2021

On December 22, 2021, Director Jim Keiken and Dr. Lian Ruan attended the 2nd International Symposium on Public Security and Global Governance hosted online by Jinan University. Director Jim Keiken was invited to give the first keynote presentation entitled “Training Firefighters in the United States.” More than 100 participants joined online, 60 faculty and students joined in person, and 40 experts participated in the symposium.

2019

In early December 2019, Dr. Ruan visited Jiangsu University Library, Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics Library, Zhejiang Industry Polytechnic College Library, Shaoxing Library, and Hainan Tropical Ocean University Library in Sanya, Hainan Province. In the end of December 2019, she also visited East China University of Science and Technology Library and gave a presentation on iSchool LIS education.

On November 24, 2019, Dr. Ruan visited the School of Information Resource Management at Renmin University of China and met the Associate Dean Li Niu.

On November 22 to November 23, 2019, Dr. Ruan and Richard Kesler (Interim Director, IFSI Research Center for Firefighter Health) joined the China Public Safety Conference in Beijing. Richard Kesler gave a presentation titled “Science and Research in Supporting Firefighter Safety and Life Health.” Dr. Ruan and Kesler visited the Public Safety Research Institute, Tsinghua University on November 24.

On November 20, 2019, Dr. Ruan visited the School of Information Management at Zhengzhou University and discussed iSchool in Illinois and LIS education in the United States with students and faculty.

From November 18 to November 19, 2019, Head Librarian Lian Ruan visited Binzhou Medical University Library in Yantai, Shandong Province. She joined and presented at the Library Innovative Services Workshop. She also visited Shandong University of Finance and Economics Library.

On November 8, 2019, Dr. Ruan, IFSI visiting scholars and other librarians visited Jiading Library Branch at Nanxiang.

From October 29 to November 9, 2019, Head Librarian Lian Ruan visited Jiangsu University Library in Zhenjiang and attended the International Symposium on the Library Strategic Planning and Discipline Development with four librarians from the United States. They are Lisa Hincliffe from the Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Lindsay King and Peter Leonard from the Yale University Library, and Howard Silver from MIT Library. Dr. Ruan’s presentation title was “Strategic Planning & Developing the State Fire Academy Library through Global Community Engagement”. Dr. Ruan and guest speakers visited the Jiangsu University Library and Rare Books and Manuscripts Library of Nanjing University. Dr. Ruan also joined Shanghai Normal University’s library forum on November 8. Dr. Ruan gave presentations on current library developments and trends in academic libraries in the USA.

On October 24, 2019, Dr. Ruan visited the Library Society of China (LSC) and the National Library of China.

From October 17 to October 26, 2019, Head Librarian Lian Ruan visited Beijing Union University Library and the Department of Archives at Beijing Union University. She also visited China Agricultural University Library’s space innovation projects and Beijing Institute of Technology Library, Hebei University Library, College of Management at Hebei University, Beijing Normal University Library, and the Library of Agricultural Information Institute of CAAS (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences). During her visit, Dr. Ruan gave presentations on current library developments and trends in academic libraries in the USA and iSchool LIS education.

2018

On December 5, 2018, Head Librarian Lian Ruan visited and give a presentation at Yunnan Normal University in Kunming.

From November 7 to November 9, 2018, Dr. Lian Ruan, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Program, was invited to visit and made presentations on Library development at the following organizations: China Agricultural University Library, Jiangsu University Library, Nanjing University of Aeronautical and Astronautic University.

From November 3 to November 6, 2018, IFSI Instructor Jim Conn, Robert Wirtz and Dr. Lian Ruan attended the Police Academy’s Annual International Conference on Fire Sciences and Technology in Langfang, China. Jim Conn made a presentation, entitled “Fire Behavior Research in the United States” and Robert made a presentation, entitled “Examining Fire Fighting Tactics Under Wind Driven Conditions: Laboratory Experiments.”

