In line with the decisions taken at the 7th Conference of Directors of the National Libraries of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Member States, held on 19–21 November 2025 in Ankara, Türkiye, it was agreed to establish specialized subcommittees to advance technical cooperation and implement the outcomes of the Conference.
Accordingly, the following three subcommittees were established:
•Committee of ECO Digital Library
•Committee of Education and Research
•Committee of Preservation of Manuscripts and Rare Books
The subcommittees held their first meetings online on 12 February 2026, each convening separately under the moderation of Türkiye, which currently holds the chairmanship of the Conference.
During these inaugural sessions, the meetings focused primarily on introductory and organizational matters. Representatives of member states who committed to participating in the respective subcommittees introduced themselves and their institutions, and mutual greetings were exchanged. The gatherings served as an initial step toward building a collaborative working environment among representatives.
Participants also discussed working modalities and communication channels for future cooperation, including coordination mechanisms for maintaining regular contact. In addition, views were exchanged regarding the timing of the next meetings, with further consultations to be conducted among member countries.
During the meetings, Türkiye announced the upcoming
III. International Library and Technology Festival, to be held on 2–4 April 2026 at the historic Rami Library in Istanbul, with the theme of “Healing Library.”
These first meetings marked the operational launch of the subcommittee structure and the transition toward sustained professional collaboration among ECO member states in the fields of digitalization, education and research, and the preservation of manuscripts and rare collections.