(L-R) Glenford Barrera, librarian with Belize’s National Heritage Library; Deborah Davis, Odum Library archivist; Lusiola Castillo, public services librarian with Belize’s National Library Service, and Alan Bernstein, Odum Library circulation manager Bainbridge College (BC) hosted two librarians from Belize in October as part of an on-going cooperative program between the college and Belizean schools and libraries, said BC Library Director Susan Ralph, who has been an integral part of the initiative of the Consortium for Belize Educational Cooperation (COBEC), which she serves as treasurer.

She coordinated the visit of Glenford Barrera, a librarian with the National Heritage Library in the Belizean capital, Belmopan, and Lusiola Castillo, public services librarian with Belize’s National Library Service. They received training in library procedures at BC, and a detailed tour at Southwest Georgia Regional Library System and its Subregional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Their Oct. 6-10 visit included a tour of Valdosta State University’s Odum Library and its COBEC Archives. During their time in Valdosta, they visited with three Belizean students who attend VSU. In addition to their library training, the Belizeans enjoyed an art exhibit and reception at the Firehouse Gallery and a performance at Bainbridge Little Theatre.

“They really got a lot out of their visit to Georgia,” said Ms. Ralph, co-coordinator with faculty member Dr. Dave Nelson of BC’s International Education Program, which will present special activities during International Education Week Nov. 16-20. She noted that Ms. Castillo said the visit was interesting, the hospitality extraordinary, and the library experiences valuable. Among the ideas they gained and hope to use in Belize are Toddlers Tales activities and implementing BC ideas such as creating a Facebook for the library.

Through her work with the BC Library, the International Education Program, and COBEC, Ms. Ralph has forged partnerships with Belize’s National Library Service for various projects and with various academic institutions there. BC has an ongoing Early Childhood Education program with Corozal Junior College, she said, adding that BC education majors are busy planning fundraising activities, such as selling poinsettias and two yard sales, to help defray costs of their trip to study at Corozal during Spring Break. Their yard sales will be Nov. 18, during International Education Week, and Dec. 5.