(8 March 2016) The New Zealand Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne will deliver a short speech to open the conference on 9 March 2016. He will be followed by the National Librarian and Chair of the conference, Bill Macnaught, who will speak on the theme of driving innovation and international cooperation among library networks.
The Conference occurs annually and this is the first time it has been hosted by New Zealand. Delegates attending this year represent national library institutions in 21 Asia-Pacific countries. Themes and topics cover strategies for responding to challenges faced by all national libraries. These include resource sharing to enhance access to information within countries and at a sub-regional level; protection and preservation of cultural heritage documents; international collaboration to develop tools for digital preservation; adapting services to social and technological change; support for national libraries in developing countries; and plans to mitigate the effects of natural disasters.
Participants are attending from institutions in the following countries: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; China; Cook Islands; Fiji; India (tbc); Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; New Zealand; Pakistan (tbc); Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Samoa; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Viet Nam.
The announcement in full plus the agenda is here.
