INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIBRARIANSHIP, 7(2), 164-168 ISSN: 2474-3542 IFLA WLIC 2022: CALA Members Participation and Engagement Michael Bailou Huang, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA Haiyun Cao, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada Guoying Liu, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada Lian Ruan, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA Jingjing Wu, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA Hong Yao, Queens Public Library, Queens, NY, USA Ning Zou, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, USA Shali Zhang, Auburn University, Auburn AL, USA The 87th IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) was held July 25-29, 2022 in Dublin, Ireland. IFLA WLIC 2022 welcomed over 2000 delegates from 96 countries to Dublin, Ireland with the conference theme “Inspire, Engage, Enable, Connect.” The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession. In her address to delegates, IFLA President Barbara Lison expressed her delight at the atmosphere of the first in-person meeting after such a long period of isolation and travel restrictions. A number of members from the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) attended the Congress and spent several packed days of learning, reflection, discussion, and networking. Michael Bailou Huang, SUNY Distinguished Librarian, Director of Global Library Initiatives at Stony Brook University, and CALA Executive Director, attended the World Library and Information Congress in Dublin, Ireland from July 25 through July 29, 2022. CALA is one of IFLA’s national association members since 2012 (CALA membership code: US-0009). Michael also attended the IFLA General Assembly virtually as a CALA representative and registered voting member on August 25, 2022. Michael is currently a member of the IFLA North America Regional Division Committee (2021-2023). He also serves his second term on the IFLA’s Health and Biosciences Libraries Section as a standing committee member (2019-2023). During the Congress, Michael actively participated in business meetings of the North America Regional Division Committee and the Health and Biosciences Libraries Section, and their open sessions titled “IFLA North America: Connecting for action” and “Infodemic management: Strategies for combating health mis/dis/malinformation.” As a representative from CALA, Michael attended the IFLA Association Members Meeting. CALA was acknowledged by Lessa Pelayo-Lozada, ALA President, at the US Caucus and Reception as one of the sponsors. In addition, Michael co- presented a poster session titled “Reconnect, rebuild and rebrand: CALA members’ initiatives to help move our institutions above and beyond the pandemic” together with Hong Yao, Queens Public Library, Wenli Gao, University of Houston, and Guoying (Grace) Liu, University of Windsor, Canada. Huang et al. / International Journal of Librarianship 7(2) 165 Haiyun Cao, Metadata, Discovery and Access Librarian, co-presented a poster session titled “Changing nature of cataloguing librarians in academic libraries” with Marcia Salmon, Digital Scholarship Metadata Librarian, York University Libraries. The shifting research and scholarly landscape, the transformation in higher education, and advances in technology have been reshaping the profession of cataloguing librarianship in academic settings. There has been a trend in the cataloguing community where cataloguers are transforming their roles from traditional cataloguing to metadata creation. The authors of this research study conducted a survey of cataloguers in Canadian and American academic libraries who experienced this change in roles. The survey addresses changes of position description, acquisition of new skills, challenges and opportunities during the transition, and the extent of confidence and satisfaction in performing the new roles. The survey results show that transition in the job roles of cataloguers is a big challenge to cataloguers who lack metadata knowledge and computer technologies. However, they are able to acquire the necessary skills to perform their new responsibilities, as well as develop confidence and satisfaction in their new role. Haiyun Cao visited the National Library of Ireland. The National Library of Ireland was established by the Dublin Science and Art Museum Act, 1877. The National Library of Ireland is a research library, not a lending library. Readers must consult library materials in one of the reading rooms. Anyone over 16 years of age who wishes to use NLI collections can apply for a reader’s ticket. A reader’s ticket is valid for three years and gives readers access to all library collections. Haiyun Cao also visited the exhibition YEATS: The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats. William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was one of the great poets of the twentieth century. He created works that are widely known and loved. Yeats was a man of many interests – Ireland, literature, folklore, theatre, politics, the occult – and a significant influence on modern Irish cultural identity. The National Library of Ireland received the donation from members of the Yeats family with a large and invaluable collection of W.B. Yeats' manuscripts and books. This exhibition, based in the library’s main building, celebrates that collection. Guoying