Library Education, Southeast Asia and Simmons Patricia G. Oyler Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science Boston, MA

Simmons and Southeast Asia Long relationship with Southeast Asia Simmons graduate established first library school in China Mary Elizabeth Wood established the first library school, the Wenhua (Boone) Library School, in Thai graduate is Vice President of Academic and International Affairs and faculty of Library School at Khon Kaen University

Simmons and Southeast Asia Long relationship with Southeast Asia Thai graduate is Head of Department of Library Science at Chulalongkorn University Simmons faculty have taught and consulted with schools of library and information science in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore

Simmons and Vietnam Project: Simmons College / Harvard Yenching Scholar Librarian Program Goal: Educate Vietnamese librarians to assist in meeting the research needs of faculty and students Vision: Enable Vietnamese librarians to develop an information infrastructure for Vietnam

Simmons and Vietnam Specifics: 5 cohorts of approximately 6 librarians 3 months English program Majority of Master’s degree courses in 1 year Internship of 1 month in US library Last course in Vietnam Visit libraries in Vietnam

Simmons and Vietnam Results: 30 Vietnamese librarians have received a Master of Science in Library and Information Science since 1993 Establish Vietnamese information infrastructure Direct major libraries

Simmons and Vietnam Teach in Vietnamese library programs Start new library program at Can Tho University in Mekong Delta Found library organizations Participate in Vietnamese library delegations to China, Australia, England, Sweden, Netherlands, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand

Simmons and Vietnam Found library organizations Participate in library delegations abroad Advisory committee for translation of library standards of Dewey, AACR2, MARC Write articles for Vietnamese and international library journals Give speeches and presentations at national, regional, and international conferences

Simmons and Vietnam Support from Simmons faculty Conduct continuing education courses Consult on the translation of the Dewey Decimal Classification, MARC21 and AACR2 Write proposals for workshops on library automation, translation of Dewey and AACR2, etc. Consult on library automation

Simmons and Vietnam Conduct workshops for library school faculty on standards for library education and reviewing and creating curriculum Consult and participate in designing curriculum for new library school program Meet with Ministry of Education and Training to emphasize and support the development of library education

Simmons and Vietnam Benefits: Shows that educated librarians in charge of libraries results in stronger libraries and better library service Recognition of value of libraries and educated librarians by government and Ministry of Education and Training Advance Vietnamese librarianship quickly

Simmons and Vietnam Issues: Need for English for continued training in US and other countries Need for support and development of library education in Vietnam Need to continue contact and support of alumni with continuing education and advice