From October 14 to October 24, 2018, Dr. Lian Ruan, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Program, was invited to visit and made presentations on Library development at the following organizations: Jiangsu University, Shanghai Visual Art School Library, Shanghai Library, Shanghai University, NYU Shanghai Library, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Library, East China Science & Technology University.

From September 13 to September 23, 2018, Dr. Ruan visited libraries in Qufu (Sept. 15-16), Beijing (Sept. 18-20), Shandong and Taiyuan, Shanxi (Sept. 21-22) and made presentations on library management. She was invited to make a stage presentation entitled “Libraries Transform users, society, and ourselves” on 2018 ABPLIS Meeting at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.

On September 3, 2018, Director Royal Mortenson and Dr. Lian Ruan visited Hong Kong Fire Services Department. They also visited first emergency responders in Shenzhen, Yueyang, and Shanghai from September 4 to September 8.

From May 26 to June 1, 2018, Dr. Lian Ruan, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Program, attended the Chinese Library Annual Conference of Library Society of China and Library Exhibition in China. It includes preconference on reading in Chengdu (5/26-5/28/2018) and Conference (5/30-6/1/2018). She made a presentation entitled “CALA and IFLA” at the CALA Academic Session. She also made a presentation on academic publishing at Wuxi on May 29, and innovative services of IFSI Library at BALIS (Beijing Area of Library Information System) on May 30, 2018.

On May 8, 2018, Instructor of the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute / Fox Valley Career Center Gary Baum delivered a presentation entitled “The Potential Reduction of Firefighter Exposure to Carbon-Based Carcinogens in Structure Fires Through the Use of Class A Compressed Air Foam Systems” at Fire Asia 2018 Conference organized by the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, the Institution of Fire Engineers (Hong Kong Branch), the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Building Services Division), the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Fire Division), the Ambulance Service Institute (Hong Kong Branch) and the China Hong Kong Fire Protection Association.

2017

From November 11 to December 10, 2017, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan visited and met library directors and colleagues in the following organizations: The Jiangsu University Library, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Library, Wuhan University of Technology Library, Wuhan University Library, Chongqing University Library, The Library of Hohai University, Xuzhou Engineering College Library, Nanjing Agricultural University Library, China Geology and Mining University Library, Zhejiang University Library，Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and Shenzhen Town University Library.

From October 13 to October 31, 2017, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan visited and met library directors and colleagues at the following universities: The Jiangsu University Library, Nanjing University Library, Nanjing Tech University Library, Yangzhou Sci. & Tech Institute Library, Anhui Eco & Finance University Library, Jiming Temple Library, Nanjing Normal University Library, Shanghai Normal University Library, and Library of Shanghai Institute of Tourism. Head Librarian Ruan was invited to join the Jiangsu Library Association Annual Conference at Nanjing University Library and made a presentation about remaking space in American academic libraries.

From September 21 to September 26, 2017, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI Firefighting Program Sean Burke, and International Program Manager Jim Conn visited the Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces Academy. They joined the International Conference on Fire Science and Technology: Industrial Fire Prevention, Control and Rescue. Sean Burke and Jim Conn each made a presentation on firefighting and hazardous materials response respectively.

From September 13 to September 20, 2017, Dr. and Head Librarian Lian Ruan visited and met library directors and colleagues at the following universities: the Henan University of Economics and Law, Beijing Union University Library, Beijing Dancing Academy Library, and Peking University Library.

On August 7, 2017, Director Royal Mortenson and Dr. Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI International Programs, visited the State Administration of Work Safety in Beijing. They also visited the Fire Service Central Bureau and Fire Museum in Beijing on August 8. On August 10, they visited Zhoushan Training Base. They met officers from Hong Kong Fire Services Department on August 11.

2016

On December 8, 2016, Director Royal Mortenson, and Dr. Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI International Programs, visited the Kunming Fire Command School.

On December 7, 2016, IFSI Director Royal Mortenson visited the Shenzhen S&HE Safety Solution Co. Ltd. and discussed further training collaboration on hazmat emergency management.