Liu, Systems Librarian and Engineering Liaison, University of Windsor, attended this year’s IFLA Congress in Dublin, Ireland. As a member of the IFLA Library Publishing Special Interest Group, she was actively involved in the session titled “Library publishing: Inclusive and open scholarly communication that supports the UN sustainable development goals” on July 26 at the Congress, including its initiation, promotion, and organization. The session was very well received by IFLA attendees. On July 27, she also participated in the “Library Publishing Business Meeting” where the committee discussed various issues and future directions. It was a great opportunity for the committee members to meet in-person with each other as well as with IFLA officers. Guoying also presented two poster sessions with colleagues from the USA, Canada, Ireland and Russia titled “Reconnect, rebuild and rebrand: CALA members’ initiatives to help move our institutions above and beyond the pandemic” (Presenters: Hong Yao, Michael Bailou Huang, Wenli Gao, and Guoying Liu), and “Inspiring, enabling, engaging and connecting library publishers through IFLA’s global library publishing map and the activities of the IFLA SIG on library publishing” (Presenters: Guoying Liu, Marie O’Neill, and Ekaterina Shibaeva). From these activities and many other occasions, such as the USA Caucus, cultural evening, and OCLC reception, she met with many CALA leaders, members, and other Chinese librarians from the USA, Canada, and Taiwan, such as Michael Bailou Huang, Lian Ruan, Haiyun Cao, Jingjing Wu, Rey-Yun Huang, Xuemao Wang, and Marcia Lei Zeng. They represented and promoted CALA together to people from all over the world. Lian Ruan, Head Librarian and International Programs Director at Illinois Fire Service Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, attended the IFLA Library Theory and Research Section Standing Committee Business Meeting as a member. She joined the Congress Opening Ceremony, the Exhibition, US Caucus Reception and Caucus Meeting. She learned so Huang et al. / International Journal of Librarianship 7(2) 166 much from the sessions such as “Agile in the library: Methods and tools for project management, collaboration and innovation,” “IFLA guidelines for LIS education programs: Applying a global framework to transform LIS education in local contexts,” “How can library collections support climate adaptation and resilience?” “Engaging, enabling and connecting for the future – in dialogue with IFLA's new President-elect (SI) – Live stream,” and “Librarians as evidence intermediaries during times of crisis.” She attended the poster session and exchanged views with presenters. In addition, she joined the tour of the Book of Kells and Old Library at the Trinity College. Lian actively participated in the two-day online Satellite Conference – the Library Theory & Research, Social Science Libraries, and the IFLA Journal Global and Comparative Research Design in Library and Information Sciences on July 30 and July 31. She had a good time meeting CALA friends and other colleagues. Jingjing Wu, Associate Librarian of Texas Tech University, attended in-person the 87th World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) sponsored by the International Federation of Library Association (IFLA). As a standing committee member and the Information Coordinator of the Statistics and Evaluation (SE) Section, she attended all the committee meetings, including one business meeting and two open sessions. The open session titled “State of outcome/impact measurement in metropolitan, national, and academic libraries” focused on impact measurement in various types of libraries. Carolyn A. Anthony from American Librarian Association (ALA) wrapped up the session by emphasizing that the importance of quantitative and qualitative assessment is the contribution, not attribution. The speakers of the session titled “Providing, communicating and assessing the value of research support services in libraries” shared programs and services their libraries offer to support and enhance research, emphasizing those that have demonstrated "value" or responsiveness to the specific needs of their community. The Statistics and Evaluation (SE) Section is currently seeking new members on their standing committee. They are especially looking for members from public libraries and national libraries or members from under-represented regions including Asia, Oceania, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Jingjing Wu and her colleague Cynthia Henry presented their poster. They shared experience running data literacy workshops to help students, especially graduate students, improve their data skills to process, analyze, and present their data for their research projects. Hong Yao, Director of Technical Services of the Queens Public Library, found the Congress was quite focused and manageable as a first-time attendee of IFLA WLIC. Set in the lovely city of Dublin, she had the opportunity to meet new and old colleagues and friends for the first time in three years, many of whom she worked together via email or Zoom meeting. She was especially impressed by the sheer size of the Poster Exhibit and the wide range of topics they covered. CALA’s Poster, put together by Michael Bailou Huang, Guoying (Grace) Liu, Wenli Gao, and herself has also attracted attention from many