From April 18-22, 2011, the 2^nd CONSAL XV Executive Meeting was taken place in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia with the participation of 20 delegates from 10 CONSAL member countries including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Besides, there are 2 representatives of Timor-Leste and 8 members of CONSAL Secretariat. The Vietnamese delegation attending the meeting included 3 members: Mr. Dang Van Uc, Vice-Director of the National Library of Vietnam (NLV), Mr. Pham The Khang, Vice-President & Secretary General of  Vietnamese Library Association and Ms. Bui Thi Thuy, Head of International Relations Division, NLV.

Delegates of 11 countries attend the 2^nd CONSAL XV Executive Board Meeting in Medan, Indonesia

This is an annual meeting of CONSAL Executive Board members and also the preparatory meeting for the CONSAL XV General Conference hosted by Indonesia in 2012. Main contents of the Meeting include:

• Country Report by member countries about library activities and progresses since May, 2010 until April 2011;

• Report and discussion on CONSAL project proposals include “Profile of Library Education in Southeast Asian Countries” and “Research on Legal Deposit Acts among ASEAN countries” led by Indonesia; the workshop on “Preservation and Conservation of Documentary Heritage of ASEAN countries” led by Thailand and the proposal from Singapore about building a bibliography of rare materials of 10 CONSAL member countries;

• Report and discussion on transfer of CONSAL website from Vietnam to the host of CONSAL XV General Conference, Indonesia;

• Discussion on CONSAL Oustanding Librarian Awards has reached an agreement that the Awards for CONSAL XV will be dedicated to the Public Librarians; beside one CONSAL XV Oustanding Librarian Award, there are nine single CONSAL Librarian of Merit Awards for the remaining nominees;

• Report on preparation of CONSAL XV General Conference in 2012 by the host country, Indonesia; comments and contributions from member countries. It is planned that CONSAL XV General Conference will be organized on May 29-31, 2012 in Bali, Indonesia; the theme is “Preserving and disseminating national herritage”. Besides, the 3^rd CONSAL Executive Board Meeting and the 20^th Conference of Director of National Libraries of Asia and Oceania will also be organized in Bali, Indonesia on May 28, 2012;

• Discussion on Timor-Leste’s proposal to joint CONSAL has reached to the conclusion that Timor-Leste can be an observer to CONSAL from 2^nd CONSAL XV EB meeting

Beside meeting time, executive board members have been invited to a welcome dinner and traditional cultural performance by the Governor of North Sumatra Province; visited Regional Library and Archives Board in North Sumatra, Library of North Sumatra University; Maimun Palace and went sight-seeing in Lake Toba, Parapat.

CONSAL Executive Board members at the welcome dinner and traditional cultural performance hosted by the Governor of North Sumatra Province

It can be stated that the 2^nd Meeting of CONSAL XV Executive Board members in Medan, Indonesia has been successful which has accomplished all the proposed programs and achieved high agreement among CONSAL member countries. The meeting has been organized in a democratic and scientific atmosphere. Preparation of content and organization by the host country as well as reports and proposals from CONSAL member countries have been well prepared that led to effective and persuative discussions and success of the Meeting.

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News and photos: Bui Thi Thuy