On December 6, 2016, IFSI Director Royal Mortenson, IFSI Hazmat Instructor team joined the second Hazardous Chemical Emergency & Rescue International Workshop at the National Hazardous Chemicals Emergency Rescue Huizhou Base. Director Mortenson made a presentation, entitled “IFSI Emergency and Disaster Response Training for 1st Responders: Readiness through Training” at the workshop.

On December 4, 2016, IFSI Director Royal Mortenson and Dr. Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI International Programs visited the Hong Kong Fire and Ambulance Services Academy and met colleagues from the Hong Kong Fire Services Department on fire service training and research.

From November 28 to December 5, 2016, IFSI Hazmat Instructor Ray Palczynski, William Manley, Jim Conn and Dr. Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI International Programs visited and conducted the third Hazardous Materials Ops Training Program at the National Hazardous Chemicals Emergency Rescue Huizhou Base.

From October 25 to October 27, 2016, Head Librarian Lian Ruan was invited to attend the Chinese Library Annual Conference in Tongling (铜陵), Anhui Province and made a presentation on IFSI innovative library services at the CALA Academic Session on innovative services and technology in American academic libraries. Dr. Ruan was also invited to visit and present at the following libraries in the region: Jiangsu University Library, Anhui Normal University Library in Wuhu, Nanjing Agricultural University Library, Jiangsu Provincial Information Institute, Zhejiang University Library, Zhejiang Science and Technology University Library.

From September 21st to September 25th, 2016, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI Research Center Dr. Gavin Horn, and IFSI Special Operations Training Program Director Heather Moore, visited the Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces Academy. Dr. Horn and Director Moore joined the International Conference on Fire Science and Technology and made a presentation respectively.

From September 2nd to September 16th, 2016, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan visited libraries in China, met Chinese Librarians Scholarly Exchange Program participants and gave presentations. In addition, Dr. Ruan also participated in the 2016 China Colleges and Universities Information Literacy Workshop as a guest at Zhenjiang, Jiangsu. Dr. Ruan visited the following institutions: Jiangsu Universtiy Library, Jiangsu Police Institute and Suzhou University.

From August 17th to August 20th, 2016, Head Librarian Lian Ruan, Prof. Steven M. Lavalle, and three students from the department of computer science (UIUC), visited Dunhuang Academy and made a presentation and scholarly exchange on virtual reality. 

From August 15th to August 16th, 2016, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan visited Beijing Union University Library and Digital Experience Lab.

From May 13 to 20, 2016, Dr. Lian Ruan, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs and Richard Valenta, E-Learning Director visited Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces Academy.

2015

On December 8, 2015, the IFSI Hazmat Instructor Team was invited to attend the First Hazardous Chemical Emergency & Rescue International Workshop. Deputy Director Jim Keiken made a keynote speech, entitled “Management of Fire Intermodal Freight Facilities.”

On December 7, 2015, Director Royal Mortenson and Dr. Lian Ruan, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs, visited Dean Lihui Cai and his colleagues at the School of Emergency Management in Jinan University. They also visited Jinan University Library.

On December 3, 2015, Director Royal Mortenson, Deputy Director Jim Keiken, and Dr. Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI International Programs, visited the Hong Kong Fire Services Department and met Hong Kong hazmat officers who were trained at IFSI.

From December 2 to December 7, 2015, IFSI Deputy Director Jim Keiken, Instructor Ray Palczynski, and Instructor William Manley and Dr. Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI International Programs visited and conducted the second Hazardous Materials Ops Training Program at the National Hazardous Chemicals Emergency Rescue Huizhou Base.

