• 2024-12-20

From November 27 to 28, 2024, the 15^th Conference on Collaborative Development and Sharing of Chinese Resources was held online. The conference was organized by the Council for the Conference on Collaborative Development and Sharing of Chinese Resources, hosted by the Hong Kong Public Libraries, and co-organized by the Hong Kong Library Association and the Joint University Librarians Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Themed "Reaching Back to Move Forward – Exploration, Innovation, and Vision," the conference focused on document preservation and digital innovation. Experts and scholars from libraries and archives in Singapore, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, and Mainland China gathered to discuss cultural heritage preservation and experiences in document restoration. The National Central Library (NCL) participated in the conference with representatives attending online, including Deputy Director of the Center for Chinese Studies Mr. Wen-te Hwuang, Editor of the Rare Books and Special Collections Division Ms. Hui-Ju Chuang, and Conservator Ms. Li-Ling Lin.

The Conference on Collaborative Development and Sharing of Chinese Resources originated in 2000 as a collaborative platform initiated by scholars from libraries on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Its purpose is to connect libraries and information institutions worldwide that house Chinese resources, fostering the collaborative development and sharing of these resources. To date, the conference has been held 14 times in various locations, including Beijing, Taiwan, Macau, Nanjing, Hong Kong, Dunhuang, and Lanzhou. Participants have represented regions and countries such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Since 2006, the conference has been held biennially.

This year's conference featured Ms. Chen Ying, Deputy Director of the National Library of China, as the keynote speaker, delivering a lecture titled "New Developments in Collaborative Development and Sharing of Chinese Resources in the Era of Digital Intelligence." Over the course of two days, three themed sessions were organized, covering: “Reflections, Reinterpretations, and Innovations in Document Digitization”; “Technological Empowerment: New Interpretations of Document Preservation and Revitalization” and “Dialogue, Protection, and Utilization of Cultural Relics and Documents.” A total of 14 presentations were delivered, showcasing professional experiences and insights in the field of library and information science.

NCL’s representatives at this conference included Deputy Director Wen-Te Hwang, who served as the moderator for the third session on Dialogue, Protection, and Utilization of Cultural Relics and Documents. Editor Hui-Ju Chuang from the Rare Books and Special Collections Division and Conservator Li-Ling Lin also delivered in-depth reports during this session on "The Collection, Organization, Publication, and Digitization of Historical Library Documents" and "The Application of the Special Collections Restoration Database in the Management of Physical Objects in Special Collections," respectively. Following the presentations, online attendees engaged in discussions on topics such as the evolving role of libraries in the new era, the preservation and restoration of documents and cultural relics, the organization and promotion of institutional archives, and the integration of knowledge management and AI into the cataloging of ancient texts. Participants unanimously agreed that the interdisciplinary dialogues fostered by this conference significantly enhanced the exchange of experiences in document preservation across Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. These discussions provided valuable insights for institutions to plan the protection and innovative applications of cultural assets, aligning with the conference's theme, "Reaching Back to Move Forward." By bridging tradition and innovation, the conference opened new avenues for the preservation and advancement of cultural heritage.

Through the interdisciplinary dialogues facilitated by this conference, the exchange of experiences in the field of document preservation among Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau has been significantly enhanced. This collaboration offers positive contributions to the future direction of cultural asset protection and innovative applications, aligning with the conference's core theme, "Reaching Back to Move Forward." By balancing tradition and innovation, the event paved the way for groundbreaking advancements in cultural heritage preservation. For details regarding the conference, including the presented topics and participant information, please refer to the following webpage:
https://www.hkpl.gov.hk/tc/extension-activities/ccdscr2024/Conference-booklet.html