Yap's report on the 7th Shanghai International Library Forum
The 7th Shanghai International
Library Forum (SILF) held
in Shanghai Library, Shanghai, China from July 9-11, 2014 attracted about 400
delegates from 26 countries. A total of 46 papers were accepted including my
paper entitled, “Introduction of
e-reserves at the De La Salle University – Manila Libraries.” The theme
for this biennial event is “Libraries in the Transition Era: New Space • New
Services • New Experience.” Participants may choose to attend from six subthemes
of the forum divided among four parallel-sessions. The subthemes are as
follows: (1) the role of and challenges to libraries in the context of digital
humanities, (2) library services and management in the big data era, (3) the orientation
and development of physical libraries in the network society, (4) diversified
library services and core competitiveness, (5) skill requirements and career
vision of librarians in the omni-media age, and (6) reading for all and
libraries.
SUMMARY
OF ACTIVITIES
The first day was intended for the
registration. The second day was the start of the actual event. The opening
ceremony was attended by the high officials of the municipality of Shanghai,
representatives from the Department of Public Culture of the Ministry of
Culture, Shanghai Library Governing Board, National Library of China and
Shanghai Library. Two IFLA presidents gave keynote speeches, Ms. Sinikka Sipila
provided an update of the IFLA Trend Report and Ms. Ingrid Parent who delivered
a message on bridging cultures and communities in a digital world. Six plenary
sessions were held on the second day. Speakers from China, Mauritius, Romania,
Poland and Russia were engaging and enthusiastic. The most memorable for me was
the speaker from Singapore, Ms. Tay Ai Cheng who spoke about the innovative
service concepts in the public libraries in Singapore. The highlight of her
presentation was the mall libraries. A banquet dinner served as the welcome
reception of the event.
The third day was devoted to the parallel
sessions. Right after the sessions, the closing ceremony was held. A video
presentation which featured the event’s summary was shown to the audience.
Participants were also invited to a closing dinner. A copy of the participants
list and a DVD containing the event’s highlights were distributed to the
attendees. Before we bid goodbye, all participants were given a chance to watch
a circus show courtesy of the SILF organizers.
EVALUATION
In Singapore, they renovate and restore their
public libraries every five years. They adopted the design thinking process
wherein they ask what the users want and they try to incorporate and find a way
to accept all suggestions given by their patrons. Librarians from Singapore’s
mall libraries also roam to check patrons who are in need of help.
In China, they adopt to the recent trends and
utilize a mobile text and voice messaging communication app called WeChat to
communicate with their patrons. WeChat is a mobile app developed in China.
Public libraries in China, particularly the
Shanghai Library have their own "makerspaces”. It is a creative space in the
library where users can create, invent, and learn. They have 3D printers where
students and researchers can design products and print them. A makerspace is also
a space where patrons can collaborate and share programming tools.
On my visit to the Shanghai Library, the Readers’ Services of DLSU may adopt to have its own IDSmart Bookshower. It is a refrigerator-like machine where a fan softly blows the pages of the book to clean it from any germs. Moreover, the multimedia section of the Shanghai Library has a number of tablets for all its users. As DLSU Libraries embark on more digital resources, this could be another project that the library should consider.
- Joseph Yap
(Associate Librarian, Information-Reference)