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New Secretary General: Professor Peter Lor

IFLA is delighted to announce the appointment of its new Secretary General, Professor Peter Johan Lor, who will assume the position on 15 February 2005.

Professor Peter Lor Professor Peter Lor

Professor Lor currently holds the post of Professor Extraordinary at the Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Born in the Netherlands, Peter emigrated to South Africa where he studied at the universities of Stellenbosch and Pretoria - later studying at Caen in France. Following appointments as University Librarian at the University of Bophuthatswana, Assistant Director of the State Library, Pretoria, and Professor in the University of South Africa's Department of Library and Information Science, Peter Lor was the Director of the State Library. He subsequently became the National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of South Africa, which was formed in November 1999 by the amalgamation of the State Library with the South African Library. In addition, he has served on the boards of directors of a number of non-profit foundations, including the boards of SABINET (the South African Bibliographic and Information Network), the Foundation for Library and Information Services Development (as its Executive Director), and the Book Development Foundation. He also serves on the Executive of the Pretoria Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Professor Lor has been a very active contributor to IFLA and currently chairs the Advisory Board of IFLA's Action for Development through Libraries Programme (ALP) and the interim standing committee of IFLA's Section of Library and Information Science Journals. He chaired the Conference of Directors of National Libraries from 1996 to 2000 and has served as a member of the International Advisory Committee of the Council on Library and Information Resources, Washington DC. From 1996 to 1998 he was vice-chairperson of the Standing Conference of African National and University Libraries in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa.

Peter Lor was actively involved in developing policy for library and information services for post-apartheid South Africa and played a leading role in the formation of the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA), a new, inclusive organisation that replaced the former separate associations. He regards this as one of his biggest and most satisfying professional achievements.

Professor Lor brings this wealth of administrative, academic and association experience to the post of Secretary General. He believes passionately that good libraries are essential for the quality of life of individuals and communities.

When accepting the appointment, Peter stated that he is "thrilled to serve IFLA as Secretary General because IFLA has a unique role to empower library and information professionals. Individually and through our organisations we enable participation by all in the knowledge society and we make an essential contribution tobuilding an informed, tolerant, just and cooperative world community."

Welcoming the appointment, IFLA President Kay Raseroka said from Gaborone, Botswana that she is delighted that IFLA has secured a professional colleague of such high calibre to fill the important post of Secretary General:

"IFLA's participation in the World Summit on the Information Society has demonstrated the major contribution that libraries and information services make to society. Through its services to members and its strong professional programs, coupled with engagement in public policy arenas, IFLA works to create a more informed, just and safer world; to preserve heritage; to support education and research; and to promote democratic participation and tolerance. As Secretary General, Peter Lor will help us influence international agendas for the good of humanity."

Contacts:

Mr Sjoerd Koopman
Acting Secretary General, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA),
P O Box 95312, 2509 CH The Hague Netherlands
Tel: +31 70 31 40 884
Fax: +31 70 38 34 827
Email: sjoerd.koopman@ifla.org

Dr Alex Byrne
President elect, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Sydney, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9514 3332
Fax: +61 2 9514 3331
Email: alex.byrne@uts.edu.au

Professor Peter Lor
Secretary General elect, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Pretoria, South Africa
Tel: +27 12 420 4232
Fax: +27 12 362 5181
Email: peterlor@mweb.co.za