It’s a new day in Oman! Yesterday, the nation took a huge stride into the 21st century with the formation of the Omani Library Association (OLA), at its 1st annual conference held on the campus of Sultan Qaboos University (http://www.squ.edu.om/), the nation’s tops. Already pretty tech-savvy, this nation of 3.2 million will finally have a single body, to promote information literacy nation-wide, and support those in, or heading toward the profession of library and information science.
Who’s Who?
Dignitaries from all realms of higher education were in attendance, including OLA lead patron Dr. Saud bin Nasser Al-Riyami, SQU’s Vice Chancellor. An all-star line-up of who’s who in information science in Oman delivered compelling lectures, and a final panel discussion, including Dr. Saif Al-Jabri, Director of Information, College of Commerce; Dr. Omneya M. Sadek, SQU Professor of Library and Information Science, the esteemed Dr. Moosa bin Nasser Al-Mufaraji, Director of the SQU Main Library & Acting OLA President, Dr. Abdelmajid Bouazza, SQU Department of Library & Information Science Head, and others (apologies, in advance, for not including other important notables by name unfamiliar to me due to language barrier).
Approximately 400 in attendance came from academic libraries, like University of Nizwa (http://www.unizwa.edu.om/e-index.php) and Sohar University (http://www.soharuni.edu.om/), school libraries like Sultan School (http://www.sultansschool.org/), and medical libraries like that of the Royal Hospital of Oman.
Talking Points
Elements of the vision of the organization discussed were:
1. prospective subdivisions of the organization,
2. developing relationships with other national library organizations,
3. prospective publications and proper format for initial publication,
4. prospective to
pics for the next annual conference next October 2008,
5. surveying the needs of information professionals in the field here in Oman,
6. prospective workshops, seminars, lectures, or continuing education opportunities for working professionals in the field,
7. the need for qualified trainers,
8. prospective course fees,
9. adopting existing literacy standards versus creating one’s own,
10. funding opportunities for future growth of the association,
11. cooperation with private and business entities,
12. the important role of the Ministry of Heritage & Culture in promoting OLA (http://www.omanet.om/english/tourism/entert/museums.asp?cat=tour&subcat=entert1), and,
13. promoting career development in LIS.
Dr. Al-Jabri was generous to translate into the English language highlights of the event, as it progressed for non-native Arabic speakers in attendance, of whom there were approximately 4.
Future Prospects
Acting President Dr. Moosa, as he is affectionately known, will guide the organization with a temporary board until proper elections may be held.
Address of the organization is Omani Library Association, P.O. Box 37, Al-Khoudh, Muscat, Oman 123; telephone (country code 968) 24-14-1503, Fax (country code 968) 24-41-3413. Membership is open to all, at cost of 10 Omani Riyals, about US$26 per annum. An OLA website is forthcoming, and I will post that link as soon as it is made available.
The inaugural conference of the Omani Library Association was a tremendous success in that it served to strengthen ties between those currently serving in the public and private sector, and showed a vision of good things to come for the information profession in the sultanate.
…from the author…. This event actually occurred on October 28, 2007. As a new blogger, I inadvertently placed the article in a pre-existing draft dated September 5th.