LIS student Meera Garud is participating in a study abroad program, Developing Services for a Knowledge-Based Economy through Namibian Libraries, through the University of Maryland’s iSchool. She and four other LIS graduate students from UMD, Drexel University, and the University of Rhode Island will spend two weeks meeting Namibia’s leaders in library development, higher education and information infrastructure. Students also will have contact with local citizens and staff at two regional centers at which information services and training are offered for citizens.
During their pre-departure orientation, students will meet with American experts on Namibia and Namibians living in the US. They will spend their first week in Windhoek, the capital, meeting local librarians, educators and innovators in the IT sector, and visiting national and local libraries, archives and private sector organizations. During the second week, they will travel to one of two regional centers in northern cities, where they will offer information literacy training for local staff and direct programs for the public.
Follow the group’s blog https://umdnamibianlibraries.wordpress.com to find out what Meera and her classmates are up to this summer!