The 19th AUNILO Meeting: “Enhancing Future Skills for Academic Librarians”

The Library and Archives of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) attended the 19th AUNILO Meeting held on October 30 to November 1, 2024, at Chiang Mai University, Thailand with the theme “Enhancing Future Skills for Academic Librarians”. This meeting was organized by the ASEAN University Network Inter-Library Online (AUNILO) which is part of the ASEAN University Network (AUN) program. The first day opened with a warm welcome from key figures who showed strong support for ASEAN library collaboration. The initial remarks were delivered by Mr. Pratch Sanguansak as Director of Chiang Mai University Library; followed by Prof. Rattasit Sukhahuta, Ph.D. as Vice Chancellor of Chiang Mai University, and followed by Shameem Nilofar Maideen as AUNILO Secretariat and Head of Library of Singapore Management University. Prof. Dr. Thanapan Laiprakobsup as Deputy Executive Director of AUN, also gave his speech and conveyed various AUN programs in strengthening the spirit of collaboration for library development in Southeast Asia.

The opening session was followed by a keynote speech from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Songphan Choemprayong from the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. In his speech titled “Insiders and Outsiders in Collection Development and Cataloging Practices of ASEAN Materials in a Global Bibliographic Universe”, Songphan reviewed the challenges and opportunities in collection development and cataloging practices of ASEAN materials in a global bibliographic landscape. Participants gained insight into how local and international perspectives can work together to enrich library collections and improve the accessibility of ASEAN materials in a globalized world.

Afterwards, the event continued with a report submission session from each AUNILO participating country, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Brunei Darussalam. Arif Surachman, S.IP., MBA, as the Head of UGM Library and Archives, appeared as the representative of Indonesia to submit a report on the development of academic libraries in the country. His presence is expected to strengthen

UGM's position as a proactive institution in the ASEAN university library network and support the advancement of information literacy in accordance with the 4th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely quality education.

On the second day, the meeting continued with a business meeting that discussed AUNILO activities that have been carried out and future plans to strengthen library collaboration in ASEAN. In addition, a workshop titled “Power Up Your Library: Unleashing the Potential of AI” hosted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suthida Chamrat from the Faculty of Education, Chiang Mai University. The workshop explored various artificial intelligence (AI) applications such as Chat GPT, Suno AI, Copilot, Invideo AI, STORM, and SciSpace. This activity gave librarians new insights into the utilization of AI in improving library efficiency. Participants directly tried these platforms to understand how they work and the benefits that can be optimized in their respective libraries.

On the third day, the activity ended with a Networking Activities & Chiang Mai Experience session. The participants were invited to visit various iconic and historical places in Chiang Mai as a form of increasing local knowledge and

cultural experiences such as the traditional pottery industry center, chiang mai museum, craft center, and Elephant conservation center. This activity is also one of the moments to strengthen the relationship between AUNILO members. This activity directly supports the 17th SDGs goal on partnerships to achieve goals. The involvement of UGM Libraries and Archives in the 19th AUNILO Meeting emphasizes the university's commitment to developing libraries that are adaptive and responsive to changing times, as well as fostering sustainable collaboration with university library networks in Southeast Asia.

Contributor: Wasilatul Baroroh