Key Initiative 4: Cultural Heritage Disaster Reconstruction Programme

Culture is a basic need, a community thrives through its cultural heritage, it dies without it.

Introduction

The IFLA Governing Board set up an Advisory Group (AG) to draft Principles of Engagement by IFLA and its members in library-related activities in times of crisis, conflict or disaster; with reference to IFLA’s engagement in the Haiti reconstruction activities and international treaties and agreements to which IFLA is a party.

The mandate is taken from the Key Initiatives 2011-2012: Key Initiative 4: Cultural Heritage Disaster Reconstruction Programme – Culture is a basic need, a community thrives through its cultural heritage, it dies without it.

In April 2012, the IFLA Governing Board endorsed the Principles of Engagement.

Goals and objectives

The Principles of Engagement advise IFLA and its members on how to monitor areas at risk, advocate for and raise awareness about conflict and disaster prevention. In the event of a crisis, conflict or disaster, the Principles of Engagement shall guide activities in recovery situations and advise IFLA and its members if and how to engage in a particular recovery situation within IFLA’s strategic directions. They provide criteria to guide decisions on whether IFLA and its members would become engaged in crisis, conflict or disaster recovery and the terms under which it would do so.

Contribution to IFLA Strategy

Through its focus on improving preservation activities, promoting standards and training and its cooperation with other bodies, the project contributes to IFLA’s strategic directions 1, 3 and 4 in particular the promotion of the preservation of information and knowledge to expand society’s knowledge base (1e), transforming the profile and standing of the profession (3) and the representation of IFLA’s members and users throughout the world (4).

Associated Project

In conjunction with Key Initiative 4, the Preservation and Conservation Section is creating an online ‘at risk register’ of countries and sites where there is a risk for armed conflict or natural disasters and whose governments or institutions have low capacity to deal with such situations. Within the register, libraries with significant cultural heritage items will be identified and information listed about their collections, contact details, etc.

Full text of Key Initiative 4

Advisory Group

Danielle Mincio, Chair (IFLA Preservation and Conservation Section)
Genevieve Clavel-Merrin (Governing Board representative to PAC)
Anne Hustad (FAIFE)