The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) held the 90th World Library and Information Congress (WLIC 2026) in Busan, South Korea, from August 10 to 13, attracting nearly 3,200 library and information professionals from 111 countries and regions. Tamkang University demonstrated a strong presence at the event. Professor Sohail Inayatullah, UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies and visiting research of the Department of Education and Futures Design at Tamkang University, was invited as a featured speaker. Wen-Yau Lin, Dean of the Chueh Sheng Memorial Library, led three library staff members in delivering one oral presentation and two poster papers. Faculty members and students from the Department of Information and Library Science also presented a poster paper and visited libraries and universities in South Korea. Through academic presentations and international exchanges, Tamkang University further enhanced its global visibility.

With the theme “Libraries Powering Transformation,” this year’s congress highlighted the evolving role of libraries in an era of rapid change. One of the major highlights was Sohail Inayatullah’s keynote speech, titled “From Keepers of the Collection, to Innovators in the Gardens, to Truth Tellers.” Through an interactive discussion, he explored possible directions for transforming libraries in the age of AI. During his presentation, he referred to Tamkang University several times, helping to raise the university’s international profile.

In academic research, Lin and researchers from the National Institute of Applied Research jointly delivered an oral presentation on the results of the Taiwan Open Access Journals (TOAJ) project, supported by the National Science and Technology Council. In response to the global trend toward Open Access, they shared Taiwan’s experience in establishing an open-access platform, receiving positive feedback from participants.

Two posters presented by the Chueh Sheng Memorial Library also showcased the library’s achievements in using AI to enhance professional services. Chia-Hui Hsu, Head of the Technical Services Section, and Yu-Jung Hsiao presented “Empowering Catalogers: Evaluating AI Tools for Multilingual Book Classification under the LCC Framework,” examining the use of large language models and Tamkang University’s Copilot AI assistant to support the cataloging of Western-language materials. At the conference, they also exchanged views with Xiaoli Li, former Chair of the Policy Committee for the Program for Cooperative Cataloging. Another poster, presented by Ho and Lin, was titled “Creating More Possibilities: How a Library-Led, AI-Assisted University History Gallery Became a Campus Showcase.” The study demonstrated how AI-powered audio guides, NotebookLM, and other tools can support efficient operations despite limited staffing. Over five years, visitors increased by 48 percent, while the number of guided tours rose by 174 percent.

Lin noted that librarianship relies heavily on cooperation and professional exchange. Sharing practical achievements at the international conference, the library also hoped to learn from international counterparts through direct interaction. Last year, the library’s poster, “Cataloging on the Move: AI Decodes Western-Language Books,” won second place in the poster exhibition organized by the Library Association of the Republic of China (Taiwan), along with a travel grant. Additional funding from the award and support from companies including FlySheet Information helped enable staff participation in international exchange. At this year’s poster exhibition, the library not only presented its experience using AI to assist with the cataloging of non-English materials, but also shared prompts and comparisons among various AI tools, fostering reciprocal professional learning. During the trip, the delegation also visited the Dongnaegu Innovation Eoullim Small Library, Geumjeong Public Library, and Pusan National University Library, gaining valuable insights.

Ho shared that Randa Al Chidiac, Director of the American University in Dubai Library, gave a particularly memorable presentation on efforts to rescue cultural heritage following the 2020 Beirut explosion. The case prompted him to reflect deeply on the role of a university history gallery. Beyond exhibitions, guided tours, and outreach, he said, greater attention should be paid to preserving historical materials and preventing risk. The experience also encouraged further consideration of how to strengthen the preservation and disaster-response resilience of university historical and cultural assets so that valuable institutional memories can continue to be passed on.

From the Department of Information and Library Science, Assistant Professors Hong-Shiu Liang and Yu-Fan Wu led 11 master’s students in attending the congress, demonstrating the department’s academic vitality. Wu and first-year master’s student Yi-Zhen Hou presented the poster “Tear-Off Calendars as a Medium for Change: A Pilot Study of an Unconventional Reading Medium in Reminiscence Care for Older Adults.” The study explored the positive effects of historical-news calendars on older adults’ memory, social interaction, and daily routines. Hou expressed her gratitude to her advisor, Wu, for allowing her to present the research to library and information professionals from around the world. She said the exchanges and encouragement she received made the experience an especially valuable learning opportunity.

In addition to attending the congress, faculty members and students from the Information and Library Science Department visited Daegu Catholic University and Daegu Metropolitan Jungang Library. Liang explained that the visits not only promoted academic exchange but also allowed students to learn about spatial design and reading-promotion practices in South Korean public libraries, while broadening their international perspectives and professional networks. Second-year master’s student Tzu-Jui Chao said that participating in the international conference and institutional visits enabled him to better understand current trends related to his research interests. The experience also encouraged him to reconsider the future development of libraries from different cultural perspectives.