From November 18, 2015 to November 30, 2015, then December 9 to December 18, 2015, Dr. Lian Ruan, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs, visited the following libraries and made presentations on library management and development: Tongji University Library, Shanghai Maritime University Library, Jiangsu University Library, Anhui University of Industry Library, Jiaxing College Library, Wenzhou Medical University Library, Ningbo College of Engineering Library, Ningbo Public Library, Beilun Library, Shenzhen City Town University Library, Jinan University Library, School of Information Management at Sun-Yat Sen University, and Guangzhou Public Library. On December 10, Dr. Lian Ruan was invited by Jiangsu University Library to join the Academic Library Planning Meeting and made a keynote speech on sharing experiences of strategic planning in academic libraries. As CALA President, Dr. Ruan was invited to give a keynote speech on new trends of academic libraries in the USA as part of CALA’s Academic Session, entitled “The Library’s Role in Social Advancement: Current Trends in Academic and Public Libraries in the United States” at the Chinese Library Annual Conference in Guangzhou (December 15 to December 17). The Conference theme was “Library: The Power of Social Progress.” Dr. Ruan also attended the exhibition of books and library equipment during the conference. In November, Dr. Ruan visited the Zhenjiang Fire Department and Fire Museum.

From September 20 to September 26, 2015, Deputy Director Jim Keiken, Chief Tim Walsh and Dr. Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI International Programs were invited to the Chinese People Armed Police Forces Academy (CPAPFA). Deputy Director made a presentation on hazardous materials emergency response and Chief Walsh on structural collapse rescue at the CPAPFA International Seminar on Rescue. Both also met with students and had interactive discussions on emergency rescue and firefighter careers in the United States.

From September 5 to September 19, 2015, Dr. Lian Ruan, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs made presentations on library management and development at the following university libraries: Jiangsu University in Zhenjiang, University of Science and Technology in China in Hefei, and Southeast University in Nanjing. She met library directors and leaders at Peking University, Beijing Normal University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Northeast Forestry University, NUAA, Nanjing Industrial University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing University, and Yangzhou University.

From August 24 to August 30, 2015, Dr. Lian Ruan, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs attended the 2015 Dunhuang Forum: International Conference on Digital Library and Cultural Relics Preservation and Use in the Big Data Environment, which was held in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Gansu Province, China. As President of Chinese American Librarians Association, Dr. Ruan made a presentation entitled, “Digital Dunhuang & CALA: Collaboration in Scholarly Sharing and Exchange.” She met and networked with many Chinese Librarians Summer Program participants. She also helped chair forum sessions and joined the open discussion as a panelist.

On August 7, 2015, IFSI Deputy Director Jim Keiken, Instructor Ray Palczynski, and Instructor Jim Conn and Dr. Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI International Programs visited the comprehensive training facility at the Shanghai Fire Department

From July 29 to August 6, 2015, IFSI Deputy Director Jim Keiken, Instructor Ray Palczynski, and Instructor Jim Conn and Dr. Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI International Programs visited and conducted the first Hazardous Materials Ops Training Program at the National Hazardous Chemicals Emergency Rescue Huizhou Base.

Dr. Lian Ruan and Ray Palczynski visited Nanning Fire Service Department from April 26-28, 2015 to help evaluate ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise. They also paid a visit to Shenzhen Emergency Training facility for hazmat training program from April 28-30, 2015.

Dr. Lian Ruan and two chiefs visited Civil Flight Aviation University from April 5 to April 11, 2015 and made presentations on libraries and information on fire academies and fire science education in the USA.

Fire Asia 2015 was held from 4th– 6th February 2015 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) China. The conference theme was "Team up for future" and focused on new fire-fighting and disaster recovery operation techniques, the latest fire engineering research, paramedic operations, and showcased studies for landmark projects. IFSI Director Royal Mortenson and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan attended the conference. Mortenson made a presentation, titled “Fire Service Training Programs in the 21st Century of the US.” Director Mortenson and Ruan had a productive meeting with IFSI-Hong Kong Fire Services Department Hazmat participants. Director Mortenson and Ruan visited the Sun Yat-Sen University fire investigation laboratory, emergency management in Shenzhen and emergency management response training at the Pearl River Delta Training Center. Ruan met Chinese Librarians Summer Program participants, visiting scholars, and fire emergency colleagues in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing and Shanghai.

