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The Conference of Heads of World National Libraries which was held virtually; Perpusnas - 

The National Library of Indonesia (NLI) introduces its various programs at the Conference of Heads of World National Libraries which was held virtually on Wednesday (8/9/2021). 

In the annual meeting, Head of the Indonesian library, Syarif Bando had a special opportunity to introduce the National Library in front of the heads of national libraries from 37 countries. CDNL 2021 raised the theme of Uncertainty: How National Libraries Face Risks and Seize Opportunities.

"We thank you for the opportunity to share about the concept of library management and seize opportunities in the midst of uncertainty," he said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, National Library used a library approach to reach the public through digital libraries. Several digital applications have been provided to the public, including iPusnas, Indonesia OneSearch, and Khastara. 

"This is our advantage at the National Library, before the Covid-19 pandemic we already had a digital application. So when government regulations require all citizens to carry out activities at home, this digital application can be used anytime and anywhere," he explained.

CDNL Chair Lily Knibbeler stated that uncertainty, both small and large, will always be a part of human life. The COVID-19 pandemic that the world faced two years ago was unexpected. However, according to Lily, there are many crises facing the national library. Not only infectious disease pandemics, the crises they face include earthquakes, floods, fires, and others.

"So how do we as the head of the national library, lead the organization in the growing uncertainty," she explained.

Head of the National Library of Australia (NLA) Marie-Louise Ayres said changing the perspective on organizational risk takes a long time. Therefore, institutions must be prepared to face the unexpected. “For those of you who want to change the way organizations view risk, it takes time. This is not a job in a matter of months, but years," he explained.

In dealing with risks to organizations, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, NLA utilizes its digital services. Marie-Louise admitted that libraries are luckier than museums because they can still serve the community, through digital services.

“Our library is in the small town of Canberra, in a country and on a large continent. So we make sure that the library building doesn't become a center of service like we did the last 20 years. Right now we are getting users to engage digitally,” he said.

In terms of disaster or crisis preparedness, NLA already has a follow-up business plan. Building on the experience of two major disasters whose countries, in the last year, the NLA completed a rewrite of documentation, plans, and frameworks that take into account the high level of uncertainty if the disaster lasts longer.

Meanwhile, the Head of the British National Library (NLB) Roly Keating said his party had eight strategic risks based on the likelihood and consequences that might occur. All risks are scored from 1–25, with the NLB trying to reduce the risk to a lower value. Every part of the NLB has a role in risk management.

“Last year we were really tested, because one of the risks that emerged was a pandemic. Risk and crisis management system, we are able to deal with. However, it takes great innovation and improvisation,” he explained.

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic is testing the NLB system. Going forward, a number of efforts will be made, including updating post-disaster recovery plans and a hybrid, flexible, and adaptive way of working. In the long term, it will thoroughly update the list of strategic risks in the political, economic, social, technological, and environmental spheres.

“The place of the library is in the midst of society, we interact directly every day. Then suddenly we move online like this. In my opinion, that is one of the commonalities that brings us to this organization. Libraries that initially worked in the community onsite, placing people in one place/building, but now it has changed in a hybrid way,” he explained.

University of Twente academic Professor Martin van Staveren explains that uncertainty or risk can be an opportunity, rather than a negative effect. This can be done with a risk leadership approach. Broadly speaking, risk leadership is needed to be able to turn threats into opportunities or weaknesses into advantages.

In dealing with risk, he explained, there are several things that must be applied, namely identifying easy problems and difficult problems, understanding that risk is the effect of uncertainty on goals, requiring risk leadership that dares to face risks, developing risk leadership competencies in stages, and starting from oneself. themselves and help others.

This year, for the first time, CDNL will be held virtual. The conference which was attended by librarians from 37 countries was filled with explanations from the Head of NLA, Head of the British National Library, and Head of National Library. During the meeting, a vote was also held for the Chair and Deputy Chair of the CDNL. Lily Knibbeler was re-elected Chair, while Estonian National Library Head Janne Andresoo was elected 1st Vice Chair and Marie-Louise Ayres 2nd Vice Chair.

Next year, the CDNL is scheduled to be held face-to-face in Dublin, Ireland. The CDNL is an independent association of national librarian heads created to facilitate discussion and promote understanding and cooperation on matters of common interest around the world. The CDNL conference is held annually, on the sidelines of the IFLA conference//VOI-NK