BUSAN: Sarawak’s art and cultural heritage took on a new digital dimension as Pustaka Negeri Sarawak showcased its augmented reality initiative at a global library congress in Busan, South Korea.
The Augmented Reality Interactive Collections (ARIC) initiative was presented during the 90th International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions World Library and Information Congress (IFLA WLIC) 2026, held at Busan Exhibition and Convention Centre (BEXCO) from Aug 10 to 13.
Pustaka Negeri Sarawak librarian Ahmad Samsudin presented a paper titled “Bringing Paintings to Life: A Library Innovation Initiative through Augmented Reality Interactive Collections” on Aug 11.
Held under the theme “Visualising Art: Multimedia Transformations in Libraries,” the presentation demonstrated how augmented reality could create a more engaging way for users to explore art and cultural heritage collections.
The initiative also showed how emerging technology could improve access to library collections, encourage community participation and introduce new ways of understanding and appreciating cultural works.
The state library also highlighted its community-centred approach to preserving Sarawak’s heritage through a poster presentation by Nurfarathul Aqma Julani and Nur Amanina Mastani.
Their presentation, “Tracing Sarawakiana: Inspiring Knowledge, Transforming Lives Through Community-centered Heritage Outreach,” focused on efforts to bring Sarawak’s local knowledge and heritage closer to communities.
The initiative seeks to expand public access to heritage resources while encouraging communities to recognise, appreciate and participate in safeguarding Sarawak’s cultural treasures.
According to a report, this year also marked Pustaka Negeri Sarawak’s first participation in the congress with its own pavilion, providing a dedicated platform to introduce Sarawak and showcase its collections, preservation efforts and library initiatives.
The congress also allowed its delegation to exchange knowledge, explore emerging trends in the library and information sector, strengthen professional networks and identify opportunities for future international collaboration.
