Governing Board Elections
2005-2007
Statement of Candidacy
Tiiu Valm
(Estonia)
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National Library of Estonia
Tônismägi 2
15189 TALLINN, Estonia
Tel. +(37)(2)6307600/6307500
Fax +(37)(2)6311410
E-mail: tiiu.valm@nlib.ee
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In the memory of mankind the library stands for knowledge, progress and self-consciousness. The ability of libraries to unite people, increase mutual respect and understanding, and contribute to the solution of the problems facing mankind date back to the distant past and reach far into the future, thus can libraries be considered as links between different eras.
The common task of libraries is to ensure free access to information for all people worldwide regardless of their location or economic possibilities, to further the exchange of culture and to minimise the gap between information rich and information poor. In the successful fulfilling of those tasks, IFLA as the worldwide and highly recognised organisation uniting libraries primarily has a planning, guiding, coordinating and balancing role.
The technological developments in the information society have vastly expanded the possibilities of libraries to preserve cultural heritage and make it accessible in the digital form, to disseminate information and to unite the resources of libraries.
Under the auspices of IFLA we should, and we could, find ways to:
- actively involve less developed countries through common projects;
- promote common principles and standards;
- further professional knowledge;
- protect the interests of libraries in the further drafting and amending of legal acts in the field of information, copyright and other intellectual property.
The above is particularly important for East-European countries who joined the democratic world a decade ago and whose integration in the modern information network is one of the most important duties of European information and cultural policies. These I also consider to be among the major objectives of IFLA in the coming years and I am ready to give my full contribution to achieving them during my term of office.
The achievement of the above tasks should rely on the implementation of the new model for IFLA's operations in order to pay more attention to the societal contexts in which our domain operates. I consider the three pillars to be a very good formulation of the main issues to focus on - the society, our profession and IFLA members. This development should closely relate to the promotion process of IFLA, the new strategy, more intensive professional activities and fundraising - all the issues which have been laid down as priorities.
