April 22, 2008

“Knowledge is there to be shared with others”

Bethlehem University Library hosts Book and Technology Fair

To highlight the importance of reading and technology for learning and education, Bethlehem University organized a Book and Technology Fair from April 10 to April 12 attended by university and college librarians, students and guests from all over the West Bank and Jerusalem .

The event, organized by the University Library under the supervision of Library Director Ms. Mellie Brodeth, brought together academic librarians from the region to exchange professional experience, and display wholesale books and other resources as well as cultural and technology exhibitions to an interested public.

In a workshop entitled “Reading and Technology at the Service of Everyone”, attended by over 35 academic staff and faculty from different parts of the West Bank and Jerusalem, experts working in academic libraries shared their knowledge about the latest technological developments in different fields such as the use of E-resources, E-learning and Library Automation.

In his opening speech Brother Robert Smith, Academic Vice President and interim Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, cited the example of 10 Bethlehem University students from Gaza who graduated from the Occupational Therapy program via video conference, commenting on both the great benefits and challenges created by modern communication technology, “Technology enables us to do things many of us couldn't imagine to engage and empower the local community. As an academic institution we have several responsibilities: If information is power, how do we empower those with little or no access to information? How can we help them to distinguish good from bad? How can we help others become information literate?”

Ms. Mellie Brodeth, PhD, Library Director, spoke about “ Reading , Technology and Change in Academic Libraries,” reflecting the pervasiveness of technology in the work of university libraries. “For us, knowledge and whatever resources we have are an important good that should be shared with others,” she commented on the mission of the Bethlehem University Library.

Also during the three days of the book fair, the Turathuna Center of Palestinian Heritage, which is a part of the University Library, awarded prizes for the winners of a painting contest for students attending secondary schools in Bethlehem and a separate competition between Bethlehem University students. The Students gathered excitedly in the Palestinian Heritage Center to find out who were the lucky ones.

Another contribution to the Fair was made by the Bethlehem University Media Services Center , which presented video clips produced by its staff as well as simultaneous audio visual projects created by Computer and Information Systems (CAIS) students for their final projects.

The Bethlehem University Library thanks all the participants and organizers who helped making this event a success.

Special Thanks goes too the bookstores Dar Al Shuroq, Abu Ghoush Agency, Dandies Bookshop and Sharbain's Bookshop which donated 10 per cent of their sales to the University Library. The financial support is a contribution to the “Best Student Assistant Scholarship”, a scholarship helping students pay their tuition as a reward for showing good performance working as assistants in the Library.