POULSBO — North Kitasp High School librarian Paul Chistensen has more than a quarter century of experience researching, studying and stocking shelves as a gatekeeper of information.

In addition to organizing the NKHS archives, he’s also been involved in the statewide library association throughout his career while delivering research paper contributions on a national stage. Now, after applying to and being accepted for the Institute of International Education’s Fulbright Program, Christensen is set offer his information science knowledge to a budding university library system in Honduras, Central America.

Honduras’ National University of Francisco Morazan is planning to implement an information sciences masters degree program this year, and through the Fulbright Program, Christensen will begin helping shape this effort in February.

“It’s not me telling them what it is, they are going to have to define that themselves. (We’ll) kind of develop the strategic foundation, but it’s got to be their creation,” Christensen said.

Upon his arrival, Christensen will work with the director of the university library and a cadre of about five other Honduran professionals to get the program on its feet.

“If you ranked them, the top one has to be the masters degree program,” Christensen said after listing his goals for the nine-month trip. “To get it off the ground and be firmly established with a regular teaching staff and classes offered every year.”

In addition to that overriding goal, Christensen included three other facets in his proposal to the Fulbright Program. He also plans to conduct a complete review of both the Honduran public and university library systems while gathering area library leaders together to determine how to improve the systems.

Throughout the trip, he plans to be a teacher of the system which he will help to create.

“I know that sounds kind of lofty, but I think it could be possible,” he said. “I love to teach and I get to combine that with an adventure.”

Venturing to teach in a Honduran society with low levels of basic service (like potable water and electricity) and high prevalence of disease, malnutrition and HIV is something that isn’t entirely foreign to Christensen. More than two decades ago, a small school in Honduras was the first podium from which he taught.

“I love the people, love the country and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to try and do this again?’” he said. “I want to do a credible job and make a difference.”

Christensen said the Honduran libraries are different from those in America.

Whereas the United States have years and years of experience and economics which support the system, the one in Honduras is just now developing.

The library at the National University of Francisco Morazan only hosts between 60,000 and 70,000 volumes, however, its librarians and stewards are anxious to expand, Christensen said, and that is where he is trying to help.

“I’d expect that we’d have not only new students that want to get into the program but people that are currently in the profession that will want to improve their skills,” he said.

Christensen will depart for Tegucigalpa, Honduras early in February and is slated to return in October.