IFLA BSLA March 2014

 Photo taken in Tamma Mini, Jarkata with participants from BLSA, 7 March 2014 

 

 

Building Strong Library Associations (BSLA) is a comprehensive programme offering a strategic and coordinated approach to capacity building and sustainability of library associations.

I am very grateful that this year I was supported by LAS (Library Association of Singapore) to attend the BSLA programme in Jarkata.

The IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations) BSLA programme benefits associations, libraries, and their communities. I am fortunate to be the only one representing the Library Association of Singapore to attend this workshop.

The Building Strong Library Associations programme, 4 to 7 March 2014, offered by IFLA consists of:

• A modular, customizable training package on library association development 
• IFLA's policy-based learning materials
• Mentoring and advice on forming partnerships
• Cross-association activities, to bring participants together
• An online platform to provide remote access to materials

During the four days workshop, training materials and activities were customized to meet the needs of different associations, different cultural, political and social conditions.

The programme is delivered by the Action for Development through Libraries (ALP) programme.

More details of the BSLA programme is available from:
http://www.ifla.org/bsla


=====

I enjoyed the four days intensive workshop and learned a lot from the workshop. The sharing among the host group from National Library Indonesia and other participants from the region were interactive and .nformative.

I arrived one day earlier and was invited to attend the pre-workshop meeting in the morning.  The meeting was running from 9am till 1.15pm.  Even I took the morning flight and left Singapore early in the morning, I only managed to check into the hotel (Sari Pan Pacific) around 10am, and with a quick transfer by taxi, I was with the group at around 11am.

We had a very nice Indonesian buffet lunch after the long meeting.  After some photo takings, we had a library tour of the National Library Indonesia.

I always enjoyed library tour. For this official tour, the things impressed me most were the extensive use of Book as an icon for library interior deco.  I see the creative thought of Indonesian librarians.  They translated the image of books into beautiful ornamental objects, like mural, sculptures and attractive library display works. 

The love of reading and book is shown everywhere!


Dexterine Ho Soo Miang