The exciting and eventful Professional Development Workshop in Library and Information Services held for Maldives information professionals in Indonesia, concluded with a closing ceremony on September 21, 2024. The ceremony held at the Maldives National University (MNU) was jointly organised by the MNU Faculty of Arts and the Maldives Library Association.
The ceremony was a hybrid event, with most participants attending in person, while those residing on islands outside Malé, and facilitators from Indonesia, Singapore, and hosting team from Indonesia, joined virtually via the Google Meet platform.
Certificate of participation issued by MNU and MLA were accorded to the 16 of the 20 participants by the Chief Guest for the ceremony, State Minister for Defense, Madam Aishath Safoora. In her speech, the Chief Guest, highlighted the importance of continued professional development and congratulated the University and the Maldives Library Association in the successful execution of the workshop, and thanked the FPPTI team for their generous participation in hosting Maldives librarians.
“As we are all aware libraries are continually evolving with advancements in technology. Hence such Professional Development is particularly crucial for librarians to Adapt to these new Technological Changes: Libraries need to stay updated with digital tools, software, and online resources to effectively manage and provide access to information.“
State Minister Aishath Safoora had earlier worked as a Principal of the Centre for Higher Secondary Education, the only government higher secondary education provider at the time, and in her speech she recalled her time as the Principal and highlighted the important role of libraries and the lack of training or professional development opportunities for librarians until now. And remarked:
“I believe that such ongoing training program as the PDWLIS would help librarians enhance their skills in customer service, making them better equipped to assist patrons with diverse needs and provide a positive library experience. It can also open doors to new roles within the library and information science field. Such programs would also allow librarians to network with peers and learn from best practices.“
Madam (Ibu) Melati Purba Bestari, Chairperson of FPPTI East Java Chapter, addressed the audience, on behalf of the Forum for Indonesian Higher Education Libraries (aka Forum Perpustakaan Perguruan Tinggi Indonesia – FPPTI).
“Madam Aishath Safoora, Mr Asim Abdul Sattar, Pak Aditya Nugraha, Ibu Aminath Riyaz and all of our beloved participants of PDWLIS program. Firstly, I would like to say thank you so much for inviting us and for collaborating on this program. I would like to say congratulations, because the Professional Development Workshop on Library & Information Services program has been running successfully and we hope all of the participants gained useful knowledge, skills and experience, especially from libraries in East Java – Indonesia and also we hope this program has been benefitial for library science and librarianship in the Maldives.
It’s an honour for FPPTI to be part of this program. It was a great experience for us to expand our networking, share knowledge and spend time with our beloved friends from Maldives. Thank you so much to Maldives National University, all of the Committees both from Maldives, FPPTI East Java, the Library of Petra University and also our beloved friends from Maldives. We hope, that after this event, in the future, we will have another collaboration.”
Workshop Overview
by Program Coordinator, Dr Aminath Riyaz
This workshop, which is part of an ongoing series initiated with the first cohort of Bachelor of Arts in Library and Information Management students from the Maldives National University, represents a significant milestone in the continuous professional growth of information professionals in the country. There are over 300 librarians within the civil service sector of the Maldives alone, with only less than 15 of them having a university degree qualification. Further, there is very limited professional development opportunities available for library and information professionals in the country where there is a swift upward trajectory of tertiary and higher education provision in a variety of fields. Therefore there is great need for swifter capacity development initiatives for this sector.
Our journey began in 2023 with the inaugural workshop in Singapore, an event that was made possible through the extraordinary support of Dr. Gina de Alwis Jayasuriya. This first exposure trip laid the foundation for what has now become an annual event, eagerly anticipated by many. The success of our Singapore PD workshop ignited discussions with prospective networks, paving the way for more opportunities in other countries for the following years. We have initiated conversations for similar workshops in Australia, Pakistan, and a return to Singapore. The main purpose of this workshop series is to provide exposure for our librarians to exemplary libraries overseas that are providing extraordinary services.
This year, we are thrilled to have conducted our workshop in Indonesia, thanks to the invaluable support of Dr. Aditya Nugraha, who I had the pleasure to have as a fellow PhD Candidate, many years ago. Pah Aditya served as a liaison between FPPTI and MNU Faculty of Arts. Under the leadership of Ibu Mariyah, the Chairperson of Forum for Indonesian Higher Education Libraries, and Ibu Dian Wuldandari,
Ibu Melati Bestari and the entire Indonesian team, we had a wonderful time in Surabaya and Malang.
The impact of these workshops goes beyond the knowledge and skills we gain. It is the relationships we build, the networks we strengthen, and the shared experiences that foster collective growth. This year, we had 22 participants, including 19 information professionals from different libraries across the Maldives,
6 of whom come from the outer islands, and 7 are our final-year BALIM students.
Participation in these workshops has been largely self-funded, with fundraising efforts at MNU helping to supplement our students’ travel expenses. We are deeply grateful to the MNU community, the Faculty of Arts, our Dean, our Marketing Team, and all those who contributed. Maldives Library Association (MLA) continues to play a significant role in making this initiative possible, with generous contributions as the largest donor supporting this event for our students.
MLA’s involvement has also, more importantly, allowed other librarians to join this workshop. 14 participants were nominated through MLA, including school libraries, academic libraries, Parliament library, the National Library, and National Archives of Maldives. This includes librarians who have worked in the sector for many years with no similar exposure or training.
While many participants self-funded their journey, Villa College, the Maldives National University, and the Maldives Parliament sponsored their staff, demonstrating a commitment to staff empowerment and excellence.
Our workshop this year also followed the same model from the previous year, combining guided visits and workshop sessions. Through the 10 visit locations and 3 workshop sessions, participants had the opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of digital technologies, innovative services, and interactive learning spaces in modern libraries. We delved into advanced concepts in library and archives management, collection development, and user engagement strategies—areas that are essential for the growth of our libraries that can lead to a well-informed citizenry.
One of the key outcomes of these workshops, is the opportunity to network with information professionals, researchers, and fellow participants. The conversations and connections made through this event open doors to future collaborations and shared learning experiences.
Our deepest appreciation to the wonderful FPPTI team and associates in Indonesia for their hospitality, kindness, and meticulous organisation of our stay. The itinerary was thoughtfully designed to maximise our learning. We are confident that the knowledge, insights, and connections we have gained will inspire positive change in our libraries and beyond.
This workshop is not just an isolated event—it is part of a larger movement toward growth, innovation, and excellence in the field of library and information science in the Maldives. We applaud the participants, for their dedication and commitment for their professional growth.
Maldives Library Association 