The best of the past was celebrated and exciting prospects for the future were explored at the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa's centenary conference in Dunedin this week, organisers said.
Conference convener Linda Geddes, of Dunedin, said the four-day conference, which ended yesterday at the University of Otago, had proved highly positive, attracting favourable feedback from many of the more than 500 delegates.
New Zealand's library and information professional body was established at a conference in the city in 1910.
At that time, 15 representatives from throughout the country attended the inaugural gathering.
More than 600 people, including more than 100 trade representatives, attended the latest conference.
Ms Geddes, who is also head of collection services at the Dunedin Public Libraries, said many key figures from the association's past had been celebrated, including Mark Cohen, of Dunedin, a former editor of the Evening Star newspaper, who had strongly advocated for the association being established.
The Dunedin economy had benefited from the presence of more than 600 people, most of whom were from out of town.
In turn, visitors had walked around the city, appreciating its compact nature, as well as enjoying trips to Larnach Castle and on the Taieri Gorge Train.
Ms Geddes was also proud of the organising committee, which had honoured the association and the library profession.
Among the highlights was the participation of Mary Ronnie (84), the former Dunedin city librarian and national librarian, who was a "remarkable person" and widely respected in library circles.
Many exciting new technological developments involving libraries, such as the advent of downloadable eBooks, were discussed.
However, librarians were also mindful that funding was often limited and that all library users had to be catered for, she said.
