The International Library and Cultural Exchange Interest Group (ILCE-IG) seeks to create connections and cooperation between Colorado libraries and sister libraries all over the world.  The ILCE-IG supports individual and library partnerships and activities that enhance cultural understanding, as well as supporting cultural programming and activities that celebrate diverse ethnic and immigrant cultures in Colorado.  Local Colorado resident, Janet Lee, is a Regis University Fulbright recipient who is working in Axum, Ethiopia (which is about 600 miles from the Aurora Sister City International sister city of Adama, Ethiopia).  Janet realizes the importance of networking and building relationships in Axum as she conducts workshops on early childhood literacy, incorporating children’s book publishing in local languages (Amharic, Afan Oromo, and Tigrigna), and teaching others about the importance of early bilingual reading. Her efforts are helping locals translate books for children in multiple languages and creating life long partnerships and friendships.  Read Janet’s November newsletter HERE and see some of the challenges and rewards she has seen.  Janet has already had 8,000 books bound and helped establish 2 new libraries in Ethiopia.

For more information on Sister Libraries and Partnerships, click HERE.