The Brunei Darussalam Library Association (BLA), in collaboration with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), officially opened the BLA–UBD Joint Conference 2026, themed “Access to Knowledge and Future Literacies: Moving Beyond Predictions”, at the Central Lecture Theatres, UBD. The three-day conference, held from 28th to 30th April 2026, marks a significant milestone as BLA celebrates its 40th anniversary since its establishment on 11th March 1986.
The conference was officially opened by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UBD, Professor Dr Haji Noor Azam Orang Kaya Maha Bijaya Haji Othman, who served as Guest of Honour. In his opening address, he extended his congratulations to BLA on four decades of dedicated service to the library and information profession in Brunei Darussalam. He reaffirmed UBD’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships that advance academic excellence and research, noting that the conference theme reflects the evolving challenges and opportunities facing libraries in an era of rapid technological advancement.
The opening ceremony, held at the Central Lecture Theatre (CLT), featured a welcome address by the conference co-chairperson, Pg Noraini Pg Haji Idris, followed by a video presentation and the presentation of tokens of appreciation to the Guest of Honour and invited speakers.
The programme commenced with a keynote address by Professor Dr Namtip Wipawin, President of the International Library and Information Science Society (I-LISS) and a faculty member at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Thailand. Her keynote, titled “Information and Knowledge Management in the AI Landscape”, explored the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the creation, management, and accessibility of information, and its implications for libraries and the communities they serve.
Across the conference, participants engaged in a series of plenary and parallel sessions held at the UBD Library, providing a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange among professionals, academics, and practitioners. Discussions covered key areas including the integration of artificial intelligence in library services, the digitisation and preservation of Islamic manuscripts and heritage collections, developments in open access and scholarly communication, and the role of libraries in supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conference also features contributions from local and regional experts representing leading institutions such as UBD, Politeknik Brunei, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei, the Brunei History Centre, and Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. These presentations highlight the diversity of expertise within Brunei’s library and information community, ranging from advancements in artificial intelligence to the management and preservation of cultural and historical collections.
As part of the programme, Dr Haji Muhammad Hadi Muhammad Melayong, Principal of the Brunei History Centre, will deliver a session focusing on Brunei’s royal genealogical research collections, offering valuable insights into the nation’s historical heritage.
The conference will conclude with a closing ceremony featuring the presentation of resolutions and certificates to participants and vendors, followed by a closing address by the conference co-chairperson. A post-conference talk will be held on 30th April 2026 at the UBD Library, delivered by Dr Nor Edzan Che Nasir of Universiti Malaya, who will speak on leveraging social media as a powerful tool for library marketing and outreach.
This joint conference reflects the shared commitment of BLA and UBD to strengthening professional collaboration, enhancing capacity within the library and information sector, and ensuring that libraries remain relevant, resilient, and responsive to the needs of a rapidly evolving society. As reflected in its theme, the conference aims not only to anticipate the future of libraries but to actively shape it through innovation, knowledge exchange, and strategic engagement.
