From 09-11 March 2016, the 24th annual meeting of the Conference of Directors of National Libraries in Asia and Oceania (CDNL-AO) and the seminar “Adding value through international cooperation” has taken place at the National Library of New Zealand, Wellington with participation of 27 delegates representing 17 National Libraries in the region.
Speaking at the Opening session of the conference, Minister of the Internal Affairs of New Zealand (Ministry in charge of the library sector) has highlighted the value of reflecting national identity of the cultural heritage documents which are currently preserved by national libraries and expressed his desire that national libraries in the region should further promote the accessibility to these heritage documents, especially to inspire and engage the youth in the heritage conservation and promotion activities in each country.
During the 3-day meeting, delegates have had the chance to hear reports on operation of the member libraries; report of the CDNL-AO website and newsletter; of the National Library of New Zealand about positioning the National Library in the future; of the IFLA Regional office for Asia and Oceania about 2014-2015 operating results; plan, recommendations and solutions for 2016; of the National Library of Korea sharing experiences on a fund raising program to enhance material resources for school and military libraries; reports of some national libraries with difficulties in the South Pacific islands such as NL of the Cooks Island with challenges of finance, personnel and operation; Papua New Guinea Office for Library and Archives – challenges of ICT infrastructure, NL of Fiji – the devastation of the Winston hurricane to school libraries. Besides, some parallel sessions have also been hold to discuss a number of highly interested issues in the region such as copyright in implementing the digitization and dissemination of digital collections, role of national libraries for sustainable development of the country, according to 17 SDG of the UN to the year 2030; needed supports for the sustainable development of the national libraries in the South Pacific islands.
The closing ceremony has come up with some conclusions: It is needed to strengthen activity of conservation and promotion of heritage; strengthen skills of leadership, preservation and sharing experiences of implementing digitization projects; strengthen to seek funding for libraries through improving quality of the library activities, developing core values, making the library brand become a reliable brand; member libraries should also actively participate and support IFLA in such activities as advocacy, policy development, building tools and indicators to promote the global library sector with connection to the region’s activities; strengthen the cooperation and supports among CDNL-AO through establishment of the general CDNL-AO aid and encouragement of individual support among member libraries.
The conference has also reached an agreement that the National Library of China will host the 25th meeting of CDNL-AO in Beijing in May, 2017.
On the sidelines of the conference, delegates have had the chance to visit the National Library of New Zealand and Wellington City Library, meeting with the New Zealand Library Association and diplomatic corps of the Asia and Oceania, visit the national museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. In addition, the Vietnamese delegation has also paid a working visit to Victoria University in Wellington.
Photos of the same event:
Mr. Hon Peter Dunne, Minister of Internal Affairs, delivered speech at the Opening session
The 24th CDNL-AO conference’s panorama
Group disscussion within the seminar
Visiting Wellington City Library
NLV’s delegation paid a working visit to Victoria University
A sourvenir photograph of the delegates
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News and photos: Bui Thi Thuy