Managing the IFLA/OCLC Fellowship program, which began in 2001, is one of the most professionally rewarding experiences of my career. The Program provides advanced continuing education and exposure to a broad range of issues in information technologies, library operations and global cooperative librarianship. With the five Fellows from the 2017 class, the Program has welcomed 85 librarians and information science professionals from 38 countries.

Each year a new class of Fellows brings a new wave of enthusiasm and energy to the program, which we sponsor with IFLA. This class was no exception.

They are:

• Patience Ngizi-Hara, The Copperbelt University, Zambia
• Eric Nelson Haumba, YMCA Comprehensive Institute, Uganda
• Sharisse Rae Lim, National Library of the Philippines
• Jerry Mathema, Masiyephambili College, Zimbabwe
• Nguyen Van Kep, Hanoi University, Vietnam

These Fellows will inspire breakthroughs in librarianship around the world and within their communities, and they are equally inspiring to all of us who had the opportunity of interacting with them. They will go on to become library leaders and mentors to others in their home countries. And they will advance the sharing of knowledge around the world.

Video: the 2017 IFLA/OCLC Fellows describe challenges & opportunities for libraries in their countries. Click To Tweet

As we were closing out this year’s program, we asked the Fellows to share their experiences and to describe the challenges and opportunities facing libraries in their countries. I invite you to take a look at this moving two-minute video. Congratulations and thank you, IFLA/OCLC class of 2017.