Memorandum of Understanding - approved by FORCE Management Board and IFLA Executive Board

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Introduction

This Memorandum of Understanding seeks to provide a basis for
co-operation between the FORCE Foundation and IFLA in the field of
library and information services for the visually handicapped and
print-handicapped in developing countries and regions.

Please refer to the annex of this Memorandum for brief informative descriptions of both FORCE and IFLA.

Reasons for Co-operation

Many good reasons for co-operation between FORCE and IFLA can be distinguished, as is illustrated by the following examples.

Both FORCE and IFLA work to develop library and information
services. The purpose of FORCE is to work for the benefit of visual-
and print-handicapped, specifically those in developing regions and
countries. In these geographical and professional areas IFLA has
functioning structures and mechanisms.

IFLA has a Section of Libraries for the Blind, many of whose
members are involved in or concerned with the activities of FORCE.
These activities may also be relevant to other IFLA professional
groups.

FORCE has communication channels with organisations and
companies outside the library sphere, specialising in products and
services for the visually handicapped.

The Programmes of IFLA (for instance ALP) make available
significant funding for projects in developing countries. FORCE is also
in a position to provide funds for such projects, and to act as an
intermediary in fund-raising.

IFLA has well-established patterns of co-operation with UNESCO.
FORCE also wishes to co-operate with UNESCO on project work, in
consultation with IFLA.

Co-operation

Having identified many good reasons for co-operation, FORCE and IFLA
intend to co-operate as much as possible on an informal basis. Both
organisations shall, however, let themselves guided by the following
principles:

1. Co-operation will be voluntary. Each party has the right to pursue
   its policy-making and programmatic activities, as it sees fit, in the
   area of library and information services for the visually and
   print-handicapped in the developing regions.
2. Both parties seek to co-operate on projects dealing with
   visually handicapped in developing regions, where appropriate and
   useful. After the necessary consultation each party may contribute
   financial or other resources to joint professional projects.
3. Both parties will take account of each other's interest
   in their contacts with third party organisations, for the purposes of
   fundraising, project development etc.
4. Both parties shall have mutual consultation at management level, at least twice a year.
5. Both parties will inform each other regularly. Where
   appropriate this implies at IFLA's side the distribution of
   FORCE-information to the appropriate IFLA gremiae (HQ, Executive Board,
   Professional Board, Core Programmes and Activities, Standing
   Committees, Officers).
6. Both parties may publish reports on mutual projects, in
   part or in full, if there are no limitations to such publications
   otherwise.
7. This Memorandum of Understanding is renewable by mutual
   agreement. It may be rescinded by either party, by giving three months'
   written notice - however in this case funds already committed to joint
   professional projects cannot be withdrawn.

FORCE and IFLA

FORCE (Foundation and Resource Centre) is registered as a charitable
foundation under Dutch law. It was set up in 1998 by the Vrienden van
het Braille en Gesproken Boek [Friends of Braille and Spoken Books].
Its purpose is to act as a resource for the provision of worldwide
support for libraries for the print-handicapped in developing
countries. It has its office in The Hague. It plans to set up resource
centres in certain host institutions in developing regions.

FORCE is not a membership organisation. It has a board in which
among others senior members of the Dutch library community and IFLA are
represented.

The International Federation of Library Associations and
Institutions IFLA is an independent professional association
representing the interests of the library and information community
worldwide. IFLA has the status of an NGO in Formal Associate Relation
with UNESCO. It has its headquarters in The Hague, with permanent
regional offices in host institutions in Bangkok, Dakar and Rio de
Janeiro. IFLA has permanent operational programme offices in host
institutions in Boston Spa, Frankfurt, Ottawa, Paris and Uppsala.

IFLA is a membership organisation. The members are grouped into
several specialised and regional Sections and those into Divisions.
Sections are managed by elected Standing Committees and Divisions by
elected Co-ordinating Boards. IFLA is governed by an elected Executive
Board and an elected Professional Board.

[The Hague, 4 December 1998]

Statements, Foundation and Resource Centre, Print disabilities, Developing countires

Last update: 5 October 2012