National libraries are entering a new era in which memory, open knowledge and artificial intelligence converge to transform access to information across Africa. Hosted by the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat on 10–11 June 2026, the African National Libraries Forum will bring together leading experts and institutions to discuss digital sovereignty, heritage preservation, AI, and open access. The forum’s objectives are to strengthen cooperation among African national libraries and to establish them as pivotal players in knowledge governance and innovation. Gaelle Bequet, Director of the ISSN International Centre, will be contributing to Panel 3, ‘National Libraries, Open Access and Innovation’, with a presentation on African journals, scientific visibility and access. Her talk will highlight the role of the ISSN network in enhancing the discoverability and international recognition of African scholarly publications.

Since 2018, the National Library of Norway and Stanford University Library (USA) have been collaborating to promote the adoption of artificial intelligence in archives, libraries, and museums (LAM). In 2024, these two institutions signed an agreement with the aim of establishing an association that will gradually be set up and ultimately operate on the basis of contributions from its members.

In December 2025, the ISSN International Centre signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the AI4LAM association. As a member, the ISSN International Centre will benefit from the work and tools developed by the network’s members, and will participate in working groups dealing with topics related to its 2029 action plan. Further information will be provided when the new AI4LAM association website is operational.

国际标准连续出版物号中心欣然宣布，阿拉伯联合酋长国将于2025年10月21日设立本国国家中心。该中心将作为阿联酋境内出版的连续出版物及其他持续性资源的国家联络点，为出版商、图书馆及文化机构提供国际标准连续出版物号的分配服务，并提供高质量的书目元数据支持。

此次新增将强化全球国际标准连续出版物号（ISSN）网络体系，提升阿联酋期刊——包括纸质版与数字版——在图书馆目录、索引服务及供应链中的可见度与可发现性。

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