Allister Chang : Libraries Without Borders’ New Executive Director

Libraries Without Borders recently appointed Allister Chang as its new Executive Director, replacing Eric Parrie. Chang will oversee all operations of the organization in the United States. Allister Chang is a master’s student at the Harvard Kennedy School, focusing his studies on NGO administration and social policy. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Tufts University with a B.A. in history.

Chang had worked with Libraries Without Borders to rebuild Haitian libraries after the 2010 earthquake.  “He did an amazing job,” said Patrick Weil, Founder and President of Libraries Without Borders (LWB). “We are thrilled that Allister is re-joining us; his commitment to social issues and his experience in education make him a perfect fit to oversee and develop our operations in and from the United States.”

“I am excited and honored to lead Libraries Without Borders as it develops highly innovative tools to build libraries, especially for underserved communities.” The son of Taiwanese immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, Chang seeks to create on a global scale the kinds of educational opportunities that he himself was afforded.

Libraries Without Borders is one of the leading international organizations working in culture and knowledge-based development around the world. Understanding that access to knowledge is a key factor in social and economic development, LWB supports local initiatives in more than 20 countries by creating libraries, training librarians, distributing books, supporting local publishing, designing library networks, promoting cultural heritage, and reducing the digital divide.

In cooperation with the award winning designer Philippe Starck and the UNHCR,  LWB has developed a portable multimedia toolkit and library, the Ideas Box, which it has begun to deploy among refugee and underserved communities around the world.