The newly elected CENL Executive Committee (EC) convened for its first meeting in October at the Austrian National Library in Vienna. It was a productive and collaborative session, with two members participating online due to travel constraints.

Among the many topics discussed, the EC selected the theme for the 2025 Annual General Meeting, set to be hosted by the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. The working title, “The Transformative Power of Artificial Intelligence for and through National Libraries,” reflects CENL’s focus on forward-looking strategies in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The meeting also marked a special farewell to Hans Petschar, the long-time representative of the Austrian National Library. With over 20 years of dedication to CENL and two terms on the Executive Committee, Hans brought invaluable experience and thoughtful insights, which have greatly contributed to CENL’s mission. We extend our heartfelt thanks to him for his many contributions and to the entire Austrian team for their warm hospitality in Vienna.