NACIRA

National Committee for Information Resources on Asia

NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES ON ASIA

CONFERENCE & ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MARCH 2026

Friday 4 December 2026, 10.15 – 16.00

John Rylands Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3EH

Map of the world, in Marvels of Regions, by Qazwīnī

(JRL Arabic MS 668, f.1b)

PROGRAMME

10.15 Registration and tea / coffee

10.45 Welcome. Dr Zsófia Buda, Curator of Global Manuscripts, John Rylands Library

10.50 Opening remarks. Dr Edward Weech, Librarian, Royal Asiatic Society

10.55 Book cultures from Asia represented at the John Rylands Library. Dr Zsófia Buda and Steven Hartshorne (John Rylands Library)

11.35 ‘Seek Knowledge Even as far as China’: Durham University’s Oriental Museum. Dr Craig Barclay (Durham University)

12.15 Lunch break (lunch not provided; local eateries available)

13.00 NACIRA Annual General Meeting

13.30 The Alan Winnington Papers at the University of Sheffield Library. Mariam Yamin (University of Sheffield)

14.10 Asian Collections at the University of Leeds. Rhian Isaac (University of Leeds)

14.50 Tea / coffee

15.00 John Rylands Library Tour and Collection Encounter

16.00 Conference ends

Conference fee: £10 (includes tea and coffee)

NB: Lunch is not included in the conference programme.

Registration and payment: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/GZYO

==

We support librarians, archivists and researchers involved in the collection, development and use of library resources and services for Asian and Middle Eastern studies.

==

BREAKING NEWS

Hamish Todd, former Head of East Asian Collections, British library, was conferred by the Government of Japan one of Japan's prestigious national honours - The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays (旭日双光章) - “for his contributions to introducing Japanese culture to the United Kingdom and promoting understanding of Japan in the United Kingdom.”

This national honour is one of the six classes of the Order of the Rising Sun, a Japanese order of merit. It is awarded to individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the nation or the public, and it may also be conferred upon non-Japanese nationals.

Heartfelt congratulations, Hamish!

==

We support librarians, archivists and researchers involved in the collection, development and use of library resources and services for Asian and Middle Eastern studies.

==

BREAKING NEWS

Hamish Todd, former Head of East Asian Collections, British library, was conferred by the Government of Japan one of Japan's prestigious national honours - The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays (旭日双光章) - “for his contributions to introducing Japanese culture to the United Kingdom and promoting understanding of Japan in the United Kingdom.”

This national honour is one of the six classes of the Order of the Rising Sun, a Japanese order of merit. It is awarded to individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the nation or the public, and it may also be conferred upon non-Japanese nationals.

Heartfelt congratulations, Hamish!

==