Earlier, the University of Macau (UM) initiated the establishment of two academic library alliances, namely the Academic Library Alliance between Macao Special Administrative Region and Portuguese-speaking Countries, and the Academic Library Alliance for Portuguese Language Resources between Macao Special Administrative Region and Mainland China. Today (13 September), UM and other members of the latter alliance held an online ceremony to sign an agreement on the creation of a mechanism for interlibrary loan and document delivery service, as well as a joint catalogue.

UM Rector Yonghua Song delivered a speech at the ceremony, in which he said that as the only public comprehensive university in Macao, UM has always attached great importance to Portuguese language education. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the university, giving it more capacity and opportunities to promote the teaching of the Portuguese language. In order to support the development of a platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in the Macao SAR, the university will continue to nurture bilingual professionals, train Portuguese language teachers, and integrate Portuguese language resources. The establishment of this alliance will facilitate mutual support and cooperation among member libraries in education, learning, academic research, and other areas.

UM’s Vice Rector Rui Martins provided some background information about the two alliances and the purpose of establishing them. According to Prof Martins, the operation of the two alliances is based on the sharing of existing Portuguese language resources and co-development of new resources, with member libraries carrying out academic exchange and collaboration to make a greater contribution to higher education. The Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Education and Youth Development Bureau Department of Tertiary Education interim head Sam Hio Tong, and Peking University librarian Chen Jianlong have sent their congratulatory messages on the founding of the alliances.

More than 50 guests from renowned universities in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Dalian, Xi'an, and Macao joined the online signing ceremony, including Sichuan Normal University President Wang Mingyi, University of Saint Joseph Rector Stephen Morgan, Tianjin Foreign Studies University Vice President Yu Jiang, and Beijing Foreign Studies University Academic Committee Director Yuan Jun. An online opening ceremony for the exhibition of service innovations of member libraries was also held during the same event. The exhibition showcases examples of service innovations by member libraries and introduced the websites of the two alliances, the joint catalogue of Portuguese language resources of member libraries, and teaching resources for Portuguese teachers. In the future, the alliances will organise joint training activities to enhance the academic and service quality of its member libraries, and to improve the capacity of library professionals.