The National Library and Archives Affirms the Importance of the Recommendations of the 30th Edition of the Conference of Directors of National Libraries in Asia and Oceania, and Their Impact on Advancing Libraries
Sustainability and Outstanding Experiences are the Two Main Pillars of the Conference.
The National Library and Archives Affirms the Importance of the Recommendations of the 30th Edition of the Conference of Directors of National Libraries in Asia and Oceania, and Their Impact on Advancing Libraries
The National Library and Archives (NLA) emphasized the importance of the recommendations resulting from the 30th Edition of the Conference of Directors of National Libraries in Asia and Oceania (CDNLAO), held under the theme “Libraries and Sustainability”, and the NLA being hosted at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library in conjugation with the activities of the first session of Dubai International Library Conference 2024.
The significance of the conference recommendations—presented during its sessions from November 15 to 17, 2024—stemmed from the wealth of expertise, library skills, and distinguished experiences shared in its specialized discussions, at a time when the National Library and Archives continues its efforts to advance the national library into a cultural and civilizational beacon, further enriching the achievements of the United Arab Emirates.
The recommendations derived their importance from the conference’s focus on modern technologies introduced into libraries, which have enhanced their status and developed them in both form and content, transforming them from their traditional model into social hubs for visitors of all ages and cultural backgrounds. This, in turn, has strengthened their role in enriching knowledge communities and made them the preferred destination for seekers of culture and knowledge.
It is worth noting that the conference recommendations resulted from sessions that discussed the sustainability efforts and initiatives of national libraries from Asia and Oceania, along with their societal contributions that reinforced the concept of sustainability. Accordingly, the conference emphasized the importance of sustainability in libraries, placing it among the top priorities of the participating national libraries. Sustainability practices extended to upgrading infrastructure, optimizing resource utilization, and adopting green building standards, with participants contributing to the development of a sustainability strategy for libraries.
Within the same framework, national libraries have adopted sustainable development practices and assumed the responsibility of advancing library development in developing countries. They have also prioritized fostering cooperation and establishing agreements between libraries and various institutions dedicated to collecting and preserving cultural memory.
In this regard, and based on the discussions held during the conference, national libraries have enhanced the use of smart technologies to support future library services in innovative ways, in line with the future direction of artificial intelligence (AI) in information management.
The conference focused on three main themes: supporting sustainability goals, green libraries and sustainability, and raising community awareness of sustainability. Its sessions served as an open platform for exchanging expertise, knowledge, and specialized experiences in library affairs, resulting in significant and constructive outcomes in terms of development and sustainability. They also promoted the concept of the green library, designed to reduce negative impacts on the natural environment through the use of clean technology, eco-friendly energy, and sound management—especially as countries around the world compete in green library projects.
It is noteworthy that the Conference of Directors of National Libraries in Asia and Oceania began in 1979, when Australia hosted the first meeting in Canberra, while the UAE hosted it for the first time in its 30th edition.
