About the Campaign for the World's Libraries

The Campaign for the World's Libraries

FACT SHEET

The Campaign for the World's Libraries is a public education campaign of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, the American Library Association and libraries around the world to speak loudly and clearly about the value of libraries and librarians in the 21st century. It is designed to showcase the unique and vital roles played by public, school, academic and special libraries worldwide.

The Campaign for the World's Libraries was officially launched in August 2001 during the IFLA Council and General Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. It is based on The Campaign for America's Libraries, a multi-year public education campaign sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the U.S. The U.S. campaign, which officially launched to the public during National Library Week 2001, uses a trademarked brand -@your library-to unify the communications activities of libraries across the country. During the 2001 IFLA conference, 2001-2002 ALA President John W. Berry shared the campaign with IFLA members to coordinate the campaign outside the United States. As part of this gift, ALA created a special logo for IFLA using the  @your library  artwork in IFLA's official languages. The IFLA campaign also uses the slogan  @your library (and its official translations) to unify the communications activities of libraries around the world. Seven Canadian associations have officially signed on to the world campaign to bring the campaign to Canada. They include the:

As a result of the IFLA partnership, the following international library organizations also have signed trademark agreements with ALA and IFLA, thereby joining the world campaign:

  @yourlibrary-ifla logo

As a result of worldwide interest, the logo has been translated into IFLA's official languages (English, French, German, Russian and Spanish) as well as other languages to date, including Arabic, Armenian, Azeri, Bulgarian, Chinese, Georgian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Kazakh, Korean, Nepali, Portuguese, Romanian, Serbian, Turkish and Vietnamese. Artwork, information materials and a consumer-oriented video have been translated into Spanish by ALA. At a @your library  program at the 2003 IFLA conference in Berlin, representatives from Brazil, Japan, Mexico, the Republic of Georgia and Singapore spoke about how their associations are participating in the campaign. It was also decided to create a Web site to showcase activities from the various campaigns and to create a discussion list to facilitate information sharing. There are three core messages to The Campaign for the World's Libraries, modeled after the messages of the U.S. campaign. They are:

  • Libraries are changing and dynamic places.
  • Libraries are places of opportunity.
  • Libraries bridge the world.
Through the consistent delivery of these key messages, the campaign aims:
  • to raise awareness about the variety of programs and services offered;
  • to increase use of libraries at schools, at colleges and universities, in government, at work, and in daily community life;
  • to increase funding for libraries;
  • to involve librarians as stakeholders on public policy issues such as intellectual freedom, equity of access and the "digital divide;"
  • to encourage librarianship as a profession.
Through outreach efforts, the campaign targets:
  • general public -- parents, children, students, senior citizens and business people;
  • educators, school groups and administrators;
  • government leaders, policymakers and opinion leaders;
  • librarians and those who are considering the library profession;
  • media;
  • strategic partners, including funding agencies.
The U.S. Campaign, already well underway, provides a good model for other countries. All types of libraries throughout the U.S. are getting involved with The Campaign for America's Libraries, highlighting their unique programs, services, and technologies and telling their own exciting stories. Examples include:
  • What's up online @your library  (Tampa-Hillsborough County (Fla.) County Public Library System)
  • Set your sites @your library  (Pace High School, Pace, Fla.)
  • Discover the World  @your library  (North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles, Wash.)
  • Ask a librarian  @your library  (Milner Library, Illinois State University, Normal, Ill.)
  • The Internet, Only Better @your library  (Maryland Library Association/Maryland State Department of Edu.)

For more information about the U.S. campaign, including how to subscribe to a discussion list for the latest updates, visit the campaign Web site at www.ala.org/@yourlibrary. For ideas on how other countries are getting involved in the @your library  campaign, visit the Ontario (Canada) Library Association Web site at www.accessola.com/@yourlibrary and the Web site of the Mexican Association of Librarians at www.ambac.org.mx/entubiblioteca.

Links:

Campaign for America's Libraries video

Contacts:

Megan Humphrey Manager, Campaign for America's Libraries Tel: +(1)(312)280-4020 E-mail: mhumphrey@ala.org

Josche Ouwerkerk Coordinator, IFLA Tel: +(31)(70)3140884 E-mail: josche.ouwerkerk@ifla.org

American Library Association 50 East Huron Street Chicago, Illinois 60611 USA Toll Free: 1.866.4LIBRARY Fax: 312.944.8520 E-mail: atyourlibrary@ala.org www.ala.org/@yourlibrary

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions P.O. Box 95312 2509 CH The Hague Netherlands Tel: +31 70 3140884 Fax: +31 70 3834827 E-mail: IFLA@ifla.org www.ifla.org/@yourlibrary

Last update: 22 April 2009