From November 29-30, 2022, the 18th Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians (CONSAL XVIII) hosted by the National Library of Cambodia in collaboration with the Cambodian Librarians Association took place online with the theme “Libraries United: Raising to the Challenges”.
There were approximately 700 delegates from 23 countries in the region and the world attending the Congress. At the opening ceremony of the Congress, keynote speeches by Mr. Hok Sothik – Chairman of the CONSAL XVIII Organizing Committee, Dr. Phoung Sakona – Minister of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, Ms. Khlot Vibola – Director of the National Library of Cambodia all affirmed the important role of libraries for the sustainable development of the society, and emphasized the need for solidarity and extensive cooperation within ASEAN libraries to overcome challenges together in the post-COVID-19 new normal era.