This is the third and last post in a series tracking the experiences of the ARL grant recipients who attended the Brisbane summit.

Adi Ela Radini Davuilevu, a library information assistant at Fiji National University, generously contributed to this post.

I had the privilege of attending the IFLA Information Futures Summit 2024, held in Brisbane from September 30 to October 3, as a grant winner sponsored by Sage. This summit provided a valuable platform for library and information science (LIS) professionals to explore emerging trends, share insights, and discuss the future of information services globally.

Among the diverse sessions and discussions, Ms. Gina De Alwis led one of the most impactful presentations I attended. Her session delved into the status of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) offerings for LIS employees in selected Asian countries. Through her detailed analysis, Ms De Alwis shared five significant findings, shedding light on progress and ongoing challenges in LIS professional development.

One particularly concerning finding was the limited CPD programming across many regions. Numerous programs were repeated, leaving gaps in innovative learning opportunities for professionals. The absence of structured LIS curricula further compounded the issue, making it difficult for employees to advance their skills or stay updated with evolving industry demands. Ms. De Alwis also identified several critical barriers to CPD success, including a general lack of interest among employees, mainly due to limited opportunities for career progression.

This session underscored the need for a more proactive approach to developing diverse, forward-thinking CPD initiatives to meet the aspirations of LIS professionals. As a grant winner, this experience has inspired me to advocate for improved CPD structures within my network, aiming to foster a more robust culture of continuous learning and advancement in the LIS field.

 This post is the second in a series of three that track the experiences of the beneficiaries of the ARL grants to attend the Brisbane summit.

This post is generously contributed by Pham Ba Toan, Vietnam National University, University of Science.

 Attending the IFLA Information Futures Summit in Brisbane, Australia, for the first time, with sponsorship from SAGE and the IFLA ARL Section, was a memorable experience that brought many emotions. I was surprised and excited to find out I had been selected to attend this event. IFLA is one of the largest forums in the field of libraries and information, attracting top experts from around the world.

Figure 1: Thank you for the participant grant supported by the IFLA ARL Section and SAGE Publisher

Before the Opening day, I was invited to the IFLA Asia & Oceania Division with all IFLA Asia & Oceania Committee members. Mainly, I had a photograph with Gulcin Cribb and Jayshree Mamtora. It is a beautiful time to listen to the practices of colleagues in the IFLA Asia and Oceania Division and the plans people will prepare and organise next year.

In the Opening Session, I was amazed by the cultural performance of a Native Australian girl with her native song and Tyto alba or barn owl symbolic cloth, which is preserved and protected by many descendants. “AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions”, presented by Marek Kowalkiewicz, attracted and affected my work. The AI detection features are incredibly beneficial and practical in the AI rise era based on the Knowledge Creation Map. When applying this, I can recognise AI and understand AI nutrition, which is mentioned in his presentation.

Figure 2: The meaning of Tyto Alba and her Native Culture Preservation Effort story

Figure 3: AI Detections and Nutrition Facts

As “Stronger Together”, after each session or summit day, I often had a chance to meet many multicultural friends and chat with them on topics and social life. I met and connected with friends in Oceania nations, including Nelly, Nina, and Lonneth from Vanuatu, Fiji, Miraneta and Ane from Samoa, Kim from New Zealand, and Benzamine from Papua New Guinea. Also, I received a gift for incorporation on information literacy research from Katia, Associate Dean of Research & Assessment and Professor at Georgia Southern University,

Figure 4: International friends met and connected at the IFLA Information Futures Summit

Exploring the Library tour, in my opinion, is one of the best experiences, besides IFLA Summit sessions and IFLA colleagues. I visited three kinds of libraries in Brisbane and GoldCoast, Australia. Exploring with Benzamine, the State Library of Queensland, and the University of Queensland Library is a fantastic tour with the service and technological advancement supporting patrons in reading, learning and researching. Mainly, I was surprised by a Laptop borrowing system in the UQ library where students could exchange or store their laptops and the Edge space where patrons can use 3D printing, laser cutting machines and others such as Makerspace. Otherwise, I travelled to Broadbeach Library, where the community can learn and amuse with many kinds of titles such as literature, sci-fi, etc.

Figure 5: Some of the photos on the Library exploration tour

Figure 6: A dinner with library colleagues after the IFLA Information Futures Summit

As a young librarian, I participated in the IFLA Information Futures Summit and gained valuable insights into the significance of artificial intelligence and technological advancements. I realised that connection, collaboration, and community development are emerging as essential trends and missions for libraries of all types. This is particularly relevant to my current role, where I focus on engaging with students, collaborating with student clubs, and preparing training courses. I am grateful for the opportunities to explore, learn, and connect with fellow library colleagues.