The International Relations Round Table of the American Library Association
| In anticipation of the 50th anniversary celebration at the ALA meeting in New Orleans, a chronology and a list of the IRRT chairpersons were compiled and are reprinted here with permission of ALA’s International Relations Office.—Ed. |
The International Relations Round Table of the American Library Association (IRRT), founded in 1949, is the only membership organization in ALA focused solely on international activities and interests. IRRT’s Bylaws state its purpose as follows:
“to develop the interest of librarians in activities and problems in the field of international library relations: to serve as a channel of communication and counsel between the International Relations Committee and the members of the Association: and to provide hospitality and information to visitors from abroad. The IRRT arranges programs and business meetings and appoints representatives to attend meetings of other professional groups.”
IRRT CHRONOLOGY
- 1948 Williamstown Conference, Massachusetts. Sponsored by the International Relations Board (now Committee) to discuss library assignments abroad for U.S. librarians. Proposes creation of Round Table on Library Service Abroad to ALA Council.
- 1949 Round Table on Library Service Abroad (later renamed the IRRT) established at the request of members to provide a means of keeping the general membership of ALA informed of the international aspects of library work. The objective was later broadened to develop the interest of librarians and friends of libraries in activities and problems in the field of international relations. First Round Table meeting held in Washington, D.C. with Helen E. Wessells presiding as Chair.
- 1950 Round Table constitution adopted. Occasional publication, Bulletin, appears.
- 1956 Round Table name changed to International Relations Round Table in recognition of the wider aspects of international library work. The International Relations Committee created by ALA Council to replace the International Relations Board.
- 1957 Leads: A Fact Sheet formalized as quarterly publication with Helen E. Wessells as first editor. Annual membership dues for IRRT are $1.
- 1958 Theme of the ALA conference in San Francisco: “International Responsibilities of the ALA.” IRRT sponsors “The East‑West Dinner” at conference. IRRT publishes the Directory of American Librarians Who Studied or Worked Abroad 1940‑1958. Includes 275 librarians.
- 1959 IRRT sponsors “The Dinner of the Americas” at ALA conference in Washington, D.C. More than 600 attend.
- 1960 IRRT program at the Montreal Conference of the ALA and the Canadian Library Association‑Association Canadienne des Bibliothèques devoted to UNESCO.
- 1961 Foreign visitors are exempted from registration fees at annual conference. IRRT annual dues now $2.
- 1962 New bylaws adopted the supersede original constitution. India selected as IRRT conference theme for Miami.
- 1963 Second edition of Foreign Service Directory of American Librarians published.
- 1965 Leads institutes annual “regional issue”, beginning with Latin America. IRRT reception for foreign visitors makes cover of Library Journal (August). UNESCO activities are ALA conference topic in Detroit.
- 1966 IRRT devotes resources to examine the library situation in Nigeria and Thailand. Leads regional issue on the Near and Middle East.
- 1967 IRRT program on the Middle East. Leads regional issue on Southeast Asia. Third edition of Foreign Service Directory of American Librarians published under sponsorship of IRRT and University of Pittsburgh’s International Library Information Center (ILIC). Includes 1009 librarians.
- 1968 “Special Committee to Study IRRT Programs and Organization” appointed to review the present organization, membership involvement and program of IRRT.
- 1969 IRRT bylaws modified per recommendations of 1968/69 Special Committee. IRRT membership is 738.
- 1971 IRRT annual conference theme in Dallas is Mexican librarianship.
- 1972 Helen Wessells retires as editor of Leads. Elizabeth Lindsey assumed editorship. Leads devotes regional issue to “Library Development in the Middle East and North Africa 1967‑1972”
- 1973 Leads regional issue on Southeast Asia. IRRT hosts international reception in Las Vegas at the University of Nevada. Co‑sponsors program on international documents with GODORT.
- 1974 Leads publishes a report by Dorothy S. Obi, Enugu Campus Library, University of Nigeria: “Education for Librarianship in Sub‑Saharan Africa: Curriculum Development and Directions for the 70’s”
- 1976 Mohammed M. Aman edits Leads. Edward S. Moffat assumes Leads editorship. IFLA celebrates its 50th anniversary.
- 1979 Photographs introduced in Leads.
- 1980 Dorothy Pollet Gray becomes Leads editor and publication changes from fact sheet to magazine format.
- 1981 Leads regional issue on Latin America.
- 1982 Leads regional issue on Asia.
- 1983 Leads regional issue on the Middle East. W. L. Williamson becomes Leads editor. IRRT, together with ACRL Asia and African Section and the SRRT Human Rights Task Force, co‑sponsor program on Intellectual Freedom in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East at ALA conference in Los Angels. IRRT publication, Foreign Service Directory of American Librarians, discontinued.
- 1986 Library/Book Fellows Program established. IRC/IRRT Joint Subcommittee on International Exchanges created.
