2025 Sino-Foreign University Library Annual Conference

Innovations, Challenges, and Opportunities: Future-Focused Pathways for Sino-Foreign University Libraries

Conference Information

Date and Time:

08:00-17:30, 24 October 2025

Venue:

SLAC 104, Student Learning and Activity Center, Wenzhou-Kean University

Registration Information:

Time and Date:

14:00-20:00, 23 October 2025

Lobby, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Wenzhou

Address:

No.488, Xianzhu Road, Ouhai District, Weznhou

Transportation:

The conference will provide shuttle bus between hotel and campus.

Wi-Fi Conncetion:

Connect to WKU Wifi. Choose WKU-VISITOR. System will go to login page after you connect WKU VISITOR. Then please enter your phone number and message code. Click login. You are all set.

Contact Coordinator Team:

Ms. REN Yuanyuan | Phone: +86-577-5587 0657

Ms. TANG Lianyi | Phone: +86-577-5587 0660

Ms. CHEN Mengjing | Phone: +86-577-5587 0656

Email : libconf@wku.edu.cn

Conference Agenda

Time Agenda
DAY 1: October 23, 2025 (Thursday)
14:00-20:00 Registration
17:00-20:30 Welcome Dinner
DAY 2: October 24, 2025 (Friday)
08:00 Shuttle Bus depart from the hotel to the campus
08:30 - 08:50 Registration for Late Arrivals
08:50 - 09:00 Welcome & Opening Remarks
09:00 -10:00

Achievements, Challenges, and Opportunitie: ARL Senior Leaders Panel

(Click name to see the disccusion PDF)

Sian Brannon, University of North Texas Libraries
Abigail DiPaolo, Rutgers University Libraries
Shelly McCoy, University of Delaware Library
L. Angie Ohler, University of Minnesota Libraries
Laurie Taylor, University of Connecticut Library

 

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) consists of 120 leading research libraries and archives in North America. In this session, five senior leaders from ARL member libraries will share thoughts on their libraries’ major achievements, challenges, and opportunities.

10:00 - 10:20 Tea Break
10:20 - 11:05

Cultivating Library Leadership: Global Perspectives

Henian E, University Librarian, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo
L. Angie Ohler, University of Minnesota Libraries
Laurie Taylor, University of Connecticut Library
Shilei Yan, Deputy University Librarian, Macau University of Science and Technology

Today's academic libraries face many challenges. How to cultivate a new generation of library leaders who are capable of meeting these challenges? What are their critical characteristics and skills? Four library leaders will share their experience and thoughts. Shilei Yan recently completed 中国图书馆领导力高级研修班. Henian E graduated from Harvard University's Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians. L. Angie Ohler and Laurie Taylor both graduated from ARL's Leadership Fellows Program and for many years lead Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures, a Division of the American Library Association. Angie and Laurie will also discuss book research-in-progress on library leadership, particularly during times of perpetual polycrisis.

11:05 - 11:25 Tea Break
11:25- 12:10

Keynote: Redefine Academic Libraries: Digital Innovation at the Crossroad 

Dr. Le Yang, Associate Vice Provost & University Librarian, University of Oregon

The rise of digital technologies and AI threatens to marginalize academic librarianship within the scholarly ecosystem, necessitating its repositioning on campus and alignment with the strategic priorities of universities and academia at large. In this context, digital innovation emerges as a vital empowerment, involving initiatives in open science, AI applications, and interdisciplinary collaboration. These efforts contribute to the educational mission and academia in general, combating global complexities and fostering collaboration to address the worldwide sustainable development goals. The presentation explores the current practice and roadmap of digital innovation in academic libraries and envisions what could be expected and realized in the years to come.

12:10 - 13:10 Lunch
13:10 - 14:00

Unconference Round 1: Breakout Sessions By Library Departments. 

For each session, we recommend no more than 2 participants from the same library.

