The International Summit of the Book

Program

SPeakers

1. Ms Ai Cheng Tay

   Deputy Chief Executive of the National Library Board - Singapore

   Ms. Tay Ai Cheng is the Deputy Chief Executive of the National Library Board, Singapore (NLB). She is also the Chief Librarian. She oversees the National Library, the National Archives, the Technology, Resource Discovery and Management and Volunteer Management and Corporate Social Responsibility arms of NLB.

   Ms. Tay graduated from the University of Singapore and studied librarianship at the Polytechnic of North London, United Kingdom. She has held various positions within NLB, gaining invaluable diverse experience and knowledge. These positions include those in the reference library, the technical services, corporate services, the human resource divisions and the processing and warehousing services.

   Ms. Tay was previously the Assistant Chief Executive (Public Libraries). She had then played a major role in developing new and existing libraries, services and programmes apart from directing the daily operations of over 26 public libraries. She was also in charge of national programmes such as Reading Initiatives and Community Partnerships and Outreach to promote reading and learning. Active in representing Singapore and NLB internationally she was Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of the Metropolitan Libraries Section in the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) until recently. She was a panel member for the Access To Learning Award for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She is also a member of the inaugural International Network Of Emerging Library Innovators (INELI), initiated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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2. Mr Andris Vilks

   Director of the National Library of Latvia

   Andris Vilks (1957) is one of the most notable library and information science professionals in Latvia, having significantly contributed to the library sector, as well as to the development of the information and knowledge society at the national and Baltic level. He has been the Director of the NLL since 1989. Andris Vilks has fostered the development of the NLL, selflessly involving himself in both the construction project for the library’s new building Gaismas pils (Castle of Light) and the start-up of operations in the newly constructed building, as well as in the creation of the Gaismas tīkls (Network of Light) National Unified Library Information System and the Letonica National Digital Library.

   Andris Vilks is an honorary member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the UNESCO Latvian National Committee (LNC) Knowledge Society Programme Board, and a member of the UNESCO LNC Assembly. He has also gained recognition among his fellow professionals internationally and is an active board member in the Association of European Research Libraries (LIBER) and Bibliotheca Baltica – the Baltic Sea Region Library Association.

   Andris Vilks has received a number of honours for his library and cultural work and his contribution to the new National Library building project: the Order of Three Stars, the highest award of the Republic of Latvia, a Cross of Recognition, as well as Lithuanian, Estonian, Polish, Swedish and Netherlands’ national awards for his contribution to cultural development and the fostering of cultural cooperation.

   In 2017, Andris Vilks was presented with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to Latvia’s book sector.

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3. Dr Angela Repanovici

   Professor at Transilvania University of Brasov, President of Information Literacy section of the Romanian Library Association

   Angela Repanovici is professor at Transilvania University of Brasov, the president of Information Literacy section of the Romanian Library Association, has coordinated many national and international research projects, with application in library staff development, electronic library and information literacy.

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4. Mr Brewster Kahle

   Founder & Digital Librarian, Internet Archive

   A passionate advocate for public Internet access and a successful entrepreneur, Brewster Kahle has spent his career intent on a singular focus: providing Universal Access to All Knowledge.  He is the founder and Digital Librarian of the Internet Archive, one of the largest libraries in the world.  Soon after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he studied artificial intelligence, Kahle helped found the company Thinking Machines, a supercomputer maker.  In 1989, Kahle created the Internet’s first publishing system called Wide Area Information Server (WAIS), later selling the company to AOL. In 1996, Kahle co-founded Alexa Internet, which helps catalog the Web, selling it to Amazon.com in 1999.  The Internet Archive, which he founded in 1996, now preserves 30 petabytes of data—the books, Web pages, music, television, and software of our cultural heritage, working with more than 450 library and university partners to create a digital library, accessible to all.

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5. Dr Claudia Lux

   Honorary Professor at Humboldt University in Berlin, Former IFLA President

   Prof. Dr. Claudia Lux is honorary professor at Berlin School of Library and Information Studies at Humboldt University in Berlin. She is specialized on library and information policy and structure and ethics in information.

