Messages from the world LIS leaders

Message from the IFLA President

 

Christine Mackenzie, President IFLA

 

Dear colleagues and friends of libraries in Bangladesh,

Congratulations to The Librarian Times for reaching your fourth anniversary!

2020 has been a very challenging year for all of us, and the impact of COVID 19 has required us to be even more innovative and inventive as we continue to provide services to our communities despite lockdowns and safety concerns.

In September and October last year, the IFLA regional office for Asia and Oceania and the National Library Board of Singapore presented a series of conversations about libraries in the post COVID world. These conversations covered national, public and academic libraries, and I was honoured to be part of the discussions.

Library leaders from around the region, including Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, China, Indonesia, the Philippines as well as the British Library participated. The participants described what was happening in their libraries and how they were managing through the pandemic and also how they think that the future will look. You can see videos of the highlights of these conversations if you go to the National Library Board of Singapore Facebook page.

After participating in all three conversations, with national, public, and academic library leaders, there seems to be a number of common themes emerging which can help us understand how we go on from now. We are working together more and sharing information; we are increasing our innovation and creativity; librarians are upskilling; there is a new appreciation of libraries – we are being seen as partners, and there are serious concerns about resourcing into the future. We are all adapting and changing and we need to continue to be resilient and stay committed to achieving literate, informed, and participative societies.

As you celebrate your achievements at The Librarian Times Awards and Fun Night 2021, I wish you all every success and please stay safe and healthy.

 

Christine Mackenzie

President, IFLA


Message from the former ALA President

Loida Garcia-Febo International Library Consultant American Library Association President 2019-2019

Dear LIS professionals from Bangladesh:

I join dear colleagues recognizing your enthusiasm, dedication, and excellence to the library profession. Best wishes for a bright future where we all strengthen national, regional, and global collaborations to continue positively impacting our profession, libraries, and the communities we serve.

Librarians, LIS students, in the midst of the big shift to digital rushed in by the pandemic, Librarians, we, are the ones we have been waiting for to position libraries as key players within global and national bodies to develop partnerships to strengthen libraries to provide essential services during the pandemic, the aftershocks and beyond. We have the knowledge, the capability, and the power to together with IFLA, national and regional library associations, libraries and librarians help rebuild a fair and just society.

Together, United, We Can!

 

 

 

Loida Garcia-Febo

International Library Consultant

American Library Association President 2019-2019
Chair, ALA 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Task Force
Chair, ALA Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL)


Message from the ALIA President

Viv Barton, President, Australian Library and Information Association

“Congratulations to The Librarian Times of Bangladesh on this fourth anniversary of its founding, from your colleagues in Australia.

As the professional body for Librarians and Library Technicians, the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) knows the value of professional recognition and we applaud this initiative to introduce awards for enthusiasm, dedication, and excellence.

In my role as President of ALIA, I find it inspiring to meet library students starting out on their careers. Knowing that these clever, engaging and committed individuals are ready to lead our institutions speaks well about the future of libraries.

Our very best wishes to the library leaders, academics, and students who will be taking part in The Librarian Times Awards and Fun Night.

 

 

 

Viv Barton

President

Australian Library and Information Association”


Message from the IASL President

Katy Manck, President – International Association of School Librarianship (IASL)

Greetings from the International Association of School Librarianship and IASL members from 51 countries around the world on this auspicious occasion.

I believe that “Every child deserves a great school library and a qualified school librarian,” so I am especially pleased to note the TLT Awards nominations for aspiring school librarians, teacher-librarians, and library education professors.

As your path continues from these Awards, I encourage you to connect with your professional peers around the world and invite you to the online IASL Annual Conference in July 2021 https://iasl2021.unt.edu/conference-info.

Congratulations once again to the TLT nominees and Award winners!

 

 

 

 

 

Katy Manck

President – International Association of School Librarianship (IASL)


Message from the Executive Director (ASIS&T)

Lydia S. Middleton MBA, CAE Executive Director Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T)

 

On behalf of the Board and members of the Associaton for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), we wish The Librarian Times (TLT) congratulations on its 4th anniversary.

ASIS&T applauds the work that TLT has done to bring professional recognition to the Library and Information Science profession in Bangladesh. We are proud to offer membership at no cost to librarians, information scientists, and researchers in Bangladesh.

Best wishes for a successful celebration on April 2nd.

 

 

Lydia S. Middleton MBA, CAE

Executive Director

Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T)


Message from the Former President & Founder Nolak Women for Bangladeshi Women Inc. the USA

Selina Sharmin, Coping Skills Librarian, Queens Public Library, New York, United State,  Former President Ethnic Services Round Table (ESRT) at New York Library Association (2019-2020) President & Founder Nolak Women for Bangladeshi Women Inc. the USA

I would like to thank the entire team of The Librarian Times that provides abundant opportunities to learn, teach, mentor, and share information to advocate, give back to the library profession, and meet many opportunities to network and socialize with colleagues all over the country and world. Since the Pandemic around us and whether social, political, technological, scientific, economic or otherwise require that we help our professionals navigate through new and increasing demands of informational needs which profoundly impact the Library world. In many instances, we are responsible to help shape those new informational landscapes. Our terrific library community of professionals, including all our sponsors, is a network on which we have become increasingly reliant when facing these new challenges and opportunities. I’m proud of our TLT successes over the last couples of the year, particularly in providing more opportunities for meaningful engagement of its members and sponsors, introducing innovative programming formats and topics, and providing professional development and outreach opportunities.

