Best Practices from World Libraries Photo Gallery

2024 Theme: The Impact of IRRT: Celebrating our past and looking to our future

2024 Best Practices from World Libraries Photo Gallery

The “Best Practices from World Libraries” photo gallery presents a selection of photographs from around the world, which feature library projects and programs that best demonstrate this year’s  International Relations Roundtable (IRRT) Presidents theme:  The Impact of IRRT: Celebrating our past and looking to our future.

This collection of photographs has been curated by the International Connections and Networking Committee (ICNC) of the IRRT. The project idea comes from 2018 IRRT Emerging Leaders’ Project: Towards Increasing Engagement of International New Professional Leaders in ALA Activities, which identified “sharing innovative services and best practices”  and “promoting the concept of a global community of libraries” as the highest priorities.

We believe the photographs selected best illustrate libraries’ innovative services and impact in building strong communities around the world. These images demonstrate ALA’s core values of librarianship in promoting democracy, diversity, social responsibility, lifelong learning and professionalism, and embrace what Dr. Michael Stephens called “the heart of librarianship” in pursuing “attentive, positive and purposeful change”.

Cambodian primary school students reading in the library

Photo Credit: Room to Read

Rejuvenating a Reading Culture
Ministry of Education, Cambodia and Room to Read, Prey Veng, Cambodia


In 1979, following the Khmer Rouge genocide, there were few surviving teachers, writers, and just a small literate adult population in Cambodia. As the country has rebuilt and is now on track to become an upper-middle income country by 2030, Room to Read is humbled to have played a role in the implementation and expansion of school library programs for Cambodian children. We have published 266 Khmer children’s titles and distributed 8 million books to children throughout the country. More than 9,000 teachers and library staff have been trained. In partnership with the Cambodian Ministry of Education, we are developing nationwide courses at preservice teacher training colleges about the role of libraries in children’s wellbeing and intellectual growth. Room to Read's globally distributed workforce partners with governments, NGOs, public school systems, and publishing partners for change at scale, transforming the lives of millions of children through education to create a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. We envision a world in which all children have access to child-friendly libraries and make positive change in their families, communities and the world. 
Project Contact: Karen Bentall
Travel narratives displayed with a map of the world without boundries.

Photo Credit: Wally Keniston - creator and photographer.  Free to use with
attribution.

"Travel Near and Far" - window display
FCTS Library, Franklin County Technical School, Massachusetts, USA

High school libraries serve an important clientele, teaching young adults that their world extends beyond their immediate community. Road trips and journeys of personal discovery are perfect ways for them to grow as human beings. I encourage my students to read narrative nonfiction, including travel narratives, whenever possible,  The rationale that I share with them is that everyone learns from failure as they prepare for success.   There are two ways to do this: 1. the School of hard-knocks, or 2. by reading how others failed on their way to success.  This window display of travel narratives was one part of that ongoing campaign.Project Contact: Wally Keniston - teacher / librarian
Four girls sit around the table and look at a miniature robot COZMO

Photo Credit: Tatiana Usova

Spotlight on Qatar: Playdate with COZMO
Carnegie University in Qatar (CMU-Q) Library, Doha, Qatar

In the digital age, the CMU-Q library looks into the future and seeks creative ways to engage with patrons and facilitate their learning. In collaboration with the student Robotics club we hosted an engaging event featuring palm-sized Cozmo robots. It was a fun learning experience that advanced students’ understanding of programming concepts, and offered a perfect blend of educational content and activities. After playing with Cozmo, students participated in a race making robots complete tasks through simple coding. The event did not only promote digital literacy and instill confidence in students to try new things but also engaged them in critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. The benefit for the library was that we managed to connected with students who tend to sidestep the library and revitalized our image as a dynamic hub for discovery and technology learning.Project Contact: Tatiana Usova
Ali Krzton, data management librarian, explains the research data management services that graduate students can get at AU Libraries.

Photo Credit: AU Libraries, Jayson Hill photographer

International Graduate Student Library Orientation
Ralph Brown Draughon Library, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA

To address additional objectives in the AU Libraries 2019-2024 Strategic Plan, Research and Instruction Services faculty carefully planned student engagement activities aimed at addressing the information needs of selected user groups, such as international students, transfer students or first-generation students. In August 2023, AUL faculty and staff hosted the Libraries’ second International Graduate Student Library Orientation.  Sixty-one graduate students from 16 countries and nine AU colleges attended.  Students were given a library tour highlighting departments and services that support research, instruction, and student learning.  Afterwards, students were able to network with peers and subject librarians over a pizza dinner. Students from Bangladesh, China, China (Hong Kong), Ghana, India, Iran, Jamaica, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Perú, Philippines, Poland, Saudi, and Spain participated.
The photo shows one of the literary evenings held every summer at the ruins of the old National Library building as one of the ways to remember the burnt library.

