Note for interested SLAIS students: Students wishing to apply credit hours to their degree program should contact Rick Kopak, SLAIS Graduate Advisor, to discuss eligibility.
Paul Jones and Barbara Wildemuth, faculty members at the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will lead the popular and exciting summer seminars to Prague, Czech Republic and London, England. The seminars present a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit some of the most remarkable libraries and museums in the world. Set for May 18 to May 31, 2014, the two week seminars offer an opportunity to gain an in-depth view of libraries and librarianship in the world’s most historic places. Registration is open to everyone. However, students enrolled in a library science program can receive three (3) hours of graduate credit for the seminar.
THE PRAGUE SUMMER SEMINAR
Prague, the magical city of cathedrals, gold-tipped towers, and church domes, is one of the most popular destinations in East Central Europe. This summer seminar allows library professionals to explore the past, present and future of libraries and librarianship in the heart of one of the world’s most remarkable, yet largely undiscovered, countries. During this two-week, residential summer program participants will enjoy lectures and tours related to librarianship in this culturally and academically rich country. In addition to visiting libraries and museums in Prague, the group will also make trips to visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites, Kroměříž (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/860) and Český Krumlov (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/617) with their historic libraries, castles and gardens.
Accommodation in the center of Prague allows participants to explore this historic and absorbing capital city during the week, and the surrounding countryside during their free time on the weekends. More information about Prague can be found in the Lonely Planet Guide at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/617. This seminar has been offered each summer by UNC and Charles University in Prague since 2002.
The Prague Summer Seminar will be led by SILS clinical professor Paul Jones. Paul has been the lead faculty from UNC on our London program (2012) and has traveled in the Balkans, Greece, Turkey and Italy. With the support of SILS and the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication, he has directed ibiblio.org since its beginning in 1992 as sunsite.unc.edu. Having earned his MFA (in Writing) from Warren Wilson College, Jones is particularly looking forward to visiting the city of Václav Havel, Milan Kundera and Franz Kafka. While Jones is very involved in digital preservation and digital distribution, his experiences in Europe and Asia inform his passion for libraries and museums as both a local and global practice.
“The seminar in Prague was a spectacular addition to my graduate studies. With the group I was able to see libraries and books unavailable to any tourist, or through any other program. The guides were attentive and put together creative and interesting programs and tours for us. We were treated like visiting scholars and colleagues. The Czech Republic itself is a quintessentially beautiful European country and we got to see quite a lot of it. I recommend this program to anyone!”
~ Prague summer seminar participant
To register, or to learn more about the summer seminar in Prague, visit: http://sils.unc.edu/programs/international/prague
THE LONDON SUMMER SEMINAR
The London Summer Seminar is offered May 18 to May 31, 2014 by SILS and the Department of Information Studies at University College London (UCL). The seminar will be held in London, one of the most historic and dynamic cities in the world, and will feature lectures and presentations at UCL as well as tours of libraries and cultural heritage institutions in England.
Although most of the program will take place in London, there will be day trips to visit the university libraries at both Oxford and Cambridge. In London, participants will tour behind the scenes at the British Library, the National Archives, the Imperial War Museum (including its library) and the Wellcome Library (including the History of Medicine Collection). Visits will be made to other types of libraries and there will be presentations from experts in the field of librarianship in Great Britain. There will also be guided tours of UCL and the Bloomsbury area of London. Some free time will be built into the program so that participants can explore London and visit other libraries and cultural institutions of their choice.
SILS Professor, Dr. Barbara Wildemuth, will lead the seminar to London. She regularly teaches courses in human information interaction, information ethics and research methods at SILS. She has traveled abroad through a Fulbright Senior Specialists Grant (2007, to Prague) and to present her work at international conferences in Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, England, Finland and Italy. In the past, she has led five of SILS’ international seminars.
“The London Summer Seminar was one of the best experiences of my life; integrating all the top aspects of many types of librarianship, and the joys of being with other enthusiastic librarians in one of the best cities in the world. Not only do you get to visit the birthplace of libraries, but you are immersed into another way of life… British-style. You will not want to leave the city or the friends you make here!”
For more details or to register, please visit: http://sils.unc.edu/programs/international/london
If you have any questions about the seminar, please contact us via e-mail at: silsabroad@unc.edu
Just a few slots left! Remember that these popular seminars are open on a first come, first served basis. Register is open until April 1t, but register today to reserve your space!
