CDNLAO Newsletter
No. 103, February 2024
The 29th Conference of Directors of National Libraries in Asia and Oceania (CDNLAO) was held on November 1 and 2, 2023, in Qatar on the theme "Collect and Engage: National Libraries and Their Collections." A two-member delegation from the National Diet Library (NDL) was led by TAKEUCHI Hideki, Director General of the Acquisitions and Bibliography Department. It was the first time in four years that the NDL delegates attended a conference in person, and as the other member of the delegation, I would like to briefly describe my experiences.
We arrived in Doha on the day before the conference and attended a dinner hosted by Ms. Tan Huism, the General Director of the Qatar National Library (QNL). The QNL team was quite hospitable, and we were all able to break the ice prior to the formal meeting by introducing ourselves to other delegations or reuniting with old acquaintances in a welcoming atmosphere.
< Doha at 5 a.m. >
While the conference was held at the QNL, some delegations, including the IFLA president, were able to attend online thanks to the QNL team livestreaming the event. After a keynote address in which IFLA President Vicki McDonald emphasized the importance of national libraries, Regional Manager of the IFLA Regional Office for Asia and Oceania Michelle Lau reported on her office's activities. During her presentation, she mentioned that the NDL managed the CDNLAO newsletter and hosted its website.
< At the meeting venue >
Presentations by the delegations about their libraries' activities addressed three topics: "collecting content representative of our communities (physical and digital)," "preserving and making collections accessible," and "activating or engaging communities with the nation's collection." Even though the various missions of each national library have much in common with one another, as illustrated by these three topics, I gained much insight into just how diverse the strategies for accomplishing these missions were. I was particularly interested to see how other libraries not only collected national publications proactively but also either created themselves or encouraged citizens to create library materials on unpublished cultural heritage.
Another noteworthy aspect of this year's CDNLAO conference was that the QNL was able to successfully invite delegations from a great many national libraries, and we welcomed more colleagues from Middle-Eastern countries than ever before. And simultaneous interpretation between Arabic and English as well as the sharing of up-to-date information about libraries' collections and activities made the conference very productive.
After the conference, we were able to take a guided tour of the very remarkable QNL facilities. Entering the library brought back to life for me the joy of acquiring knowledge. Passing beneath a low ceiling in a dimly lit corridor, we suddenly came into a vast and bright space surrounded by elevated shelves. Not only was I mesmerized by Rem Koolhaas's masterpiece, I was also impressed with how the QNL carefully prepared state of the art facilities to attract diverse users with a wide variety of needs, including innovative stations and a sensory room.
< An ad augusta per angusta experience at the QNL entrance >
The QNL's collection is, needless to say, an amazing array of rare heritage. We also enjoyed a newly opened exhibition, called "Letters of Faith: Arabic Scripts in Indonesia." This exhibition included rare materials from the QNL's own collection but also invaluable manuscripts from the National Library of Indonesia. Such a long-term international loan of these valuable artifacts is enviable proof of trust between the national libraries.
< Rare book collections at the QNL >
Our guided tour also took us outside the QNL. At the Qatar Foundation, we learned about the planning of the Education City, where the QNL and several outstanding universities have facilities, and then learned about Qatar's history, progress, and development at the Qatar National Museum.
< The Qatar National Library as seen from the terrace of the Qatar Foundation HQ >
I became acquainted with many colleagues during the conference, and we enjoyed exchanging ideas and insights as we dined together. Such opportunities are lost when participating in international meeting online, so I was happy to meet my colleagues in person. I would like to conclude this report by thanking the QNL team for their perfect management of the conference.
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