ALA Presidential Award for the Dongguan Library, China

ALA Presidential Award for the Dongguan Library, China
July 6, 2008
For immediate release

(Chinese American Librarians Association, Oberlin, Ohio) - At the American Library Association Annual Conference (ALA) held in Anaheim, California in June 2008, the Dongguan Library in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China, received the ALA President's Citation for International Innovation. Ms. Li Yingchang, Associate Director of the Dongguan Library, represented the Library and received the Award on June 30, 2008, at the ALA's International Librarians Reception, from Dr. Loriene Roy, ALA President (2007-2008). More than 650 guests, from over 80 countries and United States, attended the ceremonial reception.

In December 2007, Dr. Roy was invited to participate in and present a keynote speech at the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA)'s 21st Century Librarian Seminar Series hosted by the Dongguan Library. During her visit, Dr. Roy was able to see the amazing accomplishments that had taken place at the Library. In presenting the award citation, Dr. Roy outlined several innovative initiatives from the Dongguan Library:

The library system has launched unique initiatives to address the needs of library users. The Educational Center for Citizens is a program designed to provide educational enrichment for migrant workers in the area. Lectures and seminars are regularly organized to address popular topics that are of interest to the general public. By far, more than 100 lectures and seminars have been offered and over 30,000 attendees participated in these events. It has become one of the most popular programs the Library has ever sponsored.

The library system has launched unique initiatives to address the needs of library users including the concept of "Never-Closed-Library" and "ATM" for checking books in and out.

The Dongguan Cartoon Festival is another innovative program designed to promote popular culture among ordinary citizens. The first Dongguan Cartoon Festival in 2005, called COSPLAY, included an exhibition of cartoon characters, drawing competitions, and book signing by local cartoon designers. The four-day program drew over 300 artists and more than 20,000 people to the event.

In 2005 alone, as many as 1.36 million users were attracted to the library by its high quality services and resources. In July 2006, the Dongguan Public Library was rewarded by the Library Association of China the Best Library for Promoting Reading Activities in the Society.

The significance of this award to the Library is far-reaching. It was the first time in the history of ALA to recognize the accomplishments of the libraries outside U.S. It was also the first time for a library in China to be recognized and awarded by ALA. In facilitating the process for participating in the award ceremony at ALA, Haipeng Li, the Executive Director of CALA, praised the leadership of the Dongguan Library to welcome and host the CALA's 21st Century Librarian Seminar Series which provided professional development opportunities for librarians from Dongguan and the U.S. Guoqing Li of the Ohio State University Libraries and the CALA Liaison to the Library Society of China (LSC), was instrumental to the success of the seminar by providing smooth logistical arrangements. The CALA 21st Century Librarian Seminar Task Force, which consists of Haipeng Li, Xudong Jin and Guoqing Li, and the International Relations Committee, co-chaired by Guoqing Li and Lisa Zhao, all played important roles in the planning and the success of the Dongguan Seminar. "Dr. Roy is a passionate advocate and a visionary leader to make library resources available to diverse users, in U.S. and on a global scale. The innovative projects at Dongguan are wonderful examples toward Dr. Roy's vision," Li commented.

The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 65,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information.

Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) started in 1973 as Mid-West Chinese American Librarians Association, a regional organization in Illinois. A year later, Chinese Librarians Association was formed in California in 1974. In 1976, Mid-West Chinese American Librarians Association was expanded to a national organization as Chinese American Librarians Association.