Cristina Dominguez Ramirez: Harold Lancour Scholarship for Foreign Study

Receiving the Harold Lancour Scholarship has meant a great deal to me as I was able to fund my trip to Segovia, Spain in the summer of 2008. I was able to conduct interviews with various library and information center directors. Based on my data collection, conversations, and site visits, I have begun to work on a larger project of how a historic city promotes its many layers of culture to its own citizens and to the outside world. Also I am interested in seeing the organizations and agency's uses of culture for promotion of tourism and education of the population. Segovia is a city that has Jewish, Moorish, and Christian history. This rich history and culture is evident in architecture, art, music, food, customs, and traditions. Many centers are not just collecting and housing archives and materials related to this culture, they are actively engaging the public to educate them about the culture. Some examples are symposiums, presentations, open houses of archives, guided tours of historic sites, musical presentations and cooperation with other tourism agencies and cultural partners. I plan on writing a book on this research as I collect more and continue researching the information center’s activities. I have been collecting images and brochures of their work. In Richmond, Virginia I have been working on several things. I have just completed serving on the- Leadership Metro Richmond Education Planning Team for Leadership Metro Richmond’s Education Seminar Day held at the University of Richmond. I am preparing for Virginia Commonwealth University Summer Study Abroad Program in London for the Wilder School. The summer program is in Urban Planning and Regional Development in London. I am participating in this program to complete my last six credit hours towards completing a Master of Public Administration at VCU. I also am getting ready for ALA Chicago in which I serve on ALA Council, ACRL EBSS Research Committee, ACRL CHOICE Editorial Board and as an ACRL Legislative Advocate. I just received word that I was selected to receive a travel grant to attend National Library Legislative Day in Washington D.C. as an ACRL Legislative Advocate.