(See images at the end)

Welcoming us into her home, Barbara Forde’s cozy drawing room provided the perfect setting to kick off the Mortenson Centre’s Associate Program 2025, a journey I feel truly fortunate to be a part of. The atmosphere was relaxed, the food was delicious, and the warm, inviting environment created the ideal backdrop for the excitement and anticipation we all shared. The group itself was a reflection of the program’s global reach: a diverse mix of individuals hailing from countries across the world, each with our own unique backgrounds and perspectives, eager to start our collective journey towards professional development and personal growth.

As the formal week played out, the information I learned gave new meaning to the word “intentional”. One of the many things that stood out to me was the intent in the recognition paid to the first peoples, the Indian nations whose lands upon which the University was built. This homage (which we had also previously heard in our pre-arrival virtual meetings) reminded me of the value of intentionally establishing the connections with our past to build a more aware, inclusive, and respectful future. This for me, set the tone for the entire program. It wasn’t simply about learning new concepts or skills; it was also about developing a more profound sense of awareness.

This sense of awareness and intentionality seamlessly carried into our discussions as we delved into the program’s theme: “Libraries unbound: open, inclusive and engaged”. We addressed what each of these words mean to our libraries back home, and how we might conceptually dismantle the barriers—be they physical, cultural, or institutional—that restrict our libraries’ potential. Becoming unbound requires the foresight to look at where we need to be to create the impact we want to create. Dr Lisa Hinchcliffe aptly put this into perspective, giving us two tools that can assist in this regard: futures thinking and futures wheel. Futures thinking encourages us to examine the trends emerging today, to understand how they might shape our world in the future, and to determine how we, as library and information professionals, can influence these developments. The futures wheel, on the other hand, offers a way to explore the cascading effects of a specific change event (mapping out the potential outcomes of strategic decisions). Essentially, it helps us understand the cause-and-effect relationships: if one change occurs, what might follow—and how can we strategically prepare for or shape those outcomes?

Of course, meaningful impact is forged through strong, collaborative teams. With an excellent presentation of the DISC model, Mrs. Shirley Smith-Crews was able to help us dissect our own workplace personality types to first understand ourselves and then understand how to work collaboratively with the differing styles of others on our teams. This was the most profound session for me, as I have often struggled at work with a disconnect between what I say and how my message is received – a challenge I knew I needed to address, but had no clear idea how to approach. If I could have bottled Mrs. Smith-Crews and taken her home with me to Trinidad and Tobago, I would have gladly done so, but since I can’t, I cherish the insights and tools she left with us and I’m eager to apply them not only in my own communication but also to help others back home do the same. Of course, the transition will not be easy, but I now have the tools to make my intentional efforts have greater impact.

To end this whirlwind week, we visited the OCLC headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, as well as the Ohio State University (OSU) and the Westerville Public Library. At OCLC, whose taglines are “because what is known must be shared” and “together we make breakthroughs possible” (do you see the intentionality?!), we were privileged to visit its LAM space, its data servers and its global monitoring room. As we toured the designated locations in Ohio, we focused on four key principles from OCLC’s The New Model Library report: agility, collaboration, virtualization, and space. At the OSU Research Commons for graduate students, these principles were brought to life in remarkable ways. While the staff initially envisioned a clear plan for the use of space, they continually assessed the evolving needs of users, which prompted them to adapt and redesign accordingly. This ongoing feedback loop, coupled with the adoption of new technologies, allowed them to maintain the agility to pivot and improve upon what wasn’t working. In addition, they collaborated with other stakeholders on campus who had similar output to theirs, increasing their relevance. It was also truly eye-opening to witness the depth of collaboration and community engagement at the Westerville Public Library. Their program design and figures were nothing short of impressive—one event alone drew an astounding 3,000 attendees and another event, a book signing, ended at 2am! This level of participation underscored the library’s ability to connect meaningfully with its community, fostering a space where diverse interests are met and diverse groups could come together, share experiences, and learn. It was clear that the library’s success wasn’t just about offering services, but about actively shaping and responding to the needs of its community, creating a sense of belonging and a hub for shared growth.

Last, but certainly not least, the friendships we began to form at the start of the week only deepened as we grew more comfortable with one another. We exchanged tokens from our homelands, shared many meals, and engaged in meaningful conversations. One of the highlights was when our colleague from Qatar graciously prepared a delicious traditional meal from her homeland, adding a special touch to our shared experience. In addition to these group connections, the Mortenson Center ensured that we were able to navigate the American culture by thoughtfully assigning each of us a buddy, someone we could meet with to discuss everything from local customs to everyday experiences, further enriching our understanding and connection to the environment at UIUC.

Week one did not disappoint! Here are some images that captured our week: