A Pole at the head of the world’s libraries –
Dr Tomasz Makowski elected Chair of the Conference of National Libraries
Dr Tomasz Makowski, Director General of the National Library of Poland, has become the first Pole to be appointed Chair of the Conference of Directors of National Libraries (CDNL). The handover ceremony took place on 16 November at the National Library in Warsaw, in the presence of representatives from the cultural sector, the diplomatic community and public bodies.
The CDNL is a key global body bringing together the heads of the leading library institutions from every country in the world. It plays a fundamental role in setting standards, building international cooperation and facilitating the exchange of experience in preserving the world’s written heritage and ensuring its accessibility in the digital age.
The appointment of a Pole to the role of Chair of the Conference is an unprecedented distinction and a clear signal of the high regard in which the National Library in Warsaw is held for its achievements and professionalism. It gives Poland a meaningful voice in the international discussion on the future and strategic role of libraries in the global information society.
The handover ceremony took place on 16 November at the headquarters of the National Library in Warsaw. As pointed out during the ceremony, this was in recognition of the many years of consistent work by the Polish institution not only in safeguarding heritage but in dynamically developing modern library services.
Marie-Louise Ayres, outgoing Chair of the CDNL and Director-General of the National Library of Australia: “[T]here is something that we [as directors of national libraries] all share, and that is the privilege of being entrusted with our nations’ documentary heritage and charged with sharing it with our communities and with the world. […] I am very happy to “pass the paddle”, as our New Zealand colleagues would say, to Dr Tomasz Makowski, as he takes CDNL through the next few years.”
In his speech, Dr Tomasz Makowski noted that the traditions of the National Library of Poland stretch back to 1747, when the Załuski Library was founded. At the time it was not only one of the first public libraries in Europe but also one of the largest libraries in the world. “Today we continue this mission on an entirely new scale: each year, millions of people around the globe access Polish written heritage via the Polona digital library.”
The event was accompanied by an exceptional concert by the world famous Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński and pianist and composer Aleksander Dębicz. Also featured was the premiere of an animated film by Przemysław Truściński, dedicated to the National Library.