Photo Credit: Biljana Rakocevic

Summer Belgrade Cultural Spot
National Library of Serbia


In 2024 the National Library of Serbia marked its 192nd anniversary – the Library was founded on 28th February 1832 by Prince Miloš Obrenović.

After many years of moving from one place to another, in 1920 the National Library moved into a building in the Kosančić Venac district, only to be bombed and burned down 21 years later, on 6th April, 1941, in World War II. 

The bombing by Luftwaffe of a city officially proclaimed an Open City, destroyed the Library building, including a priceless book collection of 500.000 volumes, an invaluable collection of 1.424 Cyrillic manuscripts and charters, a collection of old maps, medieval manuscripts and prints of roughly 1.500 items, collections of 4,000 journals and 1,800 newspaper titles, rich and irreplaceable archives of Turkish documents about Serbia and the complete correspondence of distinguished figures regarding the cultural and political history of Serbia, as well as all inventories and catalogues. The entire national cultural heritage existing in print disappeared overnight.  However, three decades later, a new building of the National Library of Serbia, as the 12th workplace, was opened at a special ceremony on 6th April 1973, located in the Vračar municipality, on the Vračar Plateau, as the highest point of that part of Belgrade.  Although the new Library has plenty of space for cultural events, one of the most important annual activities is the organization of summer programmes at Kosančićev Venac, the location of the destroyed National Library of Serbia, in the very heart of the city.

Celebrating the present, we remember the past, hoping for a better future. 
Project Contact: Beba Stankovic
Collage of 5 pictures showing students holding projects as part of a project at the University of Perpetual Help System in the Phillippines

Photo Credit: UPHSL-University Library

REACH and READ: Spreading Literacy, One Community at a Time
University Library- University of Perpetual Help System Laguna, Biñan
Laguna, Philippines


University of Perpetual Help System Laguna's commitment to community development through education is exemplified by the impactful program, "REACH & READ: Spreading Literacy, One Community at a Time," spearheaded by the university library. In recognition of the critical role education plays in societal progress, this program stands as a beacon of hope in addressing the persistent challenge of illiteracy in underserved communities. By strategically targeting underserved areas and implementing a multifaceted approach, the program tackles the pervasive issue of illiteracy head-on. Through the establishment of community reading centers, workshops, and engaging events, it not only elevates literacy levels but also fosters a love for reading among participants.

What sets this program apart is its comprehensive implementation strategy, emphasizing collaboration with local stakeholders and international partners. From supporting impoverished barangays in the Philippines to extending aid to libraries in Ukraine, the Reach & Read program transcends borders, showcasing a global commitment to literacy initiatives. Moreover, the program's impact extends beyond local interventions, as evidenced by its role in hosting an international conference focused on library and knowledge management during times of crisis. This event not only raised funds for libraries affected by geopolitical turmoil but also highlighted the university's dedication to global solidarity in promoting literacy and knowledge dissemination.Recognized as the Outstanding Library Program by the Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians Inc (PAARL), the Reach & Read program stands as a beacon of hope, embodying the university's dedication to fostering literacy, education, and community involvement.

Programs full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j0e0MBCp60
Project Contact: UPHSL-University Library
National RTAP Library Manager, Library of Congress staff person, National RTAP Executive Director, and National RTAP Review Board members shown near archival preservation equipment at the Library of Congress

Photo Credit: National RTAP

How our Review Board Shapes the National RTAP Library
National Rural Transit Assistance Program (National RTAP) Resource Center, Woburn, MA, USA

Much of National RTAP's work is overseen by a Review Board, whose experience helps inform the development of our products and services. Composed of fourteen rural and tribal providers and state transit officials, the Board provides expertise and local perspectives to ensure that our work is relevant, useful, and of the highest quality. Members participate in product workgroups, participate in our events, and serve as National RTAP Ambassadors at conferences.  Our library resources are shaped by the dedication and expertise of the past, current, and future Boards.

Our Review Board meets with our staff twice a year to guide our work.  This photo was taken when our staff and Review Board visited the Library of Congress for a tour of its archival preservation department, which gave us first-hand insight into how the past shapes the present and future of libraries.

