Planning began right away for four Speed Friending events, along with an International Talent Show and a photo contest.
We spent four weeks working on submission documents (due May 2016), and in June we received confirmation that CAL funding would be granted to the CU Libraries for implementation during the 2016-17 academic year.
In April 2016, we learned that the International Library Cultural Exchange Interest Group of the Colorado Association of Libraries was sponsoring a grant that supported activities celebrating non-dominant cultures living in Colorado. The challenge is creating an environment where international students feel comfortable sharing and conversing with domestic students.
The purpose of Speed Friending is to promote intercultural understanding and inclusivity in the library.