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UMW library director speaks at forum in China

December 23, 2014

Michael Schulz, director of UMW’s Carson Library, joined colleagues from the University of Montana and Helena College for a trip to China Nov. 15-24 for the “Global Perspective: Academic Library Directors’ Forum.”

The forum included library directors, deans and associate deans from Erasmus University in the Netherlands, Rutgers University, the University of Montana system, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, West Virginia University and academic libraries from across China. 

At the forum, academic library leaders came together to share extensive experiences in scientific research, published knowledge and best practices on current issues. Schulz was one of the keynote speakers at the forum, which was held at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

“Professionally, I gained a great deal,” said Schulz. “We met dedicated librarians who are working tirelessly for students and faculty and listened to and talked shop with these professionals. The learning we engaged in was rich and deep.”

After the forum in Shanghai, the University of Montana system library directors traveled to Beijing where they visited the Beijing Technology and Business University library and then presented to Beijing library directors at the China Economic Information Network Data Company Limited headquarters.

The trip wrapped up with an informal presentation and school visit at the China Youth University of Political Studies.

Schulz plans to implement some of what he learned on his trip to China within the library at Montana Western.

“The Carson Library at UMW will benefit from my trip to China in many ways,” said Schulz. “It benefits from the connections that I have developed by attending the conference and meeting such great and gifted professional librarians from all over the world. The UMW library benefits from the ideas I picked up from touring three wonderful and architecturally striking libraries in Shanghai and Beijing. These libraries were state-of-the-art facilities with excellent technology and wonderful collections in multiple languages.”

While in China, Schulz was also able to take in the sights and culture of Shanghai and Beijing.

“This was my second trip to China and it was by far the best,” said Schulz. “It allowed me to meet many more Chinese than I had previously and to experience more of the local color. We were really imbedded in their culture to a much greater extent and longer period of time than my previous visit.”

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