APSIG newsletter no. 58: July 2005

Fiji Library Association Biennial Conference

On the weekend of 1 - 2 July 2005, over sixty librarians and information specialists attended the two day sixteenth Fiji Library Association Biennial Convention held at the Forum Secretariat Convention Centre, Suva. They came from all over Fiji, including the Fiji Museum, national archives, University of the South Pacific, Fiji Institute of Technology , regional and international organisations such as the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, South Pacific Geoscience Commission, UNICEF and representatives of various governments departments, non government organisations and schools.

The evening reception included a presentation from Mr Jim Bentley of the Fiji Media Council and Chair of the Fiji National Commission for Unesco. Verenaisi Bavdra, a Fiji Library Association Convention committee member was quoted as saying: '... the convention focussed on developing strategies to support members' and looked at effective ways of promoting libraries and archives, especially the need to 'providing free and fair access to information' to all citizens of Fiji.

The Fiji Library Association was formed in 1972 to encourage and foster the development of libraries, librarianship and associated activities in Fiji and the South Pacific region.

A key outcome was the development of a strategic plan for the FLA. The FLA hopes to finalise the plan for endorsement at its AGM in December 2005. The working title is Fiji Library Association - Empowering People Through Information - Strategic Plan 2006-2010. Its implementation will need support, encouragement and funding from Fiji and the wider library and donor community in the Asia Pacific region.

Libby Cass (please remove '.nospam' from address)