SHARJAH: Virtual inauguration of the seventh edition of the Sharjah International Library Conference (SILC 2020) in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA) took place on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2020. The global professional development virtual event was attended by 723 librarians, archivists, and industry professionals from 51 countries.
The event was hosted virtually from USA and ‘Libraries and Librarians Meeting the Challenges in the New Normal’ was the theme of the conference. It was one of the main highlights of the 39th edition SIBF with its largest ever participation, including delegates from 11 new nations making their debut in the three-day event.
HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) welcomed participants to SILC 2020. He said that SILC is a crucial platform for looking into answers in the field of education and learning. He also stressed the need for libraries worldwide to develop strategies to enable continued access to knowledge, research, and learning resources in our ‘new normal’.
In his keynote remarks titled ‘Meeting the Challenge in Times of Crisis’, ALA President and Acting Director of the Researcher and Reference Services at the Library of Congress, Julius C. Jefferson Jr’s, highlighted how the entity had navigated the pandemic crisis and emerged stronger. He also said that the crisis is a time of opportunity and hope for libraries across the world. By keeping communication lines open; focusing on recovery and advocacy efforts; listening to members’ responses, and looking for ways to move forward, ALA was able to overcome challenges. A virtual ‘Holding Space’ tour was also initiated by ALA in July featuring virtual visits to 11 libraries across the country, with the goal to listen and accept the truth, reality, and experiences of library workers and the communities they serve.
He observed that libraries across the country are doing concrete, effective work, serving the needs of their communities. many libraries were collaborating with local partners and finding ways to remain essential, useful institutions.
The inaugural session titled ‘Leading Staff Responding to the Challenge: Flexibility, Creativity, Reorganisation and Wellness Care’ was delivered by Shaikha Mohamed Almehairi, Director of the Libraries Department (LD), Abu Dhabi Department for Culture and Tourism (DCT). She discussed on the challenges that the 7 DCT libraries in Abu Dhabi faced in the first days of the pandemic. She highlighted that usuing social media over 100 workshops sessions per month were conducted. Also many competitions were also held online and the first inventory for digital resources and drafted new policy and procedures were also carried out.
LD purchased more digital resources, created subject guides, and facilitated online learning and cross-training for staff as member consumption increased. She also highlighted that staff are the most important assets, and success depends on three things: communication, communication, and communication.
Stuart Hamilton, Head of Libraries Development at the Local Government Management Agency, Ireland, spoke about how the pandemic had put the nation’s ambitious Public Libraries 2022 strategy on hold in the second workshop on the theme ‘What happens when a strategy meets a crisis?’He said that by focusing on home deliveries, supported the health services by requisitioning our 3D printers to manufacture PPEs, initiated quarantine for returning materials and by opening online membership, 30,000 new members join in March. He also stated that there was a 313% increase in new users of eBooks and audiobooks service and 467% increase in demand for e-learning courses.
The SIBF/ALA Conference is the only event ALA organises out the US. This edition of SILC witnessed six discussions by experts from around the world.
