CDNLAO Newsletter
No. 103, February 2024
Strategies to improve collection practices and foster engagement with communities were the primary topics for discussion when the Qatar National Library (QNL) hosted the 29th Conference of Directors of National Libraries in Asia and Oceania.
Held in Doha from 1 to 2 November 2023, the conference attracted 57 attendees from 29 countries, including from Australia, Iran, Palestine, and Thailand who joined online, along with the president of the International Federation of Libraries and Institutions, Vicki McDonald.
< Group photo of the delegates of the 29th CDNLAO at Qatar National Library >
The conference was opened by QNL executive director Tan Huism, who introduced the three themes for the conference: what are national libraries collecting to document national heritage?; how is the material preserved and made accessible?; and the ways in which libraries are encouraging users to engage with their collections.
Each delegate was then invited to give a brief overview of their respective libraries, before the first presentations began on the theme, "Collecting Content Representative of Our Communities (Physical and Digital)."
Huo Ruijuan, deputy director of the National Library of China, explained that her institution holds 70% of all ancient books in Chinese in the world and that recent initiatives included the China Memory Project, which includes more than 5,000 hours of audiovisual recordings and literature, and the recording and promoting of events of intangible cultural heritage.
Dr. Marie-Louise Ayres, director of the National Library of Australia, discussed her library's long-term program of engaging and collecting items associated with diverse communities, like Australians of Fijian heritage. But Dr. Ayres stressed the importance of collecting with, rather than from communities.
< CDNLAO meeting in progress, Doha, Qatar, 1-2 November 2023 >
The second session looked at "Preserving and Making the Collections Accessible" and heard from Nidal Ibrahim Mohammad Al-Ahmad and how the National Library, Jordan, had obtained many documents through mutual agreements with national libraries in Iraq and Palestine, and how the library had developed a platform where Jordanian citizens can share valuable documents and photographs.
Anna Chulyan, director of the National Library of Armenia, said her library had digitized all Armenian books published between 1512 and 1940 and that they were all fully accessible on the website. She also said they had a new website with books accessible to people with print disabilities, so enhancing community inclusion. Presentations were also delivered by delegates from Azerbaijan, Palestine, the United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Bhutan, and Uzbekistan.
The first day also saw the delegates given a tour of QNL's Qatar-Indonesia Year of Culture 2023 exhibition, "Letters of Faith: The Arabic Script in Indonesia," with exhibits demonstrating the strong cultural and religious links between the two countries, largely because of trade routes which brought an Arabic diaspora to the archipelago.
< Tan Huism, Executive Director of QNL, giving a tour of QNL's Qatar-Indonesia Year of Culture 2023 exhibition to the delegates >
The second day of the conference opened with presentations on the theme, "Activating or Engaging Communities with the Nation's Collection."
The manager of the Yemen National Library, Abdulaziz Mohsen Salem Bin Barek, shared the challenges of preserving collections in a country that has experienced considerable turmoil over the last few decades and explained that they have a particular focus on young people in their engagement initiatives, as it is they who will lead the future of the country.
Over on the other side of the Indian Ocean, Alicia Yeo, director of the National Library Board (NLB) of Singapore, explained how their engagement strategies included a project to encourage people to remember stories and contribute their own. To invite creation of new works and new knowledge inspired by the collections of the national library and archives collection, the NLB has also offered digital, creative and research fellowships. She also said that the NLB is reaching out to the online community and deepening in-person engagements at public libraries by integrating Singapore experiences within their collections.
< Delegates while having gala dinner at Katara Cultural Village >
It wasn't all work at the 29th CDNLAO, though, and there was also time for people to connect and experience Qatari culture and hospitality. The gala dinner was held at Katara Cultural Village and the history and heritage of Qatar were showcased during a tour of the National Museum of Qatar. Delegates were also taken for lunch at one of Doha's most popular destinations, Souq Waqif, with its myriad narrow passageways and shops selling oud, traditional Arabic dress, falcons and handicrafts.
Several national libraries have expressed an interest in hosting the 30th CDNLAO in 2024, and we look forward to all meeting in person once again.
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