Presidential Elections
2007-2009
Statement of Candidacy for IFLA President-Elect
To serve as President 2009-2011
Adolfo Rodríguez Gallardo
(Mexico)
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UNAM & Researcher of the University Center in Librarianship
National University of Mexico
Torre II de Humanidades, Piso 12°
Ciudad Universitaria
MEXICO DF 04510
Mexico
Tel. +(52)(55)56230041
Fax +(52)(55)55507461
E-mail: jadolfo@servidor.unam.mx
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Dear Colleague
A group of institutions and colleagues have nominated me as candidate to President-elect in the belief that I can carry out the activities required by the post with efficiency and diligence. I am grateful to all of them for the trust they have placed in me.
Personally, having been a member since1974, I think I have gathered sufficient knowledge about IFLA and enough experience to perform the tasks required of a president-elect and then of the President.
In the last 33 years, I have seen IFLA transform itself from a mainly European association into an organization of global dimensions, with all the advantages and challenges which this represents. I have seen it function on the basis of the common values that unite us, despite our cultural differences, and I have been a witness to the realization of library practice based on shared principles around the world. Thus has IFLA established the three pillars on which its work rests, and which give direction to its priorities.
I am pleased to see that IFLA has evolved from being an association with few lines of action into a professional body with eight divisions, 45 sections, several work groups, and three basic activities that include practically all aspects of library practice and education.
Throughout my time in IFLA, I have collaborated on many occasions with various work groups, and have held different posts; I have been president of the Latin America and Caribbean section on two occasions; president of section VII, and member of the Professional Council. Currently, I am a member of the Governing Board, and preside the Advisory Council for the ALP. I have represented IFLA at several professional meetings in Mexico and in other countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
All of the above has contributed to my deep knowledge of IFLA, its trajectory and its values, and my awareness of the need for changes that will lead to a more vigorous and more efficient IFLA.
I believe that IFLA must continue pushing library work for people to enjoy better services through excellence in professional practice. For this, it is indispensable for library education to focus on its social responsibility and to promote the two values that have been the foundation of our profession: freedom of expression and free access to information for all people, regardless of age, sex, religion, race; social, financial or political condition, sexual orientation or any other kind of preference.
I truly believe that these values must be defended at local, national and international levels, for the information society to offer real benefits to humanity, and to moderate the strictly technological effects, which do not take men and women into account, nor the full complexity of the societies in which they live.
Consequently, I am requesting your vote for my candidacy as President-elect 2007-2009 and President 2009-2011. Your vote represents the opportunity for me to continue working for the betterment of IFLA.
I hope that my trajectory will convince you of my abilities and that you will see fit to deposit your trust in me. By giving me your vote, you will be electing to consolidate IFLA's past achievement, and for the changes that in the next few years will result in a stronger and more prestigious association.
Adolfo Rodríguez