2014

On September 17 to 24, Sept. 27-28, 2014, Jim Keiken, IFSI Deputy Director and Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI International programs visited the Beijing Institute of Technology Library, Beijing Youth Safety Museum, and the Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces Academy. As one of speakers at the International Seminar on Firefighting and Rescue in Special Environment, Keiken made two presentations, titled 1) "Emergency Management with a focus on NIMS and some of the current technology used at disaster scenes such as Electronic viewing devices — including search cameras, infrared devices and fiber-optic cables, Drones, Robots, Audio and seismic units, GIS Mapping and virtual EOCs" and 2) "Study on Emergency Management and Rescue Technology at Emergency Disaster Scenes." With GSLIS Professor Stephen Downie, Keiken and Ruan also visited Dunhuang Academy’s Information Center, Digital Center, and Dunhuang Fire Department from September 25-27.

On August 21 to 29, 2014, Lian Ruan, Director of IFSI International Programs, visited Beijing. She met participants of the Chinese Librarians Summer Program and had a 10th anniversary gathering party. She also met librarians in Beijing area to promote the 2015 Chinese Librarians Scholarly Exchange Program.

On May 6, 2014, IFSI Director Royal Mortenson opened the 2014 inFire Annual Conference held at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. The conference is an important platform for the International Network for Fire Information and Reference Exchange (inFire) and 2014 was its 28th annual conference. IFSI Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs, Dr. Lian Ruan worked with Professor Dong Liang, College of Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University to serve as co-chairs for the conference. IFSI Director Mortenson made a presentation, entitled "Meeting the Fire Service Challenge of the 21st Century through Training, Education, Research and Information," followed by many questions from the audience. Dr. Lian Ruan delivered her presentation, titled "Supporting Dynamic Information Needs of Firefighter Instructors in the Digital Age." Both presentations were well-received. In addition, Director Mortenson and Dr. Ruan visited the Shanghai Fire Research Institute. Director Mortenson gave presentations on IFSI training and research. 

2013

From October 12 to October 18, 2013, IFSI Assistant Director James Keiken participated at the Aviation Firefighting and Emergency Rescue International Seminar organized and hosted by China Civil Aviation Flight University in Guanghan, Sichuan Province. He gave two well-received presentations - "Bulk (Terminal) Storage Plant" and "US Fire Service." In addition, Head Librarian Lian Ruan visited Chengdu Medical Library in Xindu, Sichuan Province and China Civil Aviation Flight University Library in Guanghan, Sichuan Province.

From September 17 to September 26, 2013, Royal Mortenson, IFSI Director and Lian Ruan, IFSI Director of International Programs visited the following organizations and met leaders, faculty, researchers and managers to discuss collaborations and partnerships in the field of fire emergency services: Institute of Public Safety Research, Tsinghua University (Beijing), Chinese People's Armed Police Forces Academy (Langfang), Dalian Administrative College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian Jiaotong University, Northeast University of Finance and Economics (Dalian), Jinan University (Guangzhou) , Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Fire Protection Association (Guangzhou), and Hong Kong Fire Services Department (Hong Kong). The Memorandum of Understanding agreement was renewed with Tsinghua University and a new Memorandum of Understanding agreement was signed by the U of I and Chinese People's Armed Police Forces Academy. Director Mortenson made presentations in several organizations, including "Emergency Management and 1st Responder Training at IFSI and in the US," "Comprehensive Disaster Management Response and Training," and "IFSI: Providing 1st Responder Training, Emergency Management, and Research for the Fire Service in the 21st Century."

From August 30 to September 17, 2013, Head Librarian Lian Ruan visited 18 libraries and met library directors in the following universities: East China Normal University (Shanghai), Shanghai Sports University, Shanghai Maritime University, Jin Cheng College of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing Agricultural University, Southeast University (Nanjing), Hangzhou Normal University, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (Hangzhou), Hangzhou Electronics University of Technology and Science, Zhejiang University (Hangzhou), Sichuan Police College (Luzhou), Chongqing University, The Lanzhou Branch of the National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Science, Northwest University For Nationalities Library (Lanzhou), Dunhuang Research Institute, Peking University (Beijing), Beijing University of Science and Technology, and Tsinghua University (Beijing). She made presentations on academic libraries' development trends and knowledge management services in special and academic libraries. She also promoted the Chinese Librarians Summer Program to prepare for the 10th anniversary celebration in 2014.