   From April 2012 to May 2017 she was the Project Director of Qatar National Library and full responsible to initiate, set up and develop the concept, budget, staff, collections and services of the most innovative National Library in the Gulf Region. Prior to her appointment to QNL, her executive role since 1997 was Director General of Central and Regional Library Berlin (25 Million Euro budget, 3.4 million books, 320 staff). She leads the process to unify the libraries of East and West Berlin to one powerful library organization, representing integrated functions of a state, a public and a heritage library. 1991 she became Director of the Senate Library in Berlin, where she introduced an integrated library system and web-services. After working as a freelancer in market and media research she started her library carrier in the East Asian department of the State Library in Berlin in 1984. She has a two university degrees in social sciences and library sciences and a PhD in Chinese Studies.

   She is a leading figure in the library and information world giving lectures in all continents.  She was President of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) from 2007 – 2009 and developed the “Library on the Agenda” theme to strengthen the librarians’ advocating competences. She served on Committees for Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Board of Directors of the Council of Library and Information Research in Washington D.C.

   At a national level she was president of the umbrella association of Library and Information Germany, Chair of the German Library Association, and served on different boards e.g. German National Library, the German National Library of Economics, the Weimar Classic’s foundation, Berlin Castle Humboldtforum.

   She is the recipient of numerous awards such as Officier des Ordre des Arts et des Lettres ( France) , Honorary Professorship  of the State University of LSIT, (Bulgaria), Guest Professorship at Wuhan USIM (China) and Honorary Fellow of IFLA. 

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6. Mr Frode Hegland

   University Teacher

   Frode Hegland is a Norwegian living in London with his wife and (almost) 1 year old son. He has worked on interactive text for most of his career, including with his mentor and friend Doug Engelbart. Has has been a university teacher and he has hosted the annual Future of Text Symposium with Vint Cerf for 7 years and runs an independent software company called The Liquid Information Company which produces the Author academic word processor and the Liquid text interaction utility. 

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7. Mr Gerald Grunberg

   Associate Professor at Leopold Sedar Senghor University, Chairman of the French Committee of the UNESCO Memory of the World Program

   Gerald Grunberg, born in 1948, is emeritus chief librarian. He has managed several public libraries before being in charge of monitoring the construction of public libraries at the Ministry of Culture. Then he was one of the programmers of the new National Library (BnF) until 1997. Adviser for the realization of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina from 1997 to 2001, he then directed the Public Information Library in the George Pompidou Center in Paris. He has also been director of international relations at the BnF. Since 2013, he has been Associate Professor at Leopold Sedar Senghor University, advisor for the “Francophony” at the Limoges National Dramatic Center and Chairman of the French Committee of the UNESCO Memory of the World Program. Gerald Grunberg has published numerous articles on libraries and documentary heritage. He is chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

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8. Dr Ingrid Parent

   University Librarian a the University of British Colombia, Former IFLA President

   In 2009 Dr. Parent was appointed to The University of British Columbia as University Librarian after holding increasingly senior positions at the National Library of Canada and at Library and Archives Canada (LAC), culminating in her role as Assistant Deputy Minister for Documentary Heritage.

   The 2009 winner of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) award for Distinguished Service to Research Librarianship, Dr. Parent is recognized nationally and internationally for her outstanding contributions to libraries and to the library profession.

   The digital agenda, including the collection of electronic publications and archival records, the provision of new and efficient digital services, and converting analogue information to digital formats, is an enduring interest for Dr. Parent. While with Library and Archives Canada, she led activities to develop national standards and policies for managing digital material, and has made The University of British Columbia Library’s digital strategy a top priority.

   Over her career, Dr. Parent has been involved with several international information associations including UNESCO, the International Publishers Association, the ISSN International Network, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the Association of Research Libraries. She is a member of the Boards of the Council on Library and Information Resources and of the Center for Research Libraries, both based in the United States.
   She has been actively involved in the governance of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) for the past 14 years. Dr. Parent completed her two year term as President of the Federation in August 2013. Within IFLA, Dr. Parent has been a strong proponent of equitable access to information and promoting the diversity of voices in the world of information. She has made innumerable professional and political contacts with individuals and associations around the world, and continues to receive invitations to speak at diverse conferences and fora in many countries.
   
