CDNLAO top > CDNLAO Newsletter > No.105, March 2025

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No. 105, March 2025

I attended the 30th Conference of Directors of National Libraries in Asia and Oceania (CDNLAO) held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accompanying Ms. SUWA Yasuko, Director General, Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library, Japan. The city of Dubai was still very sunny even though in the middle of November. As I came from Japan, where the long summer had ended and autumn had finally arrived, it was as if I was back in summer again.

The conference was held at Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBRL), which opened in 2022. In the Al Jaddaf district, where the MBRL is located, we could see up close how the futuristic city is expanding with new buildings being constructed one after another. The MBRL also faces Dubai Creek, which was a cornerstone of Dubai's development and is still traversed by traditional small ferryboats. It is a place where we can learn about Dubai's past and present, and it seemed like a fitting place for a library that holds books that weave through history.

< The MBRL. The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, can be seen in the background. >

On November 15, the first day of the conference, all delegations attended the opening session of the first Dubai International Library Conference (DILC2024), which was held simultaneously with CDNLAO. The program, which included a panel discussion on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in libraries by experts in the library and information science field invited from around the world, was stimulating and very meaningful.

The CDNLAO stand-alone meeting took place on November 16 and 17. On the 16th, Mr. Hamad Slayem Al Hamiri, Representative of the National Library and Archives (NLA), gave the opening address, and in the keynote speech, Ms. Sharon Memis, Secretary General of IFLA, introduced the IFLA Strategy 2024-2029.

Under the main theme of "Libraries and Sustainability" 13 presentations were given. Most of the presentations were related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but there were diverse approaches to the goals. Cases in which library facilities themselves are built with energy conservation in mind, and cases in which libraries aim for gender equality in society through training and other programs they conduct were introduced. Listening to the presentations, I realized once again that libraries can make a direct or indirect contribution to the common goals of humankind.

On November 16, a tour of the MBRL was held around the 7th floor for exhibitions. We enjoyed the temporary exhibition "Arab Journalism Exhibition" and the permanent exhibition "The Treasure of the Library".

The "Arab Journalism Exhibition" exhibited newspapers and magazines published in the UAE and other Arabic-speaking countries, under the theme of "A Journey Through History". The exhibit was divided into seven sections, including women and art, and we could appreciate it as if we were literally traveling from the past to the present.

< "Arab Journalism Exhibition" >

In "The Treasure of the Library", we were impressed not only by the paper materials such as literary works, Islamic manuscripts and maps but also items related to books, such as paper scissors and pencil cases from the 12th and 13th centuries.

< The permanent exhibition "The Treasure of the Library" >

The group dinners held on November 15 and 16, which included speakers and moderators from DILC2024, provided a valuable opportunity to deepen exchanges with librarians from around the world. I would like to thank the NLA and the MBRL for their generous hospitality throughout the conference.

I would also like to express my utmost respect and gratitude to all CDNLAO delegates who welcomed me in a warm atmosphere, even though I was nervous about attending my first CDNLAO conference.

< Photo of the delegations >