My journey to the Mortenson Associate Program 2023 began in Accra on Sunday, 21 May 2023, and I arrived in Champaign, Illinois on Tuesday, 23 May 2023, after a tiring 27-hour and 40-minute trip through Doha and Dallas. Together with two of my other colleagues, we were welcomed by Dr. Peggy Nzomo who welcomed us warmly and ushered us to our rooms at the Newman Hall.

 My first week at the Mortenson Center was both engaging and educational. The warm welcome from the staff, the opportunity to introduce other associate members, and the comprehensive tour of the campus and the main library on the first day set the stage for an exciting and fruitful experience ahead..

The highlights of the week include but not limited to:

• The Mortenson Centre provided us with valuable information on library assessment, innovation management, and future leadership styles. The sessions exposed me to new approaches and tools to assess library services, embrace innovation, and cultivate effective leadership practices, as well as enhance sustainability in providing library services.  These areas are crucial for staying relevant in the rapidly evolving library landscape. The interactive nature of the sessions allowed for engaging discussions and sharing of experiences among the participants.

• Mortenson Center offered a rich learning experience on emerging trends in reference and outreach, undergraduate services, and the role of consortia. The sessions provided valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance library services, engage with diverse user populations, and adapt to the changing needs of patrons.  My major take home (especially for the presentation on the BIX Ten Consortium) is that there is more to the consortium than to share E-resources only.  The presenter on the Consortium ended the presentation with this quote:

” Librarians like writers have a serious charge to transform  this country into something more than it is today-to serve people not to serve technology…….. The goal, is to be able in dying to say “ All my conscious life and energy, all my arts and crafts have been dedicated to  the most noble cause in the world.: the education and the liberation of the human spirit and mind, beginning with my own” (Maya Angelou)

The presentation on undergraduate services that was given was truly enlightening. The array of programs and the online tutorial service offered by the library to support faculty members and students are incredibly inspiring. I aspire to replicate these remarkable services at Accra Technical University.

• The tours of the Oak Street Facility and Champaign Public Library gave us a broader perspective on library operations and highlighted innovative approaches to community engagement I highly valued the extensive storage facility and the significance of preserving every book without weeding them out, as is often practiced in my country. Personally, I am intrigued by the sheer magnitude of the storage capacity and wonder how many books it can accommodate.

• The lunch with our Library Buddies and the welcome dinner fostered a sense of camaraderie and provided an opportunity to connect with colleagues in a relaxed setting.

I look forward to the upcoming weeks, where I will further immerse myself in the  program’s activities and make the most of the valuable resources and collaborative environment it offers.