Leslie Weir, the Librarian and Archivist of Canada, will be a keynote speaker at the LIANZA 2023 Conference in Christchurch, from October 31 to November 2, this year. As she prepares her address on ‘Connecting with the past, serving the present, engaging with the future’ here are some of her thoughts.
Attending the LIANZA 2023 Conference is a tremendous honour. As a keynote speaker at the 2023 conference, I am looking forward to engaging with this vibrant community and exploring the hot issues that are shaping our domain. It is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world, all of whom share the same passion for libraries and information services. The diverse programme at LIANZA 2023 offers a platform to learn from local and international experts, attend workshops, exchange ideas, and foster meaningful collaborations.
Attending the LIANZA 2023 Conference is a tremendous honour. As a keynote speaker at the 2023 conference, I am looking forward to engaging with this vibrant community and exploring the hot issues that are shaping our domain. It is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world, all of whom share the same passion for libraries and information services. The diverse programme at LIANZA 2023 offers a platform to learn from local and international experts, attend workshops, exchange ideas, and foster meaningful collaborations.
I believe that the five threads chosen as the themes for this conference are fascinating subjects, on which we truly have much to say.
Furthermore, this year marks a very special occasion: the first live LIANZA conference since 2019. We have all dealt with so much adversity during the past few years, and we cannot take for granted how special these opportunities are to meet and discuss in person. Lastly, I cannot deny my excitement at visiting Aotearoa New Zealand. The country is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes, and I am particularly excited to experience the unique blend of Māori and Pacific cultures, which are intricately woven into the fabric of New Zealand society. My only concern is not wanting to leave!
Global issues for the profession
Our profession faces numerous challenges, and it is crucial for all of us to engage actively with these issues. Libraries have always served as sources of knowledge and information, and this remains true despite the present-day, technologically dependent environment. Furthermore, we possess a certain degree of authority and impartiality that we should recognise, embrace and use. It is essential for us to address the concerns of our users, which can include subjects as varied as digital transformation, information privacy and security, intellectual freedom, and access to information. By participating in events such as LIANZA 2023, professionals can contribute their unique perspectives, learn from best practices that define industry standards, and collectively help to shape the future of our profession.
My keynote address at LIANZA 2023
During my keynote address, entitled ‘Connecting with the past, serving the present, engaging with the future,’ I will touch on the different ways that we have been “putting the user first” at Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Over the past few years, we have undertaken multi-faceted efforts to ensure that our collections are increasingly open and accessible for all users, both today and tomorrow. Our institution is going through a great transformation, with the implementation of our Vision 2030 strategic plan, service and IT infrastructure changes, and the reorganization of our structure to support achieving LAC’s mandate—all the while with a focus on people and access.
Implicit in all our endeavours is our commitment to collaborate with underserved communities, particularly First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation partners, and to implement strategies to provide greater, sustainable access and discoverability to the collections in our care. Reconciliation with these entities has been a priority for our organisation, and we have worked hard to build fruitful partnerships with them.
Global issues for the profession
Our profession faces numerous challenges, and it is crucial for all of us to engage actively with these issues. Libraries have always served as sources of knowledge and information, and this remains true despite the present-day, technologically dependent environment. Furthermore, we possess a certain degree of authority and impartiality that we should recognise, embrace and use. It is essential for us to address the concerns of our users, which can include subjects as varied as digital transformation, information privacy and security, intellectual freedom, and access to information. By participating in events such as LIANZA 2023, professionals can contribute their unique perspectives, learn from best practices that define industry standards, and collectively help to shape the future of our profession.
My keynote address at LIANZA 2023
During my keynote address, entitled ‘Connecting with the past, serving the present, engaging with the future,’ I will touch on the different ways that we have been “putting the user first” at Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Over the past few years, we have undertaken multi-faceted efforts to ensure that our collections are increasingly open and accessible for all users, both today and tomorrow. Our institution is going through a great transformation, with the implementation of our Vision 2030 strategic plan, service and IT infrastructure changes, and the reorganization of our structure to support achieving LAC’s mandate—all the while with a focus on people and access.
Implicit in all our endeavours is our commitment to collaborate with underserved communities, particularly First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation partners, and to implement strategies to provide greater, sustainable access and discoverability to the collections in our care. Reconciliation with these entities has been a priority for our organisation, and we have worked hard to build fruitful partnerships with them.
Through an overview of happenings at LAC and in the Canadian library landscape, I hope to provide some useful and practical insights for navigating the dynamic landscape of libraries and information services. I want delegates to explore the emerging technologies at our disposal, cultivate a user-centred approach to their day-to-day work, and collaborate to drive positive change within their own organizations.
I also have the honour of delivering the closing remarks at the conference, through which I hope to foster a sense of shared responsibility and global community between us. It is important not to downplay the impact that the services we provide can have on people. We can all strive to contribute to the library profession, learn from the diverse perspectives of our colleagues from around the world, empower our users, and better our communities.
Some words of encouragement
Dear colleagues from New Zealand attending LIANZA 2023, I hope that my address will fill you with a sense of hope and excitement for what we can achieve together.
Some words of encouragement
Dear colleagues from New Zealand attending LIANZA 2023, I hope that my address will fill you with a sense of hope and excitement for what we can achieve together.
The future for libraries and information services holds tremendous potential, despite the challenges that we face. It can be scary to face the uncertainty that technological advances and societal changes pose for our profession. But we should look at these opportunities with optimism and harness them to our advantage.
By embracing technology as an ally and focusing on our users, we can find novel ways to enhance our services and engage in exciting and sometimes unimaginable ways. We cannot yet divine which way tools such as artificial intelligence will take our work, so we need to keep an open mind. I also want to encourage you all to dig into your own unique cultural heritage and personal experiences and leverage them to enrich and evolve our profession further.
I look forward to meeting all of you!
Find out more about the LIANZA 2023 Conference here.
I look forward to meeting all of you!
Find out more about the LIANZA 2023 Conference here.
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