1.Access & User Services. For library staff who provide users with book borrowing and returning, reading, reference consultation, and access services, typical businesses include reference consultation, circulation, reader services, etc. (Venue: SLAC 104)

2.Cultural Promotion & Events. For library staff who are responsible for the library's cultural construction, brand communication, and organization of events inside and outside the library, typical businesses include event planning, cultural construction, outreach, etc. (Venue: SLAC 104)

3.Teaching, Learning & Instructional Services. For library staff who support teaching activities and curriculum development in universities, typical businesses include instructional services, learning resource management, academic liaison, etc. (Venue: SLAC 103)

4.Research & Subject Services. For library staff who are responsible for providing support services to teachers and students' scientific research and academic activities, typical businesses include research services, subject services, professional consulting, etc. (Venue: SLAC 103)

5.Resource Development & Management. Available for library staff who are responsible for the planning, construction, evaluation and maintenance of library collection resources, typical businesses include acquisition, cataloging, metadata management, etc. (Venue: SLAC 201A)

6.Administration & Operations. For library staff who are responsible for coordinating various library operations, typical businesses include administrative, project management, business management, etc. (Venue: SLAC 201B)

7.Digital Learning & Media & IR. For library staff who are responsible for digital technology and multimedia support work, typical businesses include digital learning, media services, IR development and promotion, research-data archiving, open-access guidance, copyright advice, and long-term preservation of scholarly output, etc. (Venue: SLAC 504)

8.Information Technology & Systems. For library staff who provide information systems, networks and emerging technology support, typical businesses include network management, system management, software management, etc. (Venue: SLAC 504)

Each session should self-select a member to report back. Attendees interested in library service areas and topics not already covered in the above sessions may self-organize a session during Unconference 2.

14:00 - 14:20 Tea Break
14:20 - 15:00 Open Mic and Sharing Session
15:00 - 15:50

Unconference Round 2: Breakout Sessions By Topic and Interest.
(Venue: SLAC 104)

All submitted topics, posters, and slides will be grouped and posted in the conference room before lunch for sign up. New topics and descriptions are also accepted on the spot. Each participant will be given a post-it to sign up for sessions of interest. Participants do not need to be experts of the topics selected, and are encouraged to actively contribute to the discussions and Q&A. There is no stupid question. Each session should self-select one person to report back. Breakout room to be determined.
 

15:50 - 16:30 Open Mic and Sharing Session 
16:30 - 17:10 Shuttle Bus Departure to Nantang River
17:20 - 19:30 Dinner
DAY 3: October 25, 2025 (Saturday) (Optional)
09:00 - 09: 30 Shuttle Bus Departure to Campus. For those who are leaving on Saturday, please check out and bring luggages with you.
09:30 - 11:00 Campus Tour
11:00 Departure. The bus will stop at the following locations: Ouhai District MixC Mall (万象城,近三垟湿地公园入口), De Zheng S1 Station (轨道交通德政站), and Wuma Street (五马街).

Invited Speakers

  • Ms. Sian Brannon

    Ms. Sian Brannon

    University of North Texas Libraries 

    Sian Brannon, University Librarian and Vice Provost at the University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries, has worked in academic and public libraries since the 1990s, and is an adjunct professor for Technical Services and Research Methods courses. Sian serves on multiple ALA and ACRL committees and journal editorial boards, and she maintains an ongoing record of scholarship with peer-reviewed publications and presentations on topics such as assessment, management, and collection development.    

  • Ms. Abigail DiPaolo

    Ms. Abigail DiPaolo

    Rutgers University Libraries 

    Abigail DiPaolo serves as the Senior Executive Director of Administration and Technology at Rutgers University Libraries, a position she has held for 13 years. With a career in higher education spanning back to 2003, Abbey leads a broad portfolio that includes oversight of a $52M+ budget, financial operations, and a $16M+ collection acquisitions program. Her responsibilities also encompass fulfillment coordination, information technology, application development, web services, facilities management, and shipping logistics.

