Truly enriching and inspiring experience
By Alice Haddadin, Director, Library & Educational Resources Center, King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), Amman, Jordan.
Attending EAHIL 2026 in Antalya in June was a truly enriching and inspiring experience. The conference brought together health information professionals from approximately 30 countries, creating an exceptional opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen international collaborations, and explore innovative approaches to supporting research, education, and evidence-based healthcare.
As a member of the EAHIL International Programme Committee (2026) and Director of the Library & Educational Resources Center at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), I was particularly proud to witness the strong spirit of global collaboration reflected throughout the conference. The keynote sessions emphasized the evolving role of health librarians in advancing digital health literacy, supporting research excellence, and promoting equitable access to reliable health information. These discussions reinforced the growing impact of our profession in an increasingly digital and AI-driven healthcare environment.
The oral presentations provided fresh perspectives and practical strategies that I look forward to adapting at KHCC. I also greatly enjoyed the poster sessions, where innovative projects were presented in a more interactive setting, encouraging valuable discussions and the exchange of practical ideas among colleagues.
Another highlight was meeting with publishers and industry partners. These conversations provided useful insights into emerging trends in scholarly publishing, digital resources, and technologies that can further enhance library services and support our researchers, clinicians, and learners.
Beyond the scientific program, Antalya offered a wonderful setting for informal networking. Many conversations over coffee breaks and evening walks evolved into meaningful professional connections, reminding me that some of the most valuable conference experiences happen outside the lecture halls.
I returned home with renewed enthusiasm, new ideas, practical tools, and an even stronger international network. More importantly, EAHIL 2026 reaffirmed the essential role that health libraries play in advancing research, clinical practice, and lifelong learning through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
I am grateful to everyone who contributed to making this conference such a memorable experience, and I look forward to continuing these collaborations while applying what I learned to further enhance library services at KHCC.
