Contributors

This report was created by:

Louise JONES
Peter SIDORKO
Linda LEE
Lily KO
Doris CHAN
Helen CHAN
Alexander WONG
LAI Tsz Chun
Annabelle PAU
Annie TAM
Jeannette MA
Jennifer YU
LEUNG Tin Nok
Kev TSIENG
Susanna TSANG
Sarena LAW
Edward SPODICK
Caroline CHAN

The workshop was conducted in a lively and interactive manner, debating on how a united library field can tackle the challenges of the future. The workshop facilitator, the President of Hong Kong Library Association helped to moderate the discussion to meet the purpose and shared values of the meeting.

During the opening of the workshop, participants were asked to define their library superpower and prepare a one-minute statement on the future of libraries. The following statements are derived from the workshop:

By 2022 …

“we have moved towards deeper integration of public, academic and other libraries in Hong Kong, with equitable service across society, empowered by copyright and education reform with appropriate funding.”

“All provided resources in Hong Kong libraries are accessible to all over the world…”

“Mobile technology enables location of items…”

“Ensure values of libraries are accepted”

“Helping disabled and people with special information needs”

“Multiply staff, more staff…”

A vision for libraries

Libraries enable literate, informed and participative societies. When we look at the future, according to the debates in Hong Kong this means that

The core values of libraries (Q4):

1. Integrity and professional ethics

2. Inclusive, equitable access to and freedom of information

3. Democracy

4. Preservation

5. Empowering people to find information to enhance their quality of life and make informed decisions

Libraries are exceptionally good at (Q5):

1. Collaboration and sharing of resources

2. Accessibility, connectivity and networking

3. Innovation

4. Quality and quantity of metadata

5. Hardworking staff

6. Knowledgeable staff with a high professional standard

Libraries should do more of (Q6):

1. Technology and innovation

2. Increase library space

3. More advocacy, marketing and promotion

4. Cross sectional collaboration between libraries and beyond libraries

5. Understand and educate users more by conducting market research

6. Preservation

7. Non-traditional knowledge of data management

8. Professional development

Libraries should do less of (Q7):

1. Manual processing

2. Knee-jerk reactions to user comments

3. Complaining

4. Segregation

5. Being afraid to approach users with disabilities

6. Being passive, sitting behind the counter

Challenges and solutions

The main challenges to society (Q8):

1. Censorship

2. Inequality and welfare gap

3. Ability to identify and analyse fake information

4. Divided society

5. The environment – pollution and sustainability development

The main challenges to libraries (Q9):

1. Censorship

2. Collaborating

3. Budget restrain

4. Lifelong learning skills and lack of staff mobility in a relatively closed job market

5. Rapid changes to users behaviour and expectations due to technology developments

6. Conservative management culture

How a united library field can make a difference

How should a united library field help meet the challenges identified (Q11)?

1. Greater lobbying and advocacy voice ( censorship, budgeting, copyright policy, archives legislation etc.)

2. Collaborative power to share same goal and mission (synergy to make improvement, improve knowledge and skills together)

3. United and fight for a seat in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong for political power and support

4. Sharing, openness, powerful and innovative

5. Collaborating beyond libraries e.g. with museums and archives, particularly for a LegCo seat

The characteristics of a united library field (Q12):

1. Innovative

2. Sharing

3. Collaborative

4. Strong

A global conversation

This report is created in an interactive process, in Hong Kong on 11 October 2017. It is part of a global conversation initiated by IFLA on how a united library field can tackle the challenges of the future.

Over the course of two years (2017-2018), IFLA will involve as many librarians and others as possible in this global conversation. Participants are encouraged to continue the conversation in their own networks and organization and share the results with IFLA. At the end of 2017, the first results of all the workshops and online discussions will be turned into a Global Vision Report, which in turn will be adapted into concrete strategies, processes and work programmes in 2018.

To learn more about the global conversation, and download supporting materials to support your own activities, visit globalvision.ifla.org.

Stay tuned for news about the IFLA Global Vision discussion following #iflaGlobalVision and make sure to cast your vote in August when the online voting platform is available on https://globalvision.ifla.org.

Search

Breadcrumb

Global Vision Discussion : Report of the Hong Kong Library Association meeting, “How a united library field can tackle the challenges of the future”

HKLA News