Library Week 2012 takes place in university

VIENTIANE,03.28.2012 (KPL) - The Library Week for Academic Year 2011-12 took place at the Central Library of the National University of Laos (Dongdok campus) on 27-29 March, to promote knowledge sharing and information access. “Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader”-was the theme of the 5th annual library week co-organised by the National University of Laos and the World Bank in Lao PDR, according to yesterday press release of the World Bank. One of the goals of library week 2012 is to highlight the importance of access to information and optimal use of available information in studies, research, and decision making for all; students, teachers, researchers, journalists, and the public. This year’s library week will feature the World Bank’s open Data Initiative, a one-stop-shop for data that allows free access and use of the world’s most comprehensive collection of data on developing economies. By simply logging on to http://data .worldbank.org/, it is possible to get free and easy-to-navigate access to over 2,000 indicators from the World Bank data sets. “This year’s activities encourage participants to make the most use of the wide array of information readily open, accessible, and searchable. “Since its launch, the open data website has had 1.6 million page views and 80,000 download of data globally. Through this library week, we hope that students and teachers take the opportunity to make use of the data and tools introduced to enrich teaching and learning. Data on its own is little or no use, the value of data increases exponentially when you share it. This is the main aim of the open data initiative,” said Keiko Miwa, World Bank Country Manager in Lao PDR. The opening ceremony was attended by Associate Professor Dr. Phetsamone Khounsavath, Vice President of the National University of Laos, teachers, students, international organizations, government counterpart as well as mass and youth organisations. The NUOL and the World Bank have together done various activities including series of seminars, forums, youth activities and library week. In this regard, the Central Library of the National University of Laos has been working together the World Bank Office to Lao PDR to provide enhanced academic resources and professional library service in the overall effort to meet the increasing educational needs of students, facilities, and other university staff, said Mr Phetsamone. Library Week is part of a joint cooperation on knowledge sharing and youth initiative between the World Bank and the NUOL, established in 2007.