visitors. She enjoyed her time spent during the Congress and leisure walks, sightseeing around the city, and the opportunity to connect with colleagues around the globe at the cultural event hosted by IFLA as well as other receptions sponsored by vendors or affiliates. Special thanks to Michael Bailou Huang, CALA Executive Director, for taking time help her navigate through the Congress. Ning Zou, Associate Director for Student Academic Services and Learning Design, Gutman Library, Harvard Graduate School of Education, was excited to share that the WLIC 2022 was the first in-person IFLA conference in her term as Chair of the Information Literacy Standing Committee. She found the Opening Session most inspiring and encouraging. Mary Robinson, a former Ireland President, addressed the imperative for library professionals to combat the climate crisis. She underscored the complex nature of the crisis which includes racial, gender-based, and intergenerational crises, and encouraged us to reflect on each crisis to develop advocacies. “It always seems impossible until it's done”; Ms. Robinson quoted Nelson Mandela's remark to motivate the audience in a call for action. Ning heard several mentions of Ms. Robinson’s remark Huang et al. / International Journal of Librarianship 7(2) 167 throughout conference sessions. Conference participants were deeply encouraged by her speech and shared their ways of acting upon sustainable development. Networking in person is another high point during the WLIC 2022 experience. Given that Ning had collaborated with several section officers and members since last summer, the in-person social events came naturally. She had amazing conversations with colleagues from France, Italy, Croatia, Norway, Kenya, USA, and more at the New Chair reception, Cultural Evening, OCLC reception, and during coffee breaks and at the exhibit hall. She cherished deeply every encounter with her IFLA fellow members, and the close-knit professional network is the best part of being an IFLA member. Together we can make a greater impact! As the Information Literacy section had close working relationships with the School Library committee, Ning was invited to their business meeting. At the meeting, they agreed to co- host the second webinar series during this year's Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week. At this year’s conference, Ning Zou was honored to help moderate a workshop titled “Enable your library to leverage open educational resources to create information literacy programs” with Lisa Hinchliffe (UIUC, Chair, IFLA Education and Training Section) and Anne Barnhart (Western Georgia University, member IFLA LISECD SIG). It's rewarding to see 75 participants in the workshop conversing about ways to promote Open Educational Resources in native languages. Ning would love to extend her gratitude to CALA who nominated her to serve on IFLA – the opportunity opens greater possibilities for her to contribute to librarianship and continue to learn from others. Shali Zhang, Dean of Libraries at Auburn University in Alabama, participated in the 2022 IFLA WLIC in Dublin, Ireland. The last time IFLA hosted an in-person WLIC was in Athens, Greece in 2019. Therefore, it was an exciting experience to see so many library colleagues from the U.S. and the global library community after three years! Shali has served on the IFLA Journal Editorial Committee since 2015. She also served two terms as Chair of the Committee from 2017 to 2021. In the summer of 2021, Shali worked with committee members and hosted four virtual webinars in the IFLA regions of Asia, North America, Europe, and the Pacific on the topics of the IFLA Journal review process and how to get published in the Journal. This year, the Editorial Committee was able to meet in-person for its business meetings and was able to offer an in-person open program to conference participants during the IFLA Conference. At this open program, the Journal’s publisher, Sage, offered advice on how to promote articles published in the IFLA Journal. Shali would like to share the following advice that many CALA members may benefit from: • Link to your published article in your email signature • Email a link to interested colleagues and peers • Create a social media account – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ • Follow peers and other relevant accounts in the field and share links to your work to encourage active engagement in the scholarly community • Share at conferences with fellow researchers • Suggest your article for a guest post for the SAGE Perspectives Blog • Issue a press release via your institution, which could lead to broader news pick up IFLA WLIC’s Cultural Evening is always a highlight of this global gathering. At this year’s WLIC, the Cultural Evening was held in the Lexicon Central Library and Cultural Center in Dublin, with delicious Irish food, spectacular Irish music and dance performances, life episodes of the literary masterpiece Ulysses, candlelit tales of Irish mythology, and beautiful art exhibits. WLIC participants enjoyed this event very much and met with some characters from James Joyce’s books. Huang et al. / International Journal of Librarianship 7(2) 168 The next IFLA WLIC will be held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on August 21-25, 2023. We look forward to seeing more CALA members in the great annual event!