2012

From September 3 to September 9, 2012, Associate Director Brian Brauer, Program Director Ray Palczynski and Director of IFSI International Programs, Lian Ruan were invited by the Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces Academy to attend the 2012 Annual International Symposium on Firefighting and Emergency Management co-organized by the Science Technology and Information Bureau of Ministry of Public Security, the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force Academy, and the Firefighting and Rescue Technical Committee of China Fire Protection Association in Langfang city, Hebei province. Brauer’s presentation title was "Building a statewide system for emergency response in Illinois," Palczynski’s presentation title was "Illinois Homeland Security", and Ruan’s presentation title was "Illinois State Fire Academy Library and IFSI International Programs for Firefighting and Emergency Management." The symposium’s theme was "Hazardous chemicals Incident Response and Training" and it had 140 participants from China, USA, Canada, and Great Britain.

From July 6 to July 12, 2012, Deputy Director Roger Lunt and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan visited Dalian Administrative College. Deputy Mayor Shengfeng Xiao, President Yuanxin Wang, Dalian Administrative College (DAC) and other administrators met Lunt and Ruan on July 8. Lunt signed the collaborative agreement with President Wang. Lunt and Ruan also visited the Industrial Park and Petrochemical Zone, Intel, and BorgWarner. Lunt made the presentations, entitled " Paradigms of U.S. Emergency Response" and "High-rise case study" on behalf of Director Jaehne. They visited Tsinghua University’s Public Safety Research Institute and met fire service professionals in Beijing. Ruan visited the Dalian Jiaotong University Library and Tianjin Library.

Dr. Gavin Horn, Director of IFSI Firefighter Life Safety Research Center, attended the 4th Fire Symposium by Hong Kong Institute of Engineers (Fire Engineering Division) on May 3, 2012 in Hong Kong. His presentation title was "Human Factors Engineering to Improve Firefighting Tools and Equipment for the Next Decade."

In February 2012, Director Jaehne, Hazmat Program Director Ray Palczynski, and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan attended the Fire Asia Conference from February 6 to 12, in Hong Kong. Director Jaehne’s
keynote presentation, "Leadership and Training for Special Operations Response to a Multi-Hazard Disasters," was well-received. They visited Hong Kong City University on February 7 and met the firefighting delegation from Taiwan. Palcynski and Ruan visited the hazmat training center at Sheung Wan Fire Station of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department on February 10. On February 11, they visited the Guangdong Fire Protection Association and discussed future collaborations on fire and emergency training.

2011

In November 2011, Head Librarian Ruan met library directors in Beijing, Dalian, Nanjing, Suzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Ningbo and Shanghai. She also met partners in Beijing for fire and emergency management programs, and CEO and CFO emergency management training, and met the Deputy Mayor and his top officers in Dalian for an emergency management program. Ruan also went to Nanjing for a higher education administrators program, to Shenzhen for bank and finance emergency management training, to Hong Kong to promote fire engineering programs, to Guangzhou to promote a program for fire investigators, and to Shanghai for a library and information science program. Ruan also made a speech entitled "Leadership in Library Management" at the East China Normal University Library.

In June 2011, Head Librarian Ruan visited Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Beijing and Dalian. She gave presentations on the Future of Academic Libraries in the USA at Zhejiang University Library and the Third Military Medicine University. She also gave a presentation on her dissertation at the Department of Information Management, Zhejiang University.

