Phnom Penh, 15 August 2025 — The Cambodian Librarians Association (CLA), in collaboration with the libraries of the American University of Phnom Penh (AUPP), the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), the Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE), and CamEd Business School successfully organized a one-day professional workshop entitled “From Books to Bytes: Essential Cataloguing Techniques and AI Tools for Modern Libraries.”
The workshop gathered more than fifty participants, including librarians, archivists, educators, researchers, and technology specialists, to strengthen professional skills and explore the integration of traditional cataloguing methods with emerging artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
Strengthening Cataloguing Foundations
The morning session, led by Mr. Kim Chantraboth, Head of Library at RULE, focused on cataloguing principles and international standards such as RDA (Resource Description and Access) and MARC 21.
Participants gained hands-on experience with Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), Library of Congress Classification (LCC), and the use of authority control to ensure consistency across catalogues. The session also addressed cataloguing challenges for special collections, including rare books, archives, and audiovisual materials.
Practical demonstrations with the Koha Integrated Library System (ILS) highlighted how automation can improve efficiency and accuracy in cataloguing workflows.
Exploring Artificial Intelligence
The afternoon session, conducted by Mr. Sok Kimheng, Library Director at ITC, introduced participants to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, including machine learning and natural language processing, while addressing ethical considerations such as privacy, transparency, and bias.
Interactive activities enabled participants to experiment with AI tools for:
Content creation (e.g., reading lists, promotional materials, and policy language)
Media design (e.g., images, videos, and presentation slides)
Research support (e.g., literature reviews, article summarization, and knowledge extraction)
Participants also learned prompt engineering techniques to enhance the quality and relevance of AI-generated responses in library and research contexts.
A Shared Vision for the Future
The workshop concluded with certificate presentations and closing reflections. Participants commended the program for effectively combining traditional cataloguing skills with innovative AI applications, providing a balanced perspective on the evolving role of libraries.
With the leadership of CLA and the collaboration of academic libraries, this initiative reaffirmed a shared vision: Cambodian libraries are embracing both books and bytes, preserving professional traditions while adopting innovation to remain relevant, accessible, and impactful for generations to come.