TANZANIAN LIBRARIAN TO TRAIN IN THE U.S.

Abdulla Omar Masoud, Deputy Chief Librarian at the Pemba Public Library Services in Tanzania, will visit the United States of America under the U.S. Department of State's International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) "American Libraries" scheduled to take place from June 13 thru July 1, 2011.

Mr. Masoud will join 21 other program participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bulgaria, Egypt, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Lesotho, Maldives, Namibia, Russia, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, Thailand and Turkey.

Participants will examine the role and function of libraries and information specialists in U.S. society, to explore the importance of community-based partnerships and strategies for promoting sustainability in American libraries, and to demonstrate the diversity of library services and to explore the impact of new advances in digital and on-line technologies on various types of libraries.

In Washington D.C. participants will focus on the U.S. federal government overview, federal support for libraries and the humanities, the importance of archival and government records. The program is divided into segments aimed to introduce the visitors to many different types of libraries in the U.S. and the important roles played by librarians and information specialists.

Participants will also have networking and professional development opportunities that will enhance their own professional skills and enable them to form working relationships that will last after the conclusion of the program. The group is also scheduled to participate on archival presentation and its importance to the historical record of the country.

The group will also examine program themes on small community libraries, state libraries, university libraries and library science programs in Jackson, Wyoming; Portland, Oregon; and Seattle, Washington. For the next segment, the group will be divided according to their professional backgrounds and the size of the communities they serve.

Participants working in small community libraries will make up the Jackson team, the Portland team will focus on large library systems and state libraries, the Seattle team will examine university libraries, information management and professional training and development programs for librarians.

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, participants will focus on local funding for libraries, public-private partnerships supporting libraries and building strength through library networks. In New Orleans, Louisiana and New York City, participants will attend conferences, discussions on urban libraries as community centers, specialized libraries and project evaluation.

On June 8, Deputy Public Affairs Officer Roberto Quiroz II welcomed Mr. Abdullah Omar Masoud, Deputy Chief Librarian from the Pemba Public Library Service, to the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam.

Mr. Masoud said: "I look forward to this trip in order to assist our (libraries') mission in Pemba and to interact with librarians and average Americans throughout the U.S." Mr. Quiroz noted: "Mr. Masoud's visit to the U.S. underscores our commitment to partnering with Pemba's library sector and to promoting education in Tanzania. As a leader in Pemba's library sector, his visit exemplifies the ties of friendship and cooperation between the United States of America and Tanzania."

The Pemba Library Services place priority on community-based partnerships. Mr. Masoud hopes to learn more on the diversity of library services and to explore the impact of new advances in digital and on-line technologies in the U.S. to apply it back home to improve service provision to his community and strengthen library use.

The International Visitors Leadership Program is sponsored by the American people through the U.S. Department of State. It is intended to facilitate personal and professional contacts between the people of the United States and Tanzania, and is part of overall U.S. Government direct and multilateral assistance to Tanzania of over 850 billion Tanzanian shillings this fiscal year.