Commission for International Library Assistance (CILA) ...
Founded in 1989 by the Association of Christian Librarians, CILA was charged with developing a strategic plan for assisting Christian libraries in other countries.
Commission goals include:
- Mobilizing the skills of Christian academic librarians for service, especially outside the U.S. and Canada
- Providing funding to send materials and trained persons to Christian institutions of higher learning primarily beyond North American borders
- Creating specialized resources for use in Christian institutions of higher learning in developing countries
CILA consists of members of the ACL who are appointed by the Board of Directors. CILA members develop and direct projects that advance the goals of both ACL and CILA, with the general secretary acting as the official liaison between CILA and Christian librarians and organizations around the world.
CILA Mission Statement
The Commission for International Library Assistance (CILA) serves libraries in Christian institutions of higher learning, especially outside the United States and Canada, with the training of their staff, the organizing and managing of their collections, and the strengthening of an infrastructure to maintain and improve themselves.
CILA Projects
CILA fulfills its mission through projects such as:
- The Librarian's Manual, a text for beginning librarians in developing countries. To order, click here.
- Training seminars — which cover cataloging, ordering, book repair, and other library operations — have been conducted in the Caribbean, Africa, Bolivia, and Asia.
- Consulting and assistance — to libraries in Barbados, India, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Thailand, and Trinidad — have been provided by ACL volunteers.
CILA Members
CILA Team | |||
Position |
Name |
Organization |
Term Expires |
| Coordinator | Georgianne Bordner | Regent University | 2011 |
| General Secretary | Ferne Weimer | Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics | 2011 |
| Member-at-Large | Dorothy Bowen | Eastern Kentucky University at Richmond | 2012 |
| Member-at-Large | Pam Sarno | TCMI Institute | 2010 |
| Member-at-Large | Karen Parsons | Spring Arbor University | 2010 |
| Member-at-Large | Linda Lambert | Taylor University | 2011 |
To participate in CILA's activities, please use the online CILA Volunteer Form. This form, only available to members, is used to show your interest levels, skills, and previous experience. You can update your information on the form whenever and as often as you would like. The CILA team will then use that information to match your information with upcoming trips.
For more information, please contact:
Ferne Weimer
(CILA General Secretary)
E-mail: Ferne.Weimer@juno.com
Pledge your support
Part of ACL's budget goes to support CILA, but institutions and individuals interested in supporting any of CILA's projects may do so through a contribution to the Foundation for the Advancement of Christian Librarians (FACL). Contributions to FACL are tax deductible and should be sent to:
Foundation for the Advancement of Christian Librarians
P.O. Box 4
Cedarville, OH 45314