   In June 2011, Dr. Parent was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa for her role in promoting libraries and cultural heritage around the world

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9. Dr Ismail Serageldin

   Founding Director Emeritus

   Ismail Serageldin is Founding Director of the Library of Alexandria in Egypt, and also chairs the Board of Directors for each of the Library’s affiliated research institutes and museums. He is advisor to the Egyptian Prime Minister in matters concerning culture, science, and museums. He has been a Distinguished Professor at the College de France in Paris (2010–2011), Vice-President of the World Bank (1993–2000), and has received the Public Welfare Medal of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), as well as the Legion d’Honneur (France), and the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan). He is a member of many academies, and has received more than 34 honorary doctorates. Dr. Serageldin serves as Chair and Member of a number of advisory committees for academic, research, scientific and international institutions and civil society efforts. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Cairo University and Master’s degree and a PhD from Harvard University. He lectures and publishes widely, and has developed a TV Science Series in Arabic and English.

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10. Dr Jesus Lau

    Professor at Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico

    A leader and spokesperson for information literacy/information skills for learning, Dr. Lau has travelled professionally to more than 65 countries as a passionate advocate for the role information competencies play in our global knowledge society, and the potential of information to transform lives.  Having led four academic libraries, with the responsibility for raising funds and building new library facilities at two of them, Dr. Lau currently is a Professor at Universidad Veracruzana, the fourth largest public university in Mexico.  With a Ph.D. in Information Science, Sheffield University, England; a Master’s Degree in Library Science, Denver University; and Law Degree at Sinaloa University, Mexico. He has been awarded the title of National Researcher for several consecutive three-year terms, 1989-2018 (Mexico).

    He has played a national and international leading role as a member of the Board of Directors of the Special Libraries Association (USA)--the first foreigner to have this role in its 100-year history.  In addition, representing SLA at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA - The Netherlands) in several roles, among them serving two terms on the Governing Board; on the Executive Committee; and was the first Chair of IFLA’s Information Literacy Section.  Dr. Lau is Past-President of the Mexican Library Association (AMBAC).  The author of more than 200 papers and articles and 20 monographs, including the IFLA Information Literacy Guidelines (translated into 12 languages) and an InfoLit Marketing manual.  As well as author/researcher of UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Global MIL Assessment Framework manual, among other UNESCO MIL publications. 

    The recipient of numerous awards recognizing his professional contributions, including the Global MIL Award 2017 from the United Nation Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), and The Global Alliance for Partnerships on Media and Information Literacy (GAPMIL); as well as Librarian of the Year by the Border Regional Library Association (Texas -New Mexico Border) in 1998; the 2011 Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) Librarian of the Year Award, the highest of its kind in Mexico; and the John Cotton Dana award to recognize his lifetime of achievement and exceptional service to Special Libraries Association (USA) and the library and information profession; the IFLA Medal by the International Federation of Library Associations for his distinguished service to IFLA and international librarianship, and in advancing information literacy as a critical skill, and the INFO 2014 Award (Cuba) for his contribution to information development in Latin America.  He has been named Outstanding Citizen of Sinaloa, and is part “Sinaloenses Ejemplares en el Mundo” in his home state.

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11. Dr Joel Sam

    ACAFI and AfLIA Projects Director

    Dr. Joel Sam is the ACAFI and AfLIA Projects Director and is based in Accra, Ghana. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Information Studies awarded by the University of Ghana, Legon and has a number of publications on information management in peer reviewed journals to his credit. He has over 25 years’ experience as a practicing librarian and in the planning, management and implementation of agricultural information projects.  

    Dr. Sam serves on the Management Board of Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL) with headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania and is the Chairperson of the Management Board of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH). He is a member of the Ghana Library Association (GLA).  

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12. Ms Lamia Abdel Fattah

    Head of Library Sector, Bibliotheca Alexandrina

    Lamia Abdel Fattah has spent the last 16 years working for the Library of Alexandria. In 2014 she was appointed Head of Library Sector.  She is responsible for the overall planning and administration of all activities of the Library Sector’s six departments. From March 2006 to present she served as director of the special libraries for children, young adults, arts and multimedia and library for the blind and visually impaired. During her tenure, Lamia managed and administrated a number of innovative projects. Achievements included the establishment of the first Arabic Digital Talking Book Library in the middle east, the establishment of the special needs corner at the children’s library in addition to the development other creative new programs for children and young adults.

