Library and Research Services for Parliaments Section
Strategic Plan
2006-2007
Mission
The Library and Research Services for Parliaments Section exists:
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To promote the role of libraries and research services in parliaments as essential assistance for parliamentarians in carrying out their legislative functions, in their oversight of the executive, and in general debate and discussion of policy issues;
- To promote the establishment of libraries and research services as a basis component in the development of democratic legislatures throughout the world;
- To promote openness, transparency and the strengthening of democratic participation through the provision of information about parliaments to citizens;
- To exchange experiences, knowledge, problem solving situations and networking, amongst those serving in a political environment;
- To develop and promote standards and best practices in providing information and knowledge to Parliaments;
- To provide a forum for the identification of emerging issues relating to legislative processes
Goals
1. Provide a forum for trend watching and cooperation between the knowledge services for legislatures, in a globalised information society, in which legislative processes regulate the relations of a society, the citizens and the state powers.
(Professional priorities: a. Supporting roles of libraries and research services in society; b. Defending the principle of freedom of information; d. Providing unrestricted access to information)
Actions:
1.1 Presentations in Seoul Korea, IFLA, 2005, on trends in e-democracy as they affect the provision of research and information to Parliaments.
1.2 Presentation or round table in Durban, IFLA 2006, on anticipation, legislative trends and the impact on Parliamentary Libraries and Research Services.
1.3 Develop a trend exchange, and information resources for parliaments web page, as a project developed by the Chilean Library of Congress on behalf of the Parliamentary Libraries and Research Services Section, with ECPRD financement.
2. Promote citizen participation and democratic enabling activities from Parliaments, in the context of the Information Society and Information Literacy initiatives.
(Professional priorities: d. Providing unrestricted access to information; b. Defending the principle of freedom of information; f. Promoting resource sharing; a. Supporting roles of libraries and research services in society.)
Actions:
2.1 Publicize and call for comment on the IFLA 2004 paper on citizen participation forum experience.
2.2 Establish a working group on citizen participation and democracy enabling initiatives, inviting participants interested also in e-democracy.
3. Promote better laws and better lawmaking processes with the provision of information and knowledge services.
(Professional priorities: a. Supporting roles of libraries and research services in society; i. Promoting standards, guidelines, and best practices.)
Actions:
3.1 Share amongst the members indicators of impact of knowledge in better laws and lawmaking.
3.2 Share amongst members the processes and actions involved in providing information and knowledge for better laws and lawmaking.
4. Promote understanding and experience sharing of working in a politically complex environment.
(Professional priorities: i. Promoting standards, guidelines, and best practices; h. Developing library professionals.)
Actions:
4.1 Continue sharing experiences on the particularities of requests from parliamentarians and the way in which libraries and research services have solved them.
4.2 Open a FAQ page on an Information Resources for parliaments, and requests and the way in which Parliamentary Libraries and Research Services have solved them, as part of the web pages in development by the Chilean Library of Congress with ECPRD and the Chile financement.
5. Encourage programs to foster the incorporation into the Information Society of Parliamentary Libraries and Research Services in the context of future trends in e-democracy and e-government.
(Professional priorities: a. Supporting roles of libraries and research services in society.)
Actions:
5.1 Share experiences and joint programs with the IFLA Government Information Section for future conferences.
5.2 Share experiences and joint programs with the IFLA Information Literacy Section for future conferences.
6. Encourage professional competencies required within the Parliamentary Library and Research services environment.
(Professional priorities: i. Promoting standards, guidelines, and best practices; h. Developing library professionales.)
Actions:
6.1 Share key competencies required Parliamentary Libraries and Research Services in Preconferences and workshops, in Seoul and Durban.
6.2 Exchange ideas on new developments and trends in parliamentary information and research provision especially regarding new applications of technology. Share through satellite conferences in Seoul and Capetown.
6.3 Support small and newly developing parliamentary libraries and research services with practical strategies for action.
6.4 Develop and circulate for comment by section members a key competency document.
6.5 Identify sources of funding for participation of members from small and developing parliaments at the IFLA conferences in Seoul and Durban.
7. Provide and share information about the Section and the Standing Committee.
(Professional priorities: a. Supporting role of libraries and research services in society; d. Providing unrestricted access to information; f. Promoting resource sharing; g. Preserving cultural heritage; h. Developing library professionals; i. Promoting standards, guidelines, and best practices.)
Actions:
7.1 Prepare and distribute the Newsletter twice a year.
7.2 Exchange information permanently via Iflaparl.
7.3 Keep members and SC permanently informed and consulted on issues relating IFLA and the Section.
7.4 Promote democratic participation on decisions and issues pertaining the Section and the SC.
8. To promote membership of the Section and seek a broader representation of the standing committee.
(Professional priorities: a. Supporting role of libraries and research services in society; d. Providing unrestricted access to information; f. Promoting resource sharing; h. Developing library professionales.)
Actions:
8.1 Prepare a leaflet about the Section to attract and interest new members
8.2 Actively seek and contact colleagues and Parliamentary Libraries and Research Services, particularly in Asia in Seoul Korea in 2005 and in Africa for Capetown and Durban in 2006.
