Asia and Oceania Section

This session organized by Asia & Oceania Section focuses on how library services in Asia and Oceania are transcending many different types of borders to meet the highly varied needs of their clients throughout the Asia-Oceania region.

In keeping with the overall theme of the conference - 'Librarians, Citizens, Societies: Confluence of Knowledge' - the Asia and Oceania Open Session aims to address the unique ways that libraries in diverse social, economic and geographic contexts are transcending traditional borders in the provision of services across our vast region.

Libraries in the Asia and Oceania region are located in tiny, sparsely populated island nations in the world's biggest ocean, as well as in vast, heavily populated countries spreading across the world's largest continent. Some libraries are situated in the heart of wealthy highly developed countries that are leaders in connectivity, while others are in isolated and deprived areas that epitomise the digital divide.

While their contexts are extremely diverse, these libraries share a common need to confront challenges - not only to their way of operating but also to the wellbeing of their client groups.

We are seeking contributions that illustrate how libraries and other information organisations in Asia and Oceania are transcending borders in the programs and services they are providing to meet the range of national, social or cultural challenges that they and their client groups are facing.

Themes & Topics

We encourage professionals across the region to consider submitting proposals for papers on a topic of their choice relevant to the session theme. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• Regional or trans-national library collaborations that transcend institutional borders to mitigate reduced operational budgets
• Library development programs that transcend social borders to improve the physical , mental, or spiritual well-being of disenfranchised members of society
• Innovative library and information studies programs, both online and face-to-face, that transcend educational borders to meet the changing needs of the profession
• New forms of cooperation among libraries, archives, museums and galleries that transcend professional borders in the provision of support to disaster-affected areas in Asia and Oceania
• Cutting-edge library 2.0/3.0 services that transcend geographic borders to connect the diaspora of ethnic, national or cultural communities
• Technologically advanced information services that transcend the borders of time and space
• Highly creative reading and literacy campaigns that help individuals transcend limitations that have restricted their participation in society
• Cooperative projects involving libraries and community groups that help re-skill out-of-work individuals in a world of increased connectivity
• Imaginative school library projects that assist children from immigrant families to cross cultural borders at school and in the playground
• Unique partnerships involving libraries and non-government organisations to support ethnic minorities in preserving and promoting their culture and language while living harmoniously with their more populous neighbours.

Submission Guidelines

1. The deadline for submitting a detailed abstract (500 words) and full author details is 31 January 2014. Selection of papers is based on the abstract, and presenters will be notified whether they have been successful by mid-March 2014
2. The full paper is due on 5 May 2014 and must be an original submission not presented or published elsewhere
3. Both abstracts and full papers should be submitted as an MS Word file by e-mail. Fax or post should be used only as a last resort
4. Papers should be 20 pages maximum, double spaced
5. Papers should be in English with an abstract, and the presenter (who need not be the author) must be fluent in English
6. 20 minutes will be allowed for a summary delivery of the paper in the Conference: the full written paper is not to be read
7. The author(s) should indicate his/her personal full contact details and include a brief biographical note with the paper. Also, a digital photograph would be useful.

Submission Template

Full abstracts (500 words) should be prepared following the template provided below. Each abstract will be blind reviewed by members of the Regional Standing Committee for Asia and Oceania.

Please send your abstract by 31 January 2014 to:

Chihfeng P. Lin, RSCAO Chair
Email:  [email protected]
and
Takashi Nagatsuka, RSCAO Secretary
Email: [email protected]

Important Deadlines

Please note

All expenses, including registration for the conference, travel, accommodation etc., are the responsibility of the authors/presenters. No financial support can be provided by IFLA, but a special invitation can be issued to authors.

Congress Attendance Grants

The French National Committee and IFLA have worked hard to secure funds for Conference Participation Grants. Up-to-date information will be available on our Conference Participation Grants webpage.