Nicaragua: International Opportunities in Library and Information Studies

January 4 - 21, 2010

LBSC 708S (3 credits)

Learn about the challenges of providing education and library services in a developing nation; work with children, teachers, and parents; meet with local librarians, authors, illustrators, and teachers; contribute needed services in a Nicaraguan library; and experience the culture and history of Nicaragua.

• Visit libraries, schools, museums, and historic colonial towns, where you will interact with Nicaraguan children, educators, librarians, publishers, authors, and illustrators
• Present a Book Fair for the children of San Juan del Sur
• Excursions to the Mombacho volcano, San Juan de Oriente pottery town, and local beaches

Biblioteca Movil is the first public lending library in Nicaragua. Established by volunteers in 2001, the library currently serves almost 5,000 registered patrons with more than 12,500 books in Spanish and English. In addition, a mobile library project, begun in 2003, serves an additional 35 rural communities. Biblioteca Movil today is a full-service library providing story hours, arts and crafts, high school study groups, and computer education. Its “Library in a Box” approach is being replicated in other parts of Central America.

Accommodations

In Managua, participants will stay at Camino Real, a modern 116 room hotel near the airport. In San Juan del Sur, students will be housed in Hotel Villa Isabella, a 9 room guest house across the street from the Biblioteca Movil. All rooms at both hotels have private baths and internet access.

Faculty and Staff

Ann Carlson Weeks, Professor of the Practice in the College of Information Studies, will teach the course. Dr. Weeks is the Director of Collection Development for the International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL), the largest collection of children’s books freely available on the Internet. She has had extensive international consulting and speaking experience and has led People to People delegations to China, South Africa, Cuba, and Russia. Please contact Dr. Weeks for information about course content and itinerary.

For questions about the application, registration and pre-departure logistics, please contact the Study Abroad Office.