IFLA/UNESCO
Public Library Manifesto
1994
[English Version]
Freedom, prosperity and the development of society and of
individuals are fundamental human values. They will only be
attained through the ability of well-informed citizens to
exercise their democratic rights and to play an active role in
society. Constructive participation and the development of
democracy depend on satisfactory education as well as on free and
unlimited access to knowledge, thought, culture and information.
The public library, the local gateway to knowledge, provides
a basic condition for lifelong learning, independent decision-
making and cultural development of the individual and social
groups.
This Manifesto proclaims UNESCO's belief in the public
library as a living force for education, culture and information,
and as an essential agent for the fostering of peace and
spiritual welfare through the minds of men and women.
UNESCO therefore encourages national and local governments
to support and actively engage in the development of public
libraries.
The Public Library
The public library is the local centre of information,
making all kinds of knowledge and information readily available
to its users.
The services of the public library are provided on the basis
of equality of access for all, regardless of age, race, sex,
religion, nationality, language or social status. Specific
services and materials must be provided for those users who
cannot, for whatever reason, use the regular services and
materials, for example linguistic minorities, people with
disabilities or people in hospital or prison.
All age groups must find material relevant to their needs.
Collections and services have to include all types of appropriate
media and modern technologies as well as traditional materials.
High quality and relevance to local needs and conditions are
fundamental. Material must reflect current trends and the
evolution of society, as well as the memory of human endeavour
and imagination.
Collections and services should not be subject to any form
of ideological, political or religious censorship, nor commercial
pressures.
Missions of the Public Library
The following key missions which relate to information,
literacy, education and culture should be at the core of public
library services:
- creating and strengthening reading habits in children from an
early age;
- supporting both individual and self conducted education as
well as formal education at all levels;
- providing opportunities for personal creative development;
- stimulating the imagination and creativity of children and
young people;
- promoting awareness of cultural heritage, appreciation of the
arts, scientific achievements and innovations;
- providing access to cultural expressions of all performing
arts;
- fostering inter-cultural dialogue and favouring cultural
diversity;
- supporting the oral tradition;
- ensuring access for citizens to all sorts of community
information;
- providing adequate information services to local enterprises,
associations and interest groups;
- facilitating the development of information and computer
literacy skills;
- supporting and participating in literacy activities and
programmes for all age groups, and initiating such activities if
necessary.
Funding, legislation and networks
The public library shall in principle be free of charge.
The public library shall in principle be free of charge.
The public library is the responsibility of local and national
authorities. It must be supported by specific legislation and
financed by national and local governments. It has to be an
essential component of any long-term strategy for culture,
information provision, literacy and education.
To ensure nationwide library coordination and cooperation,
legislation and strategic plans must also define and promote a
national library network based on agreed standards of service.
The public library network must be designed in relation to
national, regional, research and special libraries as well as
libraries in schools, colleges and universities.
Operation and management
A clear policy must be formulated, defining objectives,
priorities and services in relation to the local community needs.
The public library has to be organized effectively and
professional standards of operation must be maintained.
Cooperation with relevant partners - for example, user groups
and other professionals at local, regional, national as well as
international level- has to be ensured.
Services have to be physically accessible to all members of
the community. This requires well situated library buildings,
good reading and study facilities, as well as relevant
technologies and sufficient opening hours convenient to the
users. It equally implies outreach services for those unable to
visit the library.
The library services must be adapted to the different needs
of communities in rural and urban areas.
The librarian is an active intermediary between users and
resources. Professional and continuing education of the librarian
is indispensable to ensure adequate services.
Outreach and user education programmes have to be provided
to help users benefit from all the resources.
Implementing the Manifesto
Decision makers at national and local levels and the library
community at large, around the world, are hereby urged to
implement the principles expressed in this Manifesto.
The Manifesto is prepared in cooperation with the International
Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