    Lamia holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s in Quality Management from the Productivity and Quality Institute,  Arab Academy of Science and Technology.

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13. Ms Nadereh Chamlou

    International Development Advisor, Former Senior Advisor of the World Bank

    Nadereh Chamlou is an international development advisor and a former Senior Advisor of the World Bank, where she worked for over three decades in technical, coordination, managerial, and advisory functions in diverse sectors and geographical regions. She authored seminal reports on topics of corporate governance, entrepreneurship, and gender and economic development. She serves as advisor to European academic institutions, and on the boards international NGOs that deal with women’s economic empowerment.  She received the 2015 The International Alliance for Women’s “Making a Difference” global award.

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14. Ms Noram B Amako

    Deputy Director, Professional Services Department and head of Certification and Licensing, Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN)

    Ms Noram B Amako is from Nigeria. She holds a bachelors degree in Library and Information Science, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria and a Master of Library and Information Science, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. She is a Deputy Director, Professional Services Department and head of Certification and Licensing, Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN). A certified Librarian of Nigeria (CLN) and a member of Nigerian Library Association (NLA). Attended both National and International conferences and workshops.  Editor LRCN publications.

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15. Dr Paul Sturges

    Professor Emeritus, Loughborough University

    Paul Sturges has traveled widely throughout the world, giving lectures and conference presentations, leading workshops on Intellectual Freedom topics, providing consultancy, and researching. His more than 200 articles, reviews, reports and books deal with a variety of issues in information science, with a central specialization in ethics of information, an emphasis on the developing world and a recent focus on curriculum development. Chair of the International Federation of Library Associations’ (IFLA), Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Committee 2003-9. Made Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010 for services to libraries in the UK and overseas, and awarded the IFLA Medal in 2011. Editor in Chief, Open Information Science, online journal from De Gruyter (2016-).

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16. Mrs Rania Kalawy

    Head of General Collections and Services Department, Bibliotheca Alexandrina

    Rania Kalawy is currently the Head of General Collections and Services Department affiliated to the Library Sector at Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA). She is managing the main library in providing collection and services to meet information needs of the  community, and to serve as a gateway to knowledge and information. In addition she is working on  developing the BA collection through enriching and updating  its printed resources.

    Kalawy obtained her Bachelor degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University in 1997. She worked in several international companies before joining the BA in 2010 as Head of Arts and Multimedia Library (AM).

    Having faith that Library role is not only about information resources but they are also channels to raise awareness and enrich cultural experience within the society, Kalawy studied the community needs and culture and reformulated the AM Library programs, accordingly. She tailored the Library outreach strategy to attract new audience and engage new categories of target users.

    Kalawy has always been keen to take the BA work to the international arena, she presented the newly developed programs to the international Library community in a poster session in IFLA WLIC, Lyon in 2014 under the theme “The Role of the Libraries in Enriching the Cultural Experience within the Community”.

    In recognition of her community oriented efforts in raising art appreciation, she was nominated for two consecutive years (2015-2016) as a member of the board of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Faros University to help develop the university educational system.

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17. Ms Susan Ness

    Senior Fellow, SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations, Johns Hopkins University

    Susan Ness is a former commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission and the founder of Susan Ness Strategies, a communications policy consulting firm. A Senior Fellow at the SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations (Johns Hopkins University), she focuses on transatlantic digital issues, including regulation of hate speech, violent extremism, and malicious disinformation online; privacy and national security; the digital single market; innovation; data flows; and trade. She also convenes the SAIS Global Conference on Women in the Boardroom.

    Commissioner Ness served on the U.S. Federal Communications Commission from 1994 to 2001, where she played a leading role on spectrum policy, championed competition, implemented spectrum auctions, advocated educational children’s television programming, fostered new technologies and often represented the FCC at international meetings.   She serves on the board of TEGNA Inc, a NYSE-listed media company, and on the board of Vital Voices Global Partnership, an NGO that invests in women’s leadership worldwide.

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