Project Contact: Cara Marcus

Lincoln School's Ancient Technology Museum features tools and devices from decades past. From left to right we have a Jumbo Kit Laminator, a Filmstrip Projector, an old slide projector with old Kodak slides, a Panasonic Camcorder to film life's best memories, a cassette tape, VHS tape, DVD and CD, a Flobby Disk, and old spiral-bound yearbooks. Each item in our exhibit features a small write-up describing the device and the year it was invented.

Photo Credit: Amy Luem

"Ancient" Technology Museum
Lincoln Elementary School Library, Winchester Public Schools, Winchester, MA, USA

Our "Ancient" Technology Museum was curated with the old technology we found in storage. These items were removed from the library to make room for modern devices like Chromebooks, including Flippy Chromebooks, iPads, Ozobots, Digital Cameras, and more. Students often hear teachers talking about the technology tools they remember for their own childhoods, and our little museum allows them to actually see these now "ancient" artifacts!

Project Contact: Amy Luem
picture of a library shelf with Graphic Novels, some facing outward to show the covers of the books

Photo Credit: Pati Mari

Graphic Novels Excite!
Abbot Library, Westford, MA, USA

Our school library has responded to our student's love of graphic novels by switching things up!  We recently replaced many of our old outdated copies with new copies, updated our collection and moved it to the center of the Fiction Room.  You'll notice that there are many copies displayed with their covers turned out.  We have been experimenting with Dynamic Shelving Systems under the tutelage of Kelsey Bogan.  Dynamic shelving systems are more user-friendly and accessible to our students.  Instead of being confronted with hundreds of spine-out books, students can quickly scan an area to find books that look interesting and exciting.  We have found that our circulation has gone up by 25% across all grades. 

Project Contact: Pati Mari

Photo Credit: Luciana Natália Moinho Tavares da Silva
photo collage showing examples of signs and participation at the Book Scavenger Hunt program at the Antonio Candido Library in São Paulo, Brazil

Photo Credit: Luciana Natália Moinho Tavares da Silva

Book scavenger hunt: the competition of classifications!

Antonio Candido Library, Institute of Language Studies , University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

Participation of the Antonio Candido Library from the Institute of Language Studies (IEL) at University of Campinas (Unicamp) in the Unicamp de Portas Abertas (UPA) event, promoting a ludic activity in the format of a book scavenger hunt, whose objective is to allow the contact of the visitor with the structure of the collection as well as with the academic content.
The Book scavenger hunt is a competitive game between two people. The competition consists of completing 3 stages in less time and the winner of the round is rewarded with gifts.

The participation in the Book scavenger hunt provided the visitor with contact with the thematic demands of the area of Language Studies and also with an understanding of the importance of the bibliographic collection and its respective organization, which is the main academic support for the research and teaching carried out at the Institute of Language Studies.
Therefore, the ludic has become an important communication and dissemination tool for the Antonio Candido Library's bibliographic collection.

Project Contact: Crisllene Custodio
Two young Haitian boys with books are being assisted by a Haitian librarian.

Photo Credit: Partners in Literacy Haiti

Haitians: A New Life but A Proud Heritage
First Haitian Evangelical Wesleyan Church Dual Language Book Center, Partners in Literacy Haiti, Fountain Inn, South Carolina, USAThe Haitian Evangelical Wesleyan Church (HEW) is the hub of activity for Haitians in Upstate South Carolina. Established 15 years ago, with a small congregation, it has grown significantly since 2018 as more immigrating families seek new lives.
A year ago, Pastor Patrick Gué asked Dr. Sara Mansbach with Partners in Literacy Haiti (PILH) to collaborate. The two have been involved with PILH projects in Haiti more than 14 years.

The church’s board designated a room for the Book Center which is managed by a volunteer Haitian library director and an all-Haitian library committee. With  Haitian Creole, dual language, and English books, they hope that families will convey their native Creole to new generations and share its proud history, culture, and heritage. For a population too frequently denigrated, this literature builds self-esteem. Maintaining Creole fluency also ensures intergenerational communication for some families.

No public libraries or bookstores in South Carolina provide access to Haitian Creole or dual-language books, so this Book Center is truly unique.  In her Opening Ceremony speech, Emmerline Coffey, the committee chair, joyfully declared, “Education is the key to our people’s future success, and using this community library will truly help our children reach that goal.”  Project Contact: Dr. Sara C. Mansbach