2010

In December 2010, Director Jaehne, Dr. Horn, and Head Librarian Ruan attended the inFire Conference in Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou. Jaehne gave a speech entitled "Providing Critical Life Safety Response Time" and Dr. Horn gave a speech entitled "Engineering Solutions to Reduce Firefighter Injuries and Fatalities" at the conference. Jaehne also gave a speech to students in the emergency management program on entitled “Comprehensive Emergency Management System in USA” at Jinan University. Head Librarian Ruan made a presentation to librarians and library directors in the Guangzhou area on "Future of American Academic Libraries and Librarians" at Jinan University. Ruan also visited libraries at Sun Yat-sen University, Jinan University, Guangzhou University, Chongqing Library, and Beijing Jiaotong University.

In October 2010, Head Librarian Ruan visited China with Dean John Unsworth, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They visited Southeast University, Third Military Medicine University, Zhejiang University, and Shanghai Jiaotong University. At Wuhan University, they attended and presented respectively at the Third Sino-U.S. Symposium on Library and Information Science Education in the Digital Age. Ruan also visited library directors and organizers of IFSI-China training programs in Nanjing and Beijing.

2009

In November 2009, Jaehne and Ruan traveled to China to visit the following organizations and cities to further develop the IFSI International programs: Tsinghua University's Center for Public Safety Research (Beijing, Jaehne made a speech on Emergency Management), Dalian University of Technology School of Management (Jaehne made a speech on Emergency Management) and Safety Bureau of Dalian Municipal Government (Dalian), Northeast Normal University Library (Changchun), Northeast Agricultural University (Harbin, Jaehne made a speech on Agricultural Rescue), Shenzhen City University Libraries (Shenzhen, where Jaehne made a speech on Proactive Library Services), Jinan University Library and Guangzhou Finance College Library (Guangzhou, where Jaehne made a speech on Proactive Library Services), China Ropeway Association's Annual Conference (Mt. Emei, Sichuan Province), and Hong Kong Fire Services Department. Ruan also visited Beijing Normal University Library (Beijing), Beihang University Library (Beijing), Beijing University of Technology Library (Beijing), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, (Chengdu), Chongqing University Library and Third Military Medical School Library (Chongqing), Southeast Law and Finance University Library (Wuhan), Wuhan University Library, NUAA Library, Nanjing University of Technology Library, and Nanjing University Library (Nanjing), East China Normal Library, Tongji University Library and Donghua University Library (Shanghai).

In June 2009, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan visited China with Dean John Unsworth, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dean Unsworth gave a series of talks on digital libraries. In addition, Ruan visited other academic libraries in Sichuan, Chongqing and Hangzhou. She also visited the Center for Public Safety Research at Tsinghua University, and met researchers from Sichuan Fire Research Institute.

2008

In October 2008, Director Richard Jaehne and Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan visited the Hong Kong Fire Services Department (HKFSD) and Rescue Training Center in the Tsim Sha Tsui Area. They also met Director Gregory Lo, Training Director Kin-yat Li, and other key personnel. A collaborative training program was discussed and implemented.

In October 2008, Director Richard Jaehne and Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan were invited by the Center for Public Safety Research to attend the 7th International Symposium on New Technologies for Urban Safety of Mega Cities in Asia (USMCA 2008) at Tsinghua University. Director Jaehne gave a keynote speech on U.S. emergency response systems, and was invited to serve as a Board Member of the new Asia-Pacific Association for Public Safety, Science, and Technology.

In January 2008, Head Librarian and Director of IFSI International Programs Lian Ruan traveled to China with University of Illinois Associate Chancellor and Executive Director of International Research Relations Jesse Delia and visited thirteen institutes and their libraries.

2006

In August 2006, Director Richard Jaehne and Head Librarian Lian Ruan visited the Beihang University in Beijing, China. Later, they were invited by Tsinghua University’s Center for Public Safety Research to attend the Annual CBD International Forum on Urban Emergency Management. Director Jaehne gave a keynote speech on U.S. emergency management. They also visited Shanghai Fire Research Institute and ULs Shanghai Office.

In July 2006, Director Richard Jaehne and Head Librarian Lian Ruan visited the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science and the University Library at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, Anhui Province. Director Richard and Dr. Ruan met with Prof. Naian Liu and Prof. Guangxuan Liao.