I have just returned from the Salzburg Global Seminar in Austria, where I was a faculty member for a five-day course on how to facilitate international exchanges of people (expertise) and objects, and overcome circulation obstacles, such as legal and political issues. The meeting was truly international. Throughout my career I have found that people talking to people is the most powerful kind of cultural exchange, and I am convinced that the most important thing is simply making connections.

We live in a global society, and our American libraries and museums have so much to share with, and learn from, people engaged in library and museum work throughout the world. Last year our board spent an entire meeting talking about the stunning array of cross cultural connections taking place between U.S. libraries and museums and their counterparts throughout the world.

I want IMLS to take a leadership role in fostering collegial information sharing all over the world. I am establishing an international strategic partnership effort, and have asked my senior staff to make connections with others around the globe. I welcome your input on the best ways to establish these important connections.

Please be in touch with Marsha Semmel (msemmel@imls.gov), IMLS Deputy Director, Office of Museum Services, and Director of Strategic Partnerships, with your thoughts.

- Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Ph.D., Director, IMLS

“Libraries and Cyberinfrastructure,” Joyce Ray, Office of Library Services, CIC (Committee on Institutional Cooperation) Library Conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, May 13.

“Trends in Library Education for Digital Stewardship,” Joyce Ray, Office of Library Services, Library of Congress Conservation Institute, Washington, DC, May 15.

“Perspectives on International Collaboration,” Joyce Ray, Office of Library Services, MICHAEL (Multilingual Inventory of Cultural Heritage in Europe) conference, London, England, May 23.

“Funding for the Arts, Humanities, Museums, and Libraries,” Kevin O’Connell (Panelist), Congressional Affairs Officer, Office of Policy, Planning, Research and Communication, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s Workshop, De Young Museum, Koret Auditorium, San Francisco, CA, May 22.

“IMLS Grant Opportunities,” Kevin O’Connell (Panel Chair), Congressional Affairs Officer, Office of Policy, Planning, Research and Communication, Workshop hosted by Congressman Daniel Lungren, Congressman John Doolittle, and Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Carmichael Branch Library, Carmichael, CA, May 27.

“IMLS Grant Opportunities,” Kevin O’Connell (Panel Chair), Congressional Affairs Officer, Office of Policy, Planning, Research and Communication, Workshop hosted by Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and Congressman Mike Thompson, California Indian Museum and Cultural Center, Santa Rosa, CA, May 28.

“IMLS Grant Opportunities,” Kevin O’Connell (Panel Chair), Congressional Affairs Officer, Office of Policy, Planning, Research and Communication, Workshop hosted by Congressman Mike Honda, Congressman Pete Stark, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, May 28.

“Partners Meeting,” Mamie Bittner, Carlos Manjarrez, Lesley Langa, Office of Policy, Planning, Research and Communication, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, May 29 – 30.

“Picturing America Event,” Anne Radice, Director, National Endowment for the Humanities conference, Philadelphia, PA, June 3.

“Partnering with Libraries and Museums,” Abby Swetz, Program Specialist, The Big Read National Orientation Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, June 8-9.

“Open House Celebrating Connecting to Collections,” Anne Radice, Director, The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA), Philadelphia, PA, June 10.

African American Museum site visits, Dr. Schroeder Cherry, Counselor to the Director, Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA , June 10 -13.

“Who is Our Audience,” Mamie Bittner, Deputy Director, Office of Policy, Planning, Research and Communication, National Museum Publishing Seminar, Chicago, IL, June 13.