03-07 June 2024
I was looking forward to participating in Mortenson Center Associates Program for a long time and here it is, my wish came true! It is a thoroughly-planned and well-organized professional program for international librarians, thanks to Dr. Clara M. Chu and Dr. Peggy Nzomo, as well as Ms. Vuyokazi Jamieson.

I must mention that my first impressions exceeded my expectations.
Before starting the program a traditional dinner gathering took place in Dr. Barbara J. Ford’s house, which helped the participants and organizers get to know each other more closely, and in a cozy atmosphere.

Communicating with the Mortenson Center team, especially with the Ambassadors, the former Mortenson Center Director and ALA President Dr. Barbara J. Ford and Ms. Amani Ayad added special touch to the dinner gathering and let us collect unforgettable memories.
The first week of the program was rich with workshops and seminars, campus tour and library visits, including visits to Oak Street Library Facility, Grainger Engineering Library Information Center, The Urbana Free Library and University of Illinois Main Library, which were both enlightening and amazing experiences for me.
One of the most essential workshops was DiSC Assessment by Ms. Shirley N. Smith-Crews, during which I learned how important are all 4 main and 12 varied work styles for a successful teamwork. At the same time, personalities with certain work styles from time-to-time should adapt and adjust their approach to work depending on the requirements of their team members in order to achieve the desired results.
Also Transformative and Change Management workshop by Ms. Shirley N. Smith-Crews taught us that when change is inevitable, leaders must ensure a smooth and healthy transition by providing their team with clear goals, neutral zone and assertive guidelines/tools for new beginnings. The main steps include answering the questions:
– What do you want/need? – Goals
– Who do you need in your team? – Roles
– How will you get there? – Rules
It is a win-win or win-learn situation. You never lose.
Change Management workshop by Dr. Clara M. Chu equipped participants with strategies for leading and managing organizational change. It covered the issues related with a deeper understanding of change processes, improved leadership and communication skills, increased adaptability, strategic planning capabilities, enhanced stakeholder engagement, effective risk management, cultural transformation, and practical application of change management principles.
AI & Libraries, AI Literacy seminar conducted by Ms. Celenia Graves and Mr. David Ward aimed to enhance understanding of AI concepts and their applications in libraries. It covered ethical considerations, strategic planning for AI integration, and improving AI literacy among library staff. We learned about different AI tools and the benefits and challenges of AI in enhancing library services and fostering innovation.
Other workshops and seminars of the first week on important topics, such as Data Management with AI Tools by Dr. Laila Hussein and PhD student Amina Malik, Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship by Dr. Kristen Mattson, Cataloging and Technical Services by Ms. Myung-Ja, K. Han, E-resources and Acquisitions by Ms. Wendy Shelburne, Digital Literacy and Divide by PhD student Guangchun Zhen touched the professional library workflows, current issues and social responsibility activities, in which libraries’ and librarians’ support is undeniable.
Overall, the impressions of the first week were positive, motivational, and inspiring in terms of understanding the libraries roles in development of the modern society of information technology and culture.
Looking forward to welcoming the second week!