NEWS

By JENA WITTKAMP
UNC News Services

CHAPEL HILL – Explore some of Europe’s oldest and most unique libraries this summer, including Prague’s library of prohibited books and Oxford’s 17^th-century Bodleian Library, with two seminars offered by the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The school is offering a seminar in Oxford, England, May 16-29, and one in Prague, Czech Republic, May 30-June 2. Anyone with an interest in international libraries and librarianship may participate. Registration ends April 19.

The Oxford seminar will delve into the past, present and future of libraries in England. Participants will visit the Bodleian Library, which holds more than 6 million items, attracts thousands of researchers annually and serves as a British copyright library. In past years, participants also have toured the Oxford University Press and the British Library in London. Local experts will lecture on topics ranging from preservation and conservation to trends in academic libraries.

"The Oxford seminar allows you to meet and learn from respected professionals, with time to visit the colleges of Oxford, experience the town and surrounding countryside and see how tradition melds with the new," said Sarah Snow, a UNC graduate student and past participant. For more information or online registration, visit http://www.ils.unc.edu/ils/continuing_ed/oxford.

The Prague seminar will focus on how access to information in the Czech Republic has been altered since 1993 by its transition from a communist state to a democracy. Participants will learn through lectures on librarianship and politics as well as tours of centuries-old libraries not open to Westerners until recent years.

"Those who travel to Prague with us have a unique opportunity to explore one of Europe's most beautiful cities and learn how the new spirit of freedom has dramatically affected the country’s libraries and librarians," said Dr. Jerry Saye, a library and information science professor and the trip's academic adviser.

The final itinerary is being developed, but participants in years past have visited the libraries and facilities of Central Europe’s oldest university, Charles University, founded in 1348. They also have toured various sites including the National Library, a castle library, the Strahov Monastery library and the Municipal Library.

"The tours, presentations and discussions were informative to me not only as a future librarian but also as someone wanting to learn more about Czech history and culture," said Amy Hroziencik, a San Jose State University graduate student and past participant.

For more information or online registration, visit http://ils.unc.edu/ils/continuing_ed/prague.

Participants can choose to earn three hours of graduate credit from the school for attending and completing a research paper on either of the seminars.

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(Wittkamp, of Raleigh, is a December 2003 UNC graduate, with degrees in women’s studies and journalism and mass communication.)

School of Information and Library Science Contact: Lara Bailey, 962-8366, ljbailey@email.unc.edu

News Services Contact: L.J. Toler, 962-8589, laura_toler@unc.edu