In the year ahead, I hope TLT would continue these initiatives, as well as adding programming designed for the different stages of library professions and careers, virtual programs, and events held in collaboration with other organizations and beyond. Thank you TLT members for your continued participation and enthusiasm in Library professions for your incredible support and advice. Finally,

Wishing you a good and successful 2021, and looking forward to seeing you soon.

 

Selina Sharmin

Queens Public Library, New York, United State


Kirsty Crawford, Programme Director, Libraries Unlimited

Message from the Programme Director, Libraries Unlimited

Many congratulations on the 4th Anniversary of The Librarian Times, and on this awards night souvenir.

I regret I am unable to join you on this occasion but I have fond memories of the time we were able to celebrate together in person, for not only awards but fun too. 

After a year out of beautiful Bangladesh, I’m missing it more than ever, and I’m sad that our Libraries Unlimited project is coming to an end.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our world in so many ways, but libraries remain places of knowledge, learning, and information, and will be places of recovery, empathy, and assistance when communities can come together again. 

At the same time, I’m delighted that there will be this celebration of libraries and librarians, and that The Librarian Times is able to organise these awards virtually and continue the recognition that the award winners sincerely deserve. 

Although my work in Bangladesh is almost over, I will never forget the support our project has had, the many librarians who contributed to our work, and the delicious food and warm hospitality from everyone I encountered. 

Here’s to better days ahead, the continued good work of TLT, and heartiest congratulations to all the award winners.

Best wishes to all attending, and for a successful event.

Kirsty Crawford

Programme Director, Libraries Unlimited


Devendra Potnis, PhD Chair, ASIS&T SIG-III Associate Professor, School of Information Sciences, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, USA

Message from the Chair, ASIS&T SIG-III

Heartiest congratulations to the Librarian Times for celebrating the fourth anniversary in 2021!

Most of the librarians and information science professionals are unsung heroes in several developing countries. I appreciate and applaud the Librarian Times for recognizing the contributions and service of librarians and information science professionals to their patrons, institutes, and society. Such public recognition at a national level is likely to (a) encourage award winners to continue serving their stakeholders, (b) elevate the social image of the library and information science profession, and (c) attract more talented people toward this profession.

I invite you all to join the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Special Interest Group on International Information Issues (SIG-III) for representing your country on the global platform. You can join ASIS&T and SIG-III for free. SIG-III is a win-win opportunity for everyone involved. For more information feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].

 

Devendra Potnis, PhD

Chair, ASIS&T SIG-III

Associate Professor, School of Information Sciences, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville,


Message from the Dean & Professor, Calcutta University, India

Sapna Banerjee

I am very happy to know that THE LIBRARIAN TIMES is organizing the TLT Awards 2021 on 9th April. I am very happy to learn that they have launched an award- Dr Md. Nazim Uddin Memorial Award: Best Academic/Librarian of the year award, in the name of Dr Nazim Uddin, who expired recently. The librarian Times has done commendable work in the area of Library and Information Science in Bangladesh, and they are carrying this work today too. I am sure The Librarian Times will carry on their great work in the future also in the same way. I congratulate the pioneers and all professionals of The Librarian Times in their endeavours, and my best wishes to them for their significant contribution to the library and information science field.

 

 

Sapna Banerjee

Dean, Faculty Council for Post-Graduate Studies in Education, Journalism, Library & Inf. Science  &

Professor, Dept. of Library and Information Science, University of Calcutta.


Message from the President-elect, ASIS&T

Dr Naresh Agarwal

I’m very happy to learn about all the work that the TLT foundation has been doing since its founding in 2017. Bringing LIS professionals of Bangladesh together as a community and connecting them to people, opportunities, and associations worldwide is not a small task, and you have achieved it in four short years. Collaboration and knowledge sharing among LIS professionals helps fulfil the innate human need of connection while contributing towards unhindered access to knowledge and information that LIS professionals strive for.

I’d want to highlight the opportunities provided by the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) for all TLT members, information professionals, and LIS students in Bangladesh. ASIS&T recently announced a free 1-year membership for South Asian countries. I would encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to network with ASIS&T members worldwide and find world-class researchers to collaborate with. The ASIS&T South Asia chapter is an important venue for TLT members where you can contribute and grow further.

I would like to congratulate all the great achievers and recipients of the 2021 TLT awards. Your work is an inspiration to a lot of people, and I thank you for your perseverance. I wish you all happiness always!

Dr Naresh Agarwal

Associate Professor and Director, Information Science & Technology Concentration

School of Library & Information Science, Simmons University, Boston, USA

President-elect, Association for Information Science & Technology