The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. I, 1989 185 

Conferences/Seminars 

Third Conference of Council of Muslim Librarians and 

Information Scientists (COMLIS III) 

Istanbul, Turkey 

Shaw .. ·ol/21-23. 1409fMay 24-26. 1989 

Istanbul, the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate, was the site of the third 

meeting of The CounciJ of Muslim Librarians and Information Scientists 
at Ataturk Cultural Center in the heart of the city. COMLIS, as the acronym 
implies, is the international professional organiz.ation of librarians from Muslim 
countries and communities, as well as those invol ved in librarianship in general. 
At its third meeting seven sessions were held during which a total of28 papers 
were delivered. In addition, 48 papers were submitted and included in the 
published preliminary volume of proceedings of this congress. The seven 
sessions were titled: The International M uslim Information Network: A 
Conceptual Framework; Networl<lng Models; Systems Interconnection and 
Networks; Compatibility and Standardization; Establishing Centers of 

Excellence in the Muslim World; Telecommunication Requirements, and; 
Library Cooperation. All of the papers very neatly fitted the theme of the 
congress, namely "Planning an Information Strategy for the Muslim World." 
That the congress wa,; held under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of 
Culture's Directorate of Libraries and Publications was particularly heartening, 
for it symbolizes another signal of Turkey's reentry into the mainstream of 
Muslim nations and communities. The arrangements of the conference were 
methodical and simultaneous translations of presentations between languages 
were provided . 

Most of the papers concentrated on what is desirable in areas of 
international cooperation, avoidance of duplication of research, standardiz.ation 

in library technology, and bibliographical practices. No one questions these 
pious aspirations, but one must go beyond what is desirable to examine what 
presently exists, and how librarianship and its associated functions can be 
improved. In one of the sessions many participants addressed these very 
questions, and indeed made some very sound and practical suggestions. At 
least two papers-that of Muhammad Ali al-Tasan and Abdussattar Chaudhri­
both librarians in Saudi Arabia dealt with practical issues in librarianship 
as encountered in their institutions. The conclusion one may draw from this 

particular session was that national economic and political considerations 
are a big hindrance in the way of library cooperation. Librarians on their 



186 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. l, 1989 

own cannot remove these roadblocks, for cooperation in librarianship must 
be preceeded by intensified interaction in other economic and political fields. 

Meetings of this nature provide an opportunity for Mu�lim librarians 
to share experiences and ideas in their particular field. No matter how improved 
technologies become. a substitute for face-to-face interaction can never be 
found. The Congress passed ten resolutions dealing with its recognition as 
a professional body by the Organization of Islamic Conference, establishment 
of a secretariat, publication of a journal, and similar other issues. 

Omar Khalidi 
MIT 
Cambridge. MA