The Faculty of Arts (FA), The Maldives National University (MNU), in collaboration with the Maldives Library Association (MLA) and Reading Room, conducted a two-day training programme titled “Enhancing Library Services and Library Collaborations for 21st-Century Skills” on 29–30 January 2025. The programme was organised at the request of the Baa Atoll Education Centre.
The training provided librarians from island communities with practical knowledge and professional skills in key areas of library technical services, including acquisition, cataloguing, classification, and the use of integrated library systems. The programme focused on strengthening participants’ capacity to organise, manage, and improve access to library resources within their respective communities.
A total of 10 librarians from six islands in Baa Atoll participated in the training. By developing technical competencies in library and information management, the programme supported participants in improving the organisation and accessibility of library collections and strengthening the delivery of information and learning services in their communities.
The initiative also provided professional development opportunities within an island-community context, enabling librarians to access specialised training closer to their workplaces. This approach helped reduce geographical barriers to professional learning and supported more inclusive access to capacity-building opportunities for library professionals outside the capital.
Strengthening the skills of librarians also contributes to the development of local learning environments and community-based information services. Improved library services can provide communities with better access to educational resources, information, and opportunities for lifelong learning.
The programme demonstrated the value of collaboration between higher education institutions, professional associations, education stakeholders, and community organisations in strengthening professional capacity and improving local services. The partnership between MNU, MLA, Reading Room, and the Baa Atoll Education Centre provided a practical platform for knowledge exchange and skills development among library professionals.
The training contributed to SDG 4 (Quality Education) through professional learning and strengthened access to educational resources, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through skills development and professional capacity building, SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by reducing geographical barriers to professional development, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by strengthening community-based library and information services, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration among MNU, professional, education, and community stakeholders.