- 1987 Leads renamed International Leads
- 1988 IRC/IRRT Joint Subcommittee on International Exchanges publishes Going International: Librarians’ Preparation Guide for a Work Experience/Job Exchange Abroad.
- 1990 Orientation session for international attendees introduced at annual conference. 25 international visitors attend. IRRT chair edits International Leads (1989/90). Leena Siitonen becomes International Leads editor (1990). IRRT membership reported at 794. IRC/IRRT Joint Subcommittee on International Exchanges creates “Guidelines for Library Use in Foreign Countries” and “Guidelines for Short‑Term Visits to US by Foreign Librarians.” IRO established.
- 1991 IRRT membership survey conducted through International Leads. IRC/IRRT co‑sponsor annual program on Fulbright grants for librarians.
- 1992 IRC/IRRT co‑sponsor program in San Francisco, “Children’s Right to Know: The Mexican Experience” with keynote speaker, Dr. Ana María Magaloni de Bustamente. Interim International Leads editor, Robert P. Doyle.
- 1993 IRRT hosts program, “American Influence on International Library Development, Achievements and Opportunities” at annual conference.
- 1994 Robert P. Doyle becomes International Leads editor. International listserv, ALAWorld, founded. Annual program in Miami on Providing Customer Service to International Information Seeker.
- 1995 New mission statement for the IRRT adopted. IRRT receives $20,000 grant to sponsor workshops in Moldova and Romania to assist in the organization and development of national library associations in those countries and in the adoption of national and international library standards. United Nations Jubilee Anniversary, 1945‑1995. American Library in Paris is 75 years old.
- 1996 Continuing Education Institute introduced for international attendees at annual conference. Ron Chepesiuk named International Leads editor.
- 1997 Joint IRRT/Music Library Association program at annual conference. Barbara Ford’s ALA presidential theme “Libraries: Global Reach—Local Touch” introduced. Multilingual brochures for annual conference introduced.
- 1998 IRRT sponsors Midwinter workshop on international information flow. IRRT/IRC sponsors papers by non‑US librarians, “New Ways to Serve the Library User: a Global Perspective” at the ALA conference in Washington, DC. International poster sessions introduced. IRRT hosts international mentoring program at conference. Attendance at orientation/mentor session swells to over 500. IRRT website introduced. ALA funding of International Relations Office established.
- 1999 IRRT celebrates 50th anniversary with speakers Louise Robbins, Nancy John and Robert Wedgeworth. International papers, poster sessions, mentoring orientation and Continuing Education Institute continue. IRRT membership over 700.
| CHAIRS OF ROUNDTABLE ON LIBRARY SERVICE ABROAD |
| | |
| 1949 | Marietta Daniels Shepard |
| 1950 | Helen E. Wessells |
| 1951 | Irving Lieberman |
| 1952 | Dorcas W. Connor |
| 1953 | Wayne M. Hartwell |
| 1954 | Marie V. Hurley |
| CHAIRS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ROUND TABLE |
| | |
| 1956 | Lee Ash |
| 1957 | Kathleen B. Stebbins |
| 1958 | Jane Wilson |
| 1959 | John L. Nolan |
| 1960 | Laurence J. Kipp |
| 1961 | John Fall |
| 1962 | Harold Lancour |
| 1963 | Raymond C. Lindquist |
| 1964 | Elizabeth M. Robb |
| 1965 | William V. Jackson |
| 1966 | Lucile M. Dudgeon |
| 1967 | David Wilder |
| 1968 | Joseph Shubert |
| 1969 | James C. Marvin |
| 1969/70 | Morris Gelfand |
| 1970/71 | Frank M. McGowan |
| 1971/72 | Morris Gelfand |
| 1972/73 | Norman Horrocks |
| 1973/75 | Valmai B. Clark (Fenster) |
| 1975/76 | Elisabeth Nebehay |
| 1976/77 | Mohammed Aman |
| 1977/78 | David C. Donovan |
| 1978/79 | Jane P. Franck |
| 1979/80 | Donald F. Jay |
| 1980/81 | Josephine R. Fang |
| 1981/82 | Hans E. Panofsky |
| 1982/83 | Edwin S. Holmgren |
| 1983/84 | Warren M. Tsuneishi |
| 1984/85 | Edwin S. Gleaves |
| 1985/86 | Esther J. Walls |
| 1986/87 | Henriette D. Avram |
| 1987/88 | Theodore F. Welch |
| 1988/89 | Miles M. Jackson |
| 1989/90 | E. Christian Filstrup |
| 1990/91 | Jordan M. Scepanski |
| 1991/92 | Hannelore Rader |
| 1992/93 | Ernest A. Di Mattia |
| 1993/94 | Mohammed Aman |
| 1994/95 | Beverly Lynch |
| 1995/96 | Helen Meadors |
| 1996/97 | Opritsa Popa |
| 1997/98 | Nancy R. John |
| 1998/99 | Lucinda Covert‑Vail |