Drawing on the library sector’s experiences, IFLA has prepared a response to the call for inputs launched by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, focusing on the privacy rights of children and issues… Read More
Libraries have a traditional and longstanding commitment to defending the privacy of their users. As institutions that come into contact with children and teens’ data in the course of their everyday work, libraries have developed good practices on how to keep this data private and confidential – and to help their young audiences develop the skills to stay safe and maintain their privacy online. Read More
The world is rapidly digitising in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in preparation for the “new normal”. Many people work from home using commercial online tools and platforms, schools and universities employ distance learning solutions, libraries have increased their remote services, and contact tracing and exposure notification technologies… Read More
Recent privacy laws have reinforced the idea of a right to delete personal data held by others. This is broadly welcome but should not lead to situations where libraries and archives are obliged to destroy works in their collections. The new IFLA-ICA statement sets out principles and alternatives. Read More
The use of technology in education is growing, and a new class of technologies has emerged that relies on tracking and analysing vast amounts of student behavioural data to measure their activity, participation or wellbeing. The position of libraries in educational ecosystems means that… Read More
The use of technology in education is growing, and a new class of technologies has emerged that relies on tracking and analysing vast amounts of student behavioural data. The position of libraries in educational ecosystems means that they may well, both directly and indirectly, come across this trend. This briefing outlines the key ethical and security concerns for libraries to consider, and suggests some ways for libraries to promote responsible and ethical use of Edtech. Read More
A group of unviersity libraries in the United States have signed up to a new Statement on Patron Privacy and Database Access. IFLA has interviewed Mimi Calter, Deupty University Librarian at Stanford, and Chair of IFLA's