Dear Colleagues and Friends,

In the past few months, the global library community was engaged in the IFLA Elections 2021. We are pleased to see that the election for the IFLA Regional Division Asia and Oceania Committee had been successful. There are 20 elected members from 15 countries across the Asia and Oceania region.

As the RSCAO Chair, I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve the new Regional Division Committee and am also glad to see many new faces especially members from countries that were less represented in the past. You can find the list of new members on the IFLA website. In addition, the election for the Committee Chair has concluded, and I welcome the Chair of the Asia-Oceania Regional Division Committee, Mr Winston Roberts. The Chair will represent the Committee on IFLA’s new Regional Council, which will be led by the newly elected Council Chair, Ms Nthabiseng Kotoskoane from South Africa.

For the first virtual IFLA WLIC held between 17 to 19 August 2021, the Asia and Oceania Section presented Sharing our stories: Libraries in Asia-Oceania supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Achieving UN SDGs has become a global effort involving stakeholders from all walks of life. Library as the information provider plays a critical role in achieving SDGs. We are pleased to have three distinguished speakers from Fiji, China and Malaysia to discuss about how libraries can help tackle the climate emergency and contribute to this important area.

I would like to thank all RSCAO members, current and past, for your participation and the Regional Office for your unfailing support. Last but not least, my profound appreciation goes to the librarians in different Asian and Oceanian sub-regions. Your dedication to the library profession and passion to improve people’s life with information and knowledge always touch my heart.

With your continuing support, I believe that the new Regional Division will bring the libraries in Asia and Oceania to a new level.

Best regards,

Tina

RSCAO Chair