The 2025 Sino-Foreign University Library Annual Conference, a major event fostering dialogue and collaboration among joint-venture academic libraries, was successfully held at Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU) from October 23 to 25, 2025. A group of librarians and staff members from the Duke Kunshan University (DKU) Library participated in the event, joining peers from across China and abroad in a vibrant exchange of perspectives.
On the morning of October 24, the conference opened with a series of thought-provoking panels and keynote speeches addressing the challenges and opportunities facing university libraries in the new era. Highlights included the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Senior Leaders Panel, titled “Innovations, Challenges, and Opportunities”.
The afternoon session adopted an “unconference” format, encouraging open discussion and collaboration among participants based on thematic interests. Librarians responsible for similar areas of work gathered to exchange best practices and insights.
During this session, Ryder Kouba, Archives and Special Collections Librarian and Xueying Cheng, Systems Librarian from DKU Library shared DKU’s experience in leveraging open-source software to preserve the university’s digital records for long-term access.
The conference not only strengthened professional connections but also sparked new ideas for advancing library innovation and collaboration. DKU Library looks forward to continuing its active contribution to the development of academic library services in the years to come.
