Source: Division of University Libraries, Museums and Archives
Written by: Division of University Libraries, Museums and Archives
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On July 18, 2019, IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) President-elect Ms. Christine Mackenzie was invited to visit Sun Yat-sen University and make a report, IFLA: Building a Strong and United Library Field, on Guangzhou South Campus by Professor Huanwen Cheng, IFLA Governing Board Member and Dean of Division of University Libraries, Museums and Archives, Sun Yat-sen University.

In the morning, Ms. Christine Mackenzie visited many famous historical buildings on the campus, inspected University Faculty Collection Room, National Conservation Center for Rare Books, Special Collection Room and Rare Collection Room in the library, and spoke highly of the development status of the library.

In the afternoon, Ms. Christine Mackenzie made a report in Swasey Hall, which was attended by more than 100 librarians from some Guangdong Universities and teachers and students majoring in library science from School of Information Management, Sun Yat-sen University. In the report, she briefly introduced the structure, missions, core values of IFLA and then explained the background, main content and practical significance of IFLA's Global Vision project and its report. Global Vision is a follow-up supporting project of IFLA to promote the United Nations 2030 agenda. She pointed out that Global Vision report covered ten highlights and ten opportunities faced by the library field when overcoming the challenges from ever-increasing globalization, including access to information, community service, digital innovation, collaboration, and cultural heritage protection, etc. To realize the Global Vision of the library field, IFLA had developed a Strategic Plan 2019-2024, standards, guidelines and manuals, carried out the World Library Map project and established IFLA Preservation and Access Centres, etc. After the report, Ms. Christine Mackenzie had a discussion with participants on the promotion of Global Vision, the role of librarians, and the united library field.
IFLA is the most authoritative and influential non-governmental professional international organization. The visit of Ms. Christine Mackenzie, President-elect of IFLA, provided a platform for Chinese librarians, teachers and students of library science to broaden their international horizon and also built a communication bridge for the innovation and cooperation in library resources construction and sharing as well as service improvement.