KU Libraries welcomes first international librarian-in-residence through global engagement initiative

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Libraries has welcomed its first international librarian-in-residence, marking a major step forward for the Institute for Globally Engaged Librarianship (IGEL) and its efforts to build meaningful global partnerships.

Patience Eméfa Dzandza Ocloo, a faculty member and senior lecturer in the Department of Information Studies at the University of Ghana, arrived in March and is spending part of her research sabbatical at KU Libraries.

During her residency, she has collaborated with librarians while exploring shared challenges shaping the future of libraries and digital scholarship. Her work has also focused on areas such as collaborative digital humanities, information literacy and artificial intelligence in libraries, with particular attention to how approaches developed at KU and other U.S. institutions might be adapted within African contexts.

“Dr. Ocloo brings a perspective that is essential to the conversations we want to be having,” said Brian Rosenblum, director of IGEL. “As librarians, we are part of a globally connected profession, and it is important that we engage with international perspectives and experiences in these key areas. We are excited and grateful she has chosen to spend part of her sabbatical at KU to share her expertise and further strengthen ties between our two institutions.”

Ocloo will engage broadly with KU Libraries and campus partners, such as the Kansas African Studies Center, contributing to ongoing initiatives while developing new opportunities for collaboration. She has participated in events and workshops across campus and will present her own work publicly toward the end of her residency in August.

“I’m looking forward to building deeper connections with colleagues at KU and beyond,” Ocloo said. “This experience will help me strengthen my own teaching in library science and bring new approaches back to my students, while continuing to grow the partnership between the University of Ghana and KU.”

The International Librarian-in-Residence program is a core initiative of IGEL, designed to bring global voices to KU while strengthening long-term institutional relationships. The program supports collaboration that extends beyond a single visit, connecting librarians and information professionals across borders.

Ocloo’s residency also builds on an established partnership between KU Libraries and the University of Ghana. In 2022, Rosenblum traveled to Ghana as a Fulbright Specialist, where he led a course on digital humanities and established connections that continue to thrive today. Following that visit, Ocloo and Rosenblum played key roles in organizing two international African Digital Humanities Symposia, hosted at the University of Ghana in 2024 and 2025 and supported by KU units including the Kansas African Studies Center, Institute for Digital Research in the Humanities and the Center for Cyber-Social Dynamics.

“Those earlier collaborations laid the groundwork for what we’re able to do now,” Rosenblum said. “This residency allows us to deepen that relationship and continue building something that is truly collaborative and global in scope.”

As IGEL continues to grow, the International Librarian-in-Residence program is expected to become a cornerstone of its work — bringing new perspectives to university while positioning KU Libraries as an active partner in shaping the future of global librarianship.

Faculty and staff interested in connecting with Ocloo during her residency are encouraged to reach out and explore opportunities for collaboration.