Bridging Worlds: Emerging Models and Practices of U.S. Academic Libraries Around the Globe

Over the past decade, a growing number of American institutions of higher education have made international engagement a key facet of their missions, emphasizing global awareness, interconnectedness, and student and community
diversity. Most ambitiously, more and more universities are establishing campuses, branches, and enhanced programs outside of the United States. Many U.S. universities are partnering with foreign institutions in the Middle East and East Asia, capitalizing on interest in introducing and integrating Western higher education into these regions. These collaborations seek to take advantage of the blending of cultural, social, political, and economic communities to chart new territories in research, teaching, and learning. Whether driven by the need to recruit more international students, the desire to prepare students for work in a more globalized world, or as a vehicle to initiate broader global partnerships with foreign entities, these ventures certainly represent a growing emphasis in higher education.