Dear colleagues and friends

As my term as Chair for Regional Division Committee for Asia and Oceania comes to an end, I would like to take this opportunity to thank colleagues and friends for the support over the past two years. It has been a privilege to serve with a committed and passionate group of individuals.

Together, the committee has made steady progress in strengthening professional development and regional collaboration. Key initiatives included webinars, including a recent session on promoting library discovery tools, training sessions, and the establishment of a new LinkedIn account. Additionally, the committee has prepared reports to the UN, highlighting the evolving role of libraries in the region, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic.

I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to the new committee for 2025 to 2027, which includes both returning members and new faces. I am confident they will bring fresh perspectives and renewed energy to the work of the region.

In other exciting news, I would like to congratulate Beijing Library, Capital Library of China (China) and Ningbo Library (China) for securing the second and third place in the IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award 2025. Their innovative campaigns, “Reading Garden” and “Listen to the Sound of Books,” respectively, have bridged the gap between reading and digital spaces, and broadened access to books through audiobooks. Winners of the Award will be presenting their campaigns at the World Library and Information Congress at Astana in August.

Additionally, two libraries in our region, Shenzhen Yantian Library (China) and Thammasat University Library (Thailand) have been shortlisted for the 2025 IFLA Green Library Award in the categories of Best Green Library/Grand-Scale Project and Best Green Library Project. The winners will be announced at the WLIC conference in August.

After a year’s hiatus, WLIC is set to return, and this year’s conference will also mark the first time it takes place in the Central Asia region. For more details, please visit the conference website. I look forward to seeing you there.

Once again, thank you for the opportunity to serve as Chair. I look forward to staying connected and continuing to support the important work being done across Asia and Oceania.

Contributed by Soh Lin Li, Chair, Regional Division Committee for Asia and Oceania