Monthly Archives: February 2019

Meet the candidates: Hege Kristine Myhrebakken

Hege Kristine Myhrebakken
Østre Toten folkebibliotek
Norway

My name is Hege Kristine and I am 29 years old. I started my library career in 2015, in a public library in a small municipality of 15 000 people. I am a fulltime youth librarian at Østre Toten folkebibliotek, and my background is an education in creative writing and cultural project management.

In 2017 I attended my first IFLA congress, thanks to a scholarship from Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees (Fagforbundet). After IFLA17 I became a member of Fagforbundets library interest group, which gives guiding advice on library politics. I received yet another scholarship last year, and attended IFLA in Kuala Lumpur. Whilst there, I attended several Public Libraries business meetings/sessions, and found your work something I myself would like to be a part of.

As a librarian and a member of my union, I am interested in further development of public libraries and the access to knowledge and information. I would like to work for strengthening the role that the public library has in society, both as a free and equal place to meet other people and as a democratic arena for debates and discussions.

I would love to be a part of shaping the future of public libraries, and to work with talented and unique colleagues from all over the world! I will bring my passion for libraries and reading, and convert them into actions that will be a part of the shaping of the future.

For more information about voting for members of the Public Libraries Standing Committee take the time to read our post.

Meet the candidates: Ines Vila

Ines Vila
Oporto
Portugal

My name is Inês Vila, I have been working in public libraries since 2005. During twelve years I work as librarian responsible for a Public Library, where I coordinate the Library Reading Promotion Projects and Programs, I select, manage, evaluate and develop all the services for children, young and adult users. I was responsible for by carrying out various projects, including the “Makerspace BMI – Juntos Fazemos!”, the first Makerspace in a Public Library in Portugal. Since last month I’m Head of Libraries Services in Oporto.

As a Librarian I’ve been an active member of my National Library Association (BAD), and during the last two years I represent the Association in the two European IFLA Global Vision Workshop, and also in the Generation Code meeting organized by Public Libraries 2020. I was also involved with colleagues from Latin America, because I was selected to participate during 2015-2017 in the INELI Iberoamerica, International Network of Emerging Library Innovator. In 2017 I participate in IFLA WLIC 2017 and It was the moment that I feel ready to work more actively in the international library movement, specially on the focus of public libraries, librarians and consequently the communities they serve.

For more information about voting for members of the Public Libraries Standing Committee take the time to read our post.

Meet the candidates: Byong Joon Na

Byong Joon Na
Library Director
Chungnam Library
Republic of Korea

I have worked as a librarian in public libraries for the last 20 years.
I am currently the director of the Chungnam Library
I would like to spread my dreams and passion at IFLA  if I have an opportunity.
I will devote my best to the development of the public library.
In addition, I will continue to study for the better tomorrow of the IFLA Public Libraries Standing Committee.

To contribute sustainable development of IFLA, l would like to carry out the following activities as a member of the Public Library Section  with creative passion.

First, Contributes to the development of public libraries by carrying out various projects,

Second, Developed a standard manual for the operation of public libraries to disseminate them to libraries in member countries and provide the basis for library operations,

Third, I will develop an online community space for mutual cooperation and communication, which is a public library in the world,

Finally, I want to establish a network of libraries through cyber space to promote all public libraries in member countries.

 

For more information about voting for members of the Public Libraries Standing Committee take the time to read our post.

Meet the candidates: Kent Oliver

Kent Oliver
Library Director
Nashville Public Library
USA

I am thrilled to be to be nominated by the Public Library Association of the American Library Association (ALA) for IFLA’s Public Libraries Standing Committee.  It has been my privilege to participate as a member volunteer and leader with ALA at many levels.  Part of my ALA experience  includes serving as an ALA Executive Board Member, Chapter Councilor, Council Committee Chairs (most recently the Committee on Legislation) and as President of our associated organization, the Freedom to Read Foundation.  These and other roles provide me insight into the breadth and scope of issues impacting our profession and librarians.  Issues such as copyright, human rights, intellectual freedom, information access and public facilities development are certainly not United States centric and should never be considered as such.

My entire professional library career has been as a public librarian.  I am currently the Library Director of the Nashville (TN) Public Library, 2017 Library Journal Library of the Year.  Prior to joining Nashville I was the Director of the Stark County (OH) Library District (SCDL) in Canton Ohio. SCDL was a winner of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service during my tenure.

I believe the common threads for successful public library services worldwide are collaboration, innovation, advocacy and engaging community and national challenges.  Becoming part of a committee in an organization such as IFLA requires a set of association skills and values.  Those include civility, inclusiveness, respect for process and thoughtfulness. I would bring all of these to the table and embrace the opportunity to contribute to my profession at the global level.

For more information about voting for members of the Public Libraries Standing Committee take the time to read our post.

Meet the candidates: Annie Brigant

Annie Brigant
Deputy Director 
Bibliothèque publique d’information
FRANCE

Having spent a large part of my career in public libraries (in the French cultural network abroad, in the Grenoble public libraries network and at the Bibliothèque publique d’information of the Centre Pompidou in Paris), I am highly interested in the activities of this section and willing to participate.

During my 3 decades career, I have developed a great variety of skills and interests : digital matters as I took part in building the French national system of ebook lending and created a “digital public library” in Grenoble, cultural projects (as the co-director of a literary festival for instance) or building renovation at the Bpi. I have also developed a taste for management (at the head of Grenoble public libraries or as Bpi deputy director), libraries marketing and communication.

Public reading is an international cause which is frequently endangered and requires constant lobbying work and I would be very happy to share my experience as well as my enthusiasm.

May I add that I have a personal experience as an English to French translator which I will be glad to place at the service of the standing committee if need be.

For more information about voting for members of the Public Libraries Standing Committee take the time to read our post.

Meet the candidates: Hitomi Takeuchi

Hitomi Takeuchi
Lecturer
JAPAN

I worked in the National Diet Library, Japan. I worked several sections.  One of the section which were Japanese congress service section where I was in charge of making Diet Minutes database which is very useful for not only the diet member but also for all nation who want to know what kind discussion is going on, and who discuss what kind content and what is the hot issues in the diet and in the Japanese society.

Besides working in the National Diet Library, I teach several Universities about the reference services, the information retrieval and other library services.  To teach the library things is interesting for me to train and make  capable and empowering librarians.

I joined the standing committee of IFLA Public Library Section in 2002 in Puerto Rico Conference as my first term.  It was the wonderful experience to meet and discuss about the public library with the other countries librarians.  Completed my first term, I had been the correspondent member in the next term. This time is my second term of the standing committee.  Through my first term experience I could contribute not only to Japanese public library making useful but also I could do the other countries members especially Asian countries.

The end of February I will have a presentation about UNESCO Public Library Manifesto 1994 at the Japanese Public Library research conference which held every year. I’ll explain the Manifesto and its history. I know it is the fundamental document and how important it is.  If I could have the second term member of Public Library Section, I could flourish the spirit of Manifesto.

For more information about voting for members of the Public Libraries Standing Committee take the time to read our post.

Meet the candidates: Martin Memet Könick