Twinning is a concept promoted by IBBY that signifies a special mutually beneficial relationship between two national sections. It can take many forms, but in keeping with USBBY's mission, the intent is to promote international understanding of peace and goodwill between and among countries through books for children and young adults, by

• Exploring and promoting materials of literary merit for young people;
• Cooperating with IBBY and other organizations with similar goals as USBBY;
• Facilitating the exchange of information about books of international interest for children/young people; and
• Promoting reading of such books by children and young people in the United States.
  
  

Currently, USBBY has such partnerships with the national sections of El Salvador, Haiti, Lebanon, and Palestine.

​Twinning is meant to mutually benefit both countries. It is a prime means to know and work more closely with specific countries. To facilitate these partnerships, one or more USBBY Board members volunteer as liaisons with each twinning partner.

Several initiatives currently being undertaken by the USBBY Board are:

• Include news about twinning partners in regular "Global Partnerships" column in Bridges
• Feature speakers, books, and topics related to twinning partners whenever feasible at USBBY co-sponsored sessions for IRA, NCTE, and ALA, in addition to the biennial IBBY Regional Conference.
• Pay IBBY dues for under-funded national sections.
• Encourage twinning with children´s libraries.
• Provide funding to purchase books or other needed resources for classrooms and libraries.
• Support cultural exchange and visits between members of USBBY and twinning national sections.
• Provide or fund training for writers, illustrators, editors, librarians and publishers.
• Develop reciprocal website postings of newsletters, information about projects, lists of children´s books published in each country, and relevant websites.
• Facilitate fellowships for writers, illustrators, editors, librarians, and publishers, or persons who want to study children's literature and use with children

USBBY invites all its members to contribute to our twinning initiatives with these national sections. If you have current connections with any of them, specific ideas of ways to collaborate with any of these sections, or wish to be involved with any of them, you may contact Barbara Lehman to indicate your interest and ideas. We look forward to hearing from you!