The new National Library of Bahrain is starting to build collections, develop public services, and prepare staff for new challenges. Serving as a Fulbright Senior Specialist, Lynn Westbrook contributed to these efforts in May 2009. She taught 12 different classes for the Library’s cataloguers, acquisition librarians, reference librarians, and administrators. The last of four invited specialists, Dr. Westbrook provided a “capstone” experience for staff in her presentations on critical thinking, developing a collection management policy, and information seeking.

She also taught all-day seminars on user education, information seeking, and collection management to the staff of the University of Bahrain Library. This well established library has experienced staffers who requested additional in-house training as part of this Fulbright opportunity. In addition, Dr. Westbrook taught a two-part workshop on structured information retrieval to members of the Bahrain Library Association.

Dr Westrbook reports that library staffers at both institutions were highly engaged, deeply committed, and avidly learning throughout each session.