Abstract

Is your library contemplating an international librarian exchange? Such exchanges not only increase participants’ understanding of other cultures, they also challenge participants to look at their own cultures from a new perspective. Two academic librarians, Yuka Taniguchi from Kobe University1 (Japan) and Barbara Tierney from the University of Central Florida2 discuss their visits to each other’s libraries in 2016–2017 to share information about their respective learning commons and outreach programs. This article focuses on the lessons learned for each librarian and practical tips on how to accomplish a successful academic library foreign exchange.

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East Meets West: The Japan Association of National University Libraries (JANUL) and the University of Central Florida (UCF) Exchange Librarians and Learning Commons Information

Is your library contemplating an international librarian exchange? Such exchanges not only increase participants’ understanding of other cultures, they also challenge participants to look at their own cultures from a new perspective. Two academic librarians, Yuka Taniguchi from Kobe University1 (Japan) and Barbara Tierney from the University of Central Florida2 discuss their visits to each other’s libraries in 2016–2017 to share information about their respective learning commons and outreach programs. This article focuses on the lessons learned for each librarian and practical tips on how to accomplish a successful academic library foreign exchange.