21.02.2024 - 10:20
Kara Jones spoke at the ANKOSLink annual conference in Türkiye
Kara Jones, University Librarian at American University of Sharjah, UAE, and IATUL Board member representing Africa-Middle East region, spoke at the ANKOS Link annual conference in Antalya, Türkiye, (20-23 November 2023) on behalf of IATUL.
With the conference theme of 'Rethinking University Libraries', her presentation covered a topic reflecting on the work recently to update the IATUL Special Interest Group (SIG) Guidelines.
Entitled 'Academic Library Organization SIGs as a bellwether for trends in the profession', the presentation covered the following points:
- Associations form when libraries come together because they have commonalities. Their Special Interest Groups can support like-minded professionals to come together to support the strategy of their association, to further understanding of an area, and to build networks and connections.
- As a mechanism to support the building of expertise to strengthen University Libraries in coming years, SIGS offer
- Constant exposure to new or different ideas, resources, and technologies
- Development of soft or people skills
- Exposure to different cultures, geographies, values
- Modern universities operate in a competitive marketplace (competing for students, grants, faculty talent, etc.), yet we need to develop connections across institutions for efficiency, cost effectiveness, and to support excellent service.
- To bring the emerging challenges and opportunities of technological advancements (4th industrial revolution) together and build Society 5.0, we have to leverage our networks and professional organizations effectively.
Kara Jones
University Librarian
at American University of Sharjah, UAE
and IATUL Board member
representing Africa-Middle East region