Section of Public Libraries

Annual Report 1995-1996

Nature and Purpose

The Section serves as a forum for all types of libraries serving the general public.

Objectives

The aims of the Section are to promote all matters concerning the provision of public library service in every environment, its objectives and its policy, its theory and practice and its standards and techniques, working in cooperation with the appropriate IFLA professional groups.

Membership

1995 - 272

Officers:

Chairman:

Sissel Nilsen

Baerum Public Library
POB 82
N1341 Bekkestua
NORWAY,
Tel: 47 67 120510
Fax: 47 67 539755

Email: sissel@barum.folkebibl.no

Secretary:

Philip Gill

13 Stoneleigh Close
Stoneleigh
Coventry CV8 3DE
UK
Tel/Fax: 44 1203 414030

Information Co-ordinator:

Britt Marie Haggstrom

DIK Association
Box 760
S-13124 Nacka
SWEDEN
Tel: 46 84662402
Fax: 46 84662424

Email: bmha.dik@akademikerhuset.se

Meetings

Standing Committee Meetings:

28-29 February 1996, Thessaloniki, Greece - 13 attended, plus observers

24 and 29 August 1996, Beijing, China - 13 attended, plus observers

Projects

Promotion of the Unesco Public Library Manifesto.
Project leaders: Hellen Niegaard and Sissel Nilsen
Organisation of satellite meeting on "Performance Measurement and Quality
Management in Public Libraries" to be held in Berlin on 25 - 28 August 1997.
Organiser: Peter Borchardt
Survey of national information policies. Survey results awaited.
Project leader: Hellen Niegeard
To conduct a survey of funding models for public libraries in different countries.
At early stages. Methodology to be decided.
To conduct a survey of sources of annual revenue other than mainstream funding. At early stages. Methodology to be decided.

Projects 3 and 4 in conjunction with the Statistics Section and the Round Table on Management.

Publications

Public Library Newsletter of the Section of Public Libraries edited by Philip Gill (print only)

Unesco Public Library Manifesto - Brochure and Poster

Conference Programme

Open Session "Public Libraries and Economic Development"
27 August 1996, Beijing, China
Attendance 250 - 300. With Sl

Speakers:

Dick Scheepstra

Julie Sabaratnam (Singapore National Computer Board and Singapore National Library Board)
"Planning the library of the future. The Singapore Experience"

Wang Lili (Shanghai Library)
"The establishment and development of the three-level network of modern Shanghai public libraries"

Abstracts attached.

Relationships with other Bodies

Working with Unesco in the promotion of the Public Library Manifesto.

ALP and Section for Regional Activities: Asia and Oceania in organisation of conference in Malaysia in October 1997

Other Events

Standing Committee attended the conference of the Greek Library Association 1-3 March 1996, immediately following the committee meeting.

Author:

Philip Gill

Date:

12 December 1996

Latest Revision: August 11, 1998