The second Jordanian Librarians Forum opened at the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation Library in Jabal Amman, bringing together a wide range of library professionals from Jordan and Palestine, alongside representatives of cultural and community institutions and supporting partners.
The two-day forum, held with the participation of Dr. Emad Saleh, President of the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information (AFLI), is part of the Foundation’s efforts to foster a dynamic professional community led by librarians and to strengthen the role of libraries as centers of knowledge and agents of social change through collaboration and the exchange of expertise.
The forum aims to provide a platform for library professionals to discuss key challenges and opportunities facing the sector, strengthen the librarians’ community of practice in Jordan, and build an effective professional network that supports sustainable development and collaborative initiatives among participating institutions.
Discussions focused on the role of libraries in society, librarians as drivers of change, digital transformation and artificial intelligence in libraries, strategies for engaging diverse age groups, and approaches to resource sustainability and community partnerships.
Dr. Saleh stressed the importance of such gatherings in promoting knowledge exchange, generating ideas, and addressing challenges facing libraries across the Arab world. He highlighted the need for greater collaboration and technological advancement within the sector, noting the growing impact of artificial intelligence while emphasizing the continued importance of the human dimension in library services.
On the sidelines of the forum, the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation and the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and implement several strategic initiatives with long-term impact.
Under the agreement, signed by Foundation CEO Valentina Kassisieh and Dr. Emad Saleh, the Foundation will serve as a non-exclusive accredited representative of the Federation in Jordan. The partnership also includes the establishment of the International Network of Emerging Library Innovators Leaders (Middle East and North Africa – Jordan) as the official national branch of the regional network managed by the Federation.
The network aims to prepare future leaders in Jordan’s library sector by strengthening leadership skills, fostering innovation, transforming libraries into active learning environments, connecting global developments in librarianship with local needs, and expanding access to regional and international learning, grant, and award opportunities.
Following the signing, Kassisieh reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to supporting libraries and library professionals as key contributors to knowledge-based societies. She emphasized the importance of professional forums in fostering dialogue, sharing experiences, and developing solutions to common challenges at both the national and regional levels.
The forum marks an important step toward establishing an open professional network for librarians in Jordan, promoting knowledge exchange, setting shared priorities for the sector, and advancing library services nationwide.