Librarians Without Borders

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Librarians Without Borders (LWB) is an international nonprofit that helps people access information and promotes learning. It is based in London, Ontario, Canada and was started in 2005 by Melanie Sellar and Jorge Chimbinda at the University of Western Ontario's library school. The organization is run by student committees at five Canadian universities and a volunteer executive team and Board of Directors.

Mission and work
- LWB aims to improve access to information no matter language, geography, or religion by partnering with local organizations in developing regions.
- It runs outreach programs to inspire learning, community involvement, and citizen scientists.
- Members are based in over 75 countries, with most in Canada and the United States.

Key projects and partnerships
- Angola (Huambo): The first project focused on building a library with medical and nursing resources and helping local staff with collection development and information literacy.
- Ghana (Accra): In 2011, LWB partnered with Librii to create a digitally powered library in Accra. Librii covered upfront facility costs and content updates, while LWB provided professional expertise to set up and manage the library.
- Costa Rica (El Humo de Pejibaye): In 2010, LWB helped build a school library, provided books and materials, and helped establish cataloging methods and a library handbook.
- Guatemala (Quetzaltenango, Asturias Academy): In 2010, LWB students helped establish a school library, focusing on cataloging, collection development, space planning, and programming. LWB has run annual library service trips to Guatemala since then.

Governance and scope
- LWB is supported by graduate student committees from five Canadian universities, along with an Executive Team and Board of Directors.
- The organization partners with local community groups, NGOs, educational institutions, and other nonprofits to improve access to information and library services.