Throughout its long history, IFLA has championed the work of libraries, librarians, and library associations around the world. Founded on 30 September 1927 at the Annual Meeting of the UK Library Association in Edinburgh, Scotland, IFLA officially began in 1929 with 15 members from 15 countries. We now have over 1500 Members and Affiliates from around 150 countries worldwide.

Since then, IFLA has had a long and rich career on its way to becoming the global voice of the library and information profession.

Consult our list of publications to discover IFLA throughout its history via archival documents, sketches and detailed studies. See how our organisation—which has played a central role in the work of libraries and librarians— has developed and progressed since its founding in 1927.