  • Mr. Henian E

    Mr. Henian E

    University Librarian, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo 

    Henian E earned master’s degrees from universities in China, the U.K., and Canada. A veteran of higher education, he has built several academic libraries from scratch and is the author or translator of multiple books and articles on distance learning and university-library management. In late August 2016 he became University Librarian at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), turning his blueprint for a world-class research library into day-to-day reality. Under his guidance SUSTech Library was admitted to the Pacific Rim Research Libraries Alliance—only the tenth mainland-Chinese institution to join—and ranked No. 1 in Shanghai Ranking’s Chinese University Student Satisfaction Survey for library services three years in a row (2022–2024). Since March 2024 he has served as University Librarian at the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, where his project “Building, Managing, and Operating a Top-Tier University Library” was selected for the 2024 Yongjiang Talent Program. 

  • Ms. Shelly McCoy

    Ms. Shelly McCoy

    University of Delaware Library 

    Shelly McCoy is the Associate University Librarian for Public Services and Space Planning at the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press. This is Shelly's 27th year at Delaware, where she has progressed through the Librarian and management ranks, and has been grateful for the opportunity to be the point person for many library renovations, including her current $9.2M renovation of Special Collections. Shelly is a leader in change management with experience in Library communications, development, assessment, public services, space planning and safety/disaster response.

  • Ms. L. Angie Ohler

    Ms. L. Angie Ohler

    University of Minnesota Libraries 

    Lila Angeline (Angie) Ohler is Associate University Librarian for Collections and Content Strategy at the University of Minnesota Libraries and Past President of ALA’s Core Division. A nationally recognized library leader, she brings over two decades of experience advancing research libraries through digital transformation, collaborative innovation, and strategic leadership. Her scholarship focuses on change management, library futures, and leadership in transition. 

  • Ms. Laurie Taylor

    Ms. Laurie Taylor

    University of Connecticut Library 

    Laurie Taylor is the Associate University Librarian for Collections & Discovery at the University of Connecticut Library. She provides leadership and strategy for Acquisitions & Discovery, Archives & Special Collections, Collections Strategies, Digital Imaging & Conservation, Connecticut Digital Archive, Digital Solutions, and Technology Strategies. Previously, she held library leadership positions at the University of Florida and the Digital Library of the Caribbean. She holds an MA and PhD in English/Digital Humanities, MS in Information, has published extensively, including co-editing Liberatory Librarianship (2024). She has been recognized with various awards including the 2018 Caribbean Information Professional of the Year by the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL).

  • Mr. Shilei Yan

    Mr. Shilei Yan

    Deputy University Librarian, Macau University of Science and Technology 

    YAN Shilei, Deputy University Librarian of Macau University of Science and Technology, has long been dedicated in the management and services of academic library and information science in the context of Sino-foreign and international environment. He successively worked at Wenzhou University and Wenzhou-Kean University focusing on international collaboration of higher education and library establishment. He was also involved in International Admission, the Registrar’s and served as the assistant to the VCAA.

  • Dr. Le Yang

    Dr. Le Yang

    Associate Vice Provost & University Librarian, University of Oregon

    Dr. Le Yang currently serves as the Associate Vice Provost & University Librarian for Collections, Discovery, and Digital Strategy at the University of Oregon Libraries. He is recognized for his international experience and global perspective, which significantly influence his leadership and strategic vision for academic and research libraries. Yang has led transformative initiatives within academic libraries, aligning them with interdisciplinary fields, open science, prospective trends, and the diverse faculty and student populations across international contexts. Yang holds a Ph.D. in Library Science with a specialization in cross-border data governance from Wuhan University. His research interests include digital librarianship, AI applications on open repositories, and open science. Yang disseminates his research findings through conferences and journals and serves as a peer reviewer and editorial board member for multiple Library and Information Science journals and conferences. Yang’s most recent publications include articles on AI and RAG applications in digital repositories, a book on digital library development across different countries, and a book about data science and reproducibility. Yang has received many awards and recognitions from professional associations and institutions. The most recent recognitions he has received include the ARL Fellow, the ASIS&T Leadership Award, the BTAA Leadership Fellow, and the Fulbright Award. 

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