Pan African/Pan Arab Conference on Public and School Libraries
Rabat, Morocco 19-22 September, 2001

This conference was organised jointly by IFLA Headquarters, the Regional Section for Africa, the Section of Public Libraries and the Section for School Libraries and Resource Centres. The conference was funded by UNESCO and IFLA. Its main purpose was to promote the IFLA/UNESCO manifestos on Public Libraries and on School Libraries and the new IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Guidelines. Delegates were also consulted on the content of the School Library Guidelines, which are in draft. The conference was held in Ecole des Sciences de l’Information (ESI), Rabat and hosted by M. Mohamed Benjelloun, Director of the ESI. This was the third in a series of conferences organised with the regional sections to promote the Public Library Manifesto. The conference with the Asia and Oceania Section was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November 1997 and with the Latin American and Caribbean Section in Salvador, Brazil in March 1998. This conference was attended by 46 delegates, including representatives from 23 African and Arab countries, many of whom had undertaken lengthy and arduous journeys to reach Rabat. In addition Kay Raseroka (President-elect IFLA), Sjoerd Koopman (IFLA Professional Co-ordinator), Birgitta Sandell (Programme Director, ALP), Winston Tabb (Chair, IFLA Professional Committee), Henri Sene (Regional Manager, Africa), Abdelaziz Abid (UNESCO), and Philip Gill (Chair, Working Group on the Revision of IFLA’s Public Library Guidelines) took part in the conference.

The conference was opened by the Minister of Economic Forecasting and Planning, M. Abdelhamid Aouad. The Minister for Education was also present. Kay Raseroka gave the keynote address and Abdelaziz Abid spoke about UNESCO’s "Information for All" programme. Philip Gill talked about the Public Library Manifesto and introduced the new IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines for Public Libraries and every delegate received a copy of the new guidelines. Sjoerd Koopman spoke about some of the issues that have arisen during the preparation of the School Library Guidelines.

Country reports were presented by delegates from 19 of the countries represented. These were remarkable accounts of the dedicated effort by many librarians in Africa to develop public and school library services in difficult and sometimes appalling situations. Lack of resources, profound social problems and, in some countries, continuing military conflict are some of the factors which African and Arab librarians are working to overcome to provide their communities with public and school libraries.

Delegates then formed discussion groups to discuss the following issues arising from the guidelines and manifestos. For ease of communication discussions were held in Anglophone and Francophone groups.

1. Place of the public library in the technology age
2. The public library’s role in lifelong learning
3. The promotion of reading and literacy
4. Networking and co-operation among libraries
5. The promotion of the public library guidelines and manifesto

School libraries
1. Organisation
2. Accommodation
3. Resources
4. Staffing
5. Promotion of library programmes

6. Library usage

The resolutions and recommendations of each group were then reported at the plenary session. Kay Raseroka then presented a summary of the conference. The conference proceedings will be published by IFLA. During the conference delegates visited a multi-media centre, a public library and the National Library of Morocco. They were also entertained to a memorable dinner hosted by the Ministry of Economic Planning. On the final day there was time for a tour of Rabat and its sights with many delegates finishing their tour in the fascinating walled market.

This was the first time the Section of Public Libraries and the School Library and Resource Centre Section had taken part in a conference in Africa. It was both an interesting and illuminating experience providing an insight into the challenges facing African librarians and the ways in which they are meeting them. Many useful contacts were made and the resolutions, which will be included in the proceedings, will help to inform the future work of both sections. The commitment of African colleagues was apparent from the long and difficult journeys many undertook to attend. I am sure the benefits of this ground-breaking event will bear fruit both in Africa and in the work of the IFLA Sections involved. Our thanks go to M. Benjelloun and his staff for being such charming and attentive hosts and for the work they put into ensuring the success of the conference.

On a personal note I am the only person who has had the privilege of attending all three conferences involving the Public Library Section and the Regional Sections. Each conference has been an important and seminal event, bringing benefits to all involved. It is my hope that the contacts that have been made can be maintained and developed as they add a new and important dimension to the work of IFLA in the sphere of public libraries. The exchange of experience and expertise with public librarians in all parts of the world is a key function of the Section of Public Libraries. These three conferences have provided an exciting opportunity to bring the experience of public librarians world-wide into the work of the Section. I hope that the work of these conferences and the contacts they have created can be built on for the future benefit of both the Section and the librarians it represents.