Tehran to host Asia-Pacific National Library Chiefs’ Meeting
Iran will host the annual meeting of Asia-Pacific national library chiefs for the first time on November 17.
Representatives from 15 countries set to discuss how artificial intelligence can help preserve written heritage and expand regional cooperation during the meeting, Mehr News Agency reported.
The 32nd Conference of Directors of National Libraries in Asia and Oceania (CDNLAO) will be held both in person and online at the National Library and Archives of Iran in Tehran, said Reza Shahabi, the library’s deputy director.
Qatar, Australia, China, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Pakistan are among the countries that have confirmed participation.
The secretary-general of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) will deliver a special video address.
National library directors will report on their institutions and share recent experience under the meeting’s theme: “National Libraries in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Preserving Written Heritage, Transferring Knowledge and Expanding Regional Cooperation.”
First held in Australia in 1979, CDNLAO was established to promote information-sharing, exchange expertise in library organization and publishing, strengthen cooperation and help libraries in developing countries improve their infrastructure.
The 31st meeting was held in Kuwait in 2025. Shahabi said Iran secured the 2026 gathering after consulting the conference’s board and obtaining agreement from its members.
He said the National Library of Iran had taken on the hosting role as part of a broader effort to strengthen cultural diplomacy and build closer ties among national libraries.