Hong Kong, as the hub of air travel in Asia and a vibrant international city, attracts millions of visitors each year.  Among them are many well-known figures and experts in the field of library and information services.  In order to promote professional development in Hong Kong, the HKLA has been actively exploring opportunities to invite them to share their experiences with our members.  In this connection, we are working closely with reputable information providers, academic institutions and cultural organizations in organizing related professional events.  This year, a series of seminars have been held for such a purpose.

On 22 April, a seminar was held with the support of Dialog Asia Pacific.  We were much honoured to have Ms. Liz Blankson-Hemans, the Manager of Information Professional Development Program, Dialog Corporation, to share with us on the Quantum2 developmental programme (http://quantum.dialog.com).  Ms. Blankson-Hemans was en route to Singapore and she would speak on the same topic in the World Library Summit 2002.  Our members were privileged to have an opportunity to hear Ms. Blankson-Hemans before she made her presentation at the World Library Summit.  The event took place in the Hong Kong Central Library.  More than 110 members attended.

We were also proud to have an opportunity to collaborate with the Information Resource Center of the U.S. Consulate General this year.  Ms. Ann Holland, Information Resources Officer of the Embassy of the United States of America, Beijing, China, spoke on various important U.S. legal, business and WTO internet resources.  These websites are free and would be particularly helpful for reference librarians in answering U.S. related enquiries.  Ms. Holland was based in Beijing and would return to the United States for new assignments.  The event took place in the Hong Kong Central Library on 23 May.  About 80 members attended the event.  Her presentation is available at http://www.hklib.org.hk/legal.html.

The Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes Hong Kong - German Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Library Association jointly organized a seminar on "Towards an Internet Based Information Portal for Berlin and Brandenburg" at the Goethe-Institut on 13 July.  Ms. Beate Rusch, Senior System Librarian of the Cooperative Library Network Berlin-Brandenburg (KOBV) (http://www.kobv.de/index.en.html) shared with us the recent developments of a cooperative library information portal for the two German Lander (federal states), Berlin and Brandenburg.  Ms. Rusch had just returned from the International Conference of Digital Library – IT Challenges and Opportunities in the New Millennium, organized by the National Library of China in Beijing.  Despite the fact that it was a Saturday afternoon, this event attracted more than 40 members.

The above seminars have kept members informed of the available resources that may facilitate their work as well as the latest developments of information services in other parts of the world.  We would like to express our gratitude to above renowned organizations that had given us tremendous support and worked with us to promote the course of professional development in Hong Kong.  If your organization is interested in organizing a professional event with the HKLA, please feel free to contact Ms. Venia Mak, Honorary Secretary, by email veniam@ln.edu.hk.

 
Tommy Yeung
President
 

Ms. Holland at the Central Library

Goethe-Institut Seminar