWB website – under development now

2010 Trip blog:http://lwbguatemala2010.wordpress.com/

Post trip and next year…

Share your experiences, spread the word!– CLA Annual Conference Halifax 2011 – Local presentations– Publications in local journals/newsletters

Continued support for the Asturias Project– Another trip?– Further collection development?– Visit from Jorge/Asturias Librarian?

Upcoming Events…Asturias Project Planning Meeting• Open to all trip participants (minimum one representative

from each student committee)• March 13, 7:00 pm EST

CASLIS sponsored talk: LWB & the Asturias Academy Library Project

• Ottawa Public Library, Rideau Branch Library, Ottawa, ON• Open to the public• March 24, 5:30 pm EST

CLA Annual Conference & Trade Show, Halifax, NS• Fri, May 27 from 10:30-12:00 pm.• “Service Learning: Bringing the World into LIS Education”

Questions? Comments?