The University of Balamand (UOB) Libraries in partnership with HERMES Project hosted a conference entitled "Resource Sharing as a Global Library Service: The Impact of HERMES" on April 27, 2023. The event took place at the UOB Koura Campus and aimed to shed light on digital resource sharing during the COVID pandemic and its impact on global library services through the HERMES project. The conference highlighted the partnership's goals, which focus on research sharing and promoting collaboration between libraries to enhance access to information resources through publication, software development, and training.

The HERMES project is co-funded by the Erasmus Plus Programme of the European Union and aims to provide educational institutions with high-quality, fast, and free access to knowledge by building capacity to implement and share a comprehensive vision and widespread competencies on resource sharing. The project is delivered by an international partnership made up of the University of Balamand (Lebanon), the Bologna Research Area Library at Italian National Research Council CNR (Italy), University of Cantabria (Spain), MEF University (Turkey), and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

In his welcoming address, Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Rami Abboud stressed the significant and essential role of libraries stating: “Libraries have always been the gatekeepers of knowledge, as we move forward their roles in our communities becomes more crucial.” Prof. Abboud added: “At UOB, we believe that knowledge and education should be accessible to all. We are proud to have a long-standing tradition of excellence in library services and constantly seeking new and innovative ways to make information accessible to students, staff and faculty members.”

The event featured presentations and panel discussions from distinguished professionals in the field of library and information science, from Italy, Turkiye, USA, in addition to various professionals from UOB and other Lebanese universities. The sessions started with introductions to UOB Libraries and the HERMES Project, and covered topics on document delivery and resource sharing, HERMES training activities and kit and TALARIA software. A panel discussion on the State of Resource Sharing in Lebanon and the Arab World was also held.

It is worth noting that the success of the HERMES conference could not have been achieved without the efforts of the UOB Libraries team, particularly the leadership of the Acting University Librarian, Mrs. Dalia Koulaima and the hard work of Mr. Ibrahim Farah. Their dedication and commitment to bringing the Erasmus grant to the University of Balamand played a significant role in establishing the partnership that made the HERMES project possible. The team's contributions were vital to the success of the conference and the ongoing efforts to promote research sharing and collaboration between libraries. The University of Balamand expresses its gratitude and appreciation for their hard work and commitment to providing access to knowledge and education for all.




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