International Association of Technological   University Libraries [Conference Report]

  	
  	
  	
  


	Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship  	Summer 1999  


	DOI:10.5062/F4KW5D1N


    

Conference Reports
     International Association of Technological University Libraries   (IATUL)
      Julia Gelfand
  University of California, Irvine
jgelfand@sun2.lib.uci.edu    

International Association of Technological University Libraries   (IATUL)
 held in Crete, May 17-21, 1999    The annual meeting of IATUL (Internation Association of Technological University  Libraries) took place in Chania, Crete May 17-21, hosted by the Technical  University of Crete. This was an absolutely beautiful site to attend a conference.   The history, natural beauty, and options for distractions made for a memorable  trip. Crete is very near the Balkans, and the immediacy and concerns for the war  being fought so nearby was very evident. That week also was the anniversary of the  German bombing of the island during WW II. 

    This year's conference theme was "The Future of Libraries in Human Communication,"  and many sessions reflected ideas related to issues in library service and  management. Several keynote papers were delivered on topics ranging from the  "Changing Role of the Library: Missions and Ethics," in which Director-General,  David Russon described changes in the new British Library, to "Commercial Brand  Management," by Ann Wolpert, UL at MIT, to an enlightening paper called  "Challenging Technolust: The Educational Responsibility of Librarians," delivered  by Alan Bundy from the University of South Australia. 

    About thirty papers were presented. Specific papers of interest include: "Sharing  Metadata: Enabling Online Information Provision," which addressed preparing  bibliographic records for opacs; "International Library, Information and Analysis  Center (ILIAC) a New Project at the Russian National Public Library for Science and  Technology," which presented the new concept behind this worldwide venture to gain  investment in resources for that library and to share and encourage cooperation  between Russia, the CIS, USA and other countries; and several others on different  new services, partnerships, and activities introduced by creative librarians and  information providers from around the globe. Registration included about 120  librarians from throughout Eastern and Western Europe, Australia, South Africa, and  North America. 

    Field trips during the conference in Crete included several interesting  destinations. Those who traveled to the archaeological sites at Knossos visited  the famous Minoan Palace and also made a brief stop at the Heraklion Museum to see  the relics from the restoration at that site. Other trips led to academic libraries  at the University of Crete, to monasteries of Preveli and Gonia, and to the Samaria  Gorge. The hospitality and setting on the beautiful Venetian waterfront of Chania  was memorable. 

    IATUL will meet next July 3-7, 2000 in Brisbane, Queensland, when Queensland  University of Technology and the University of Queensland will host a conference  with the theme, "Virtual Libraries, Virtual Communities" hoping to draw papers on  subthemes of: 1) Information economy: the virtual campus; 2) Networked Learning; 3)  Innovative Client Services; and 4) Information Literacy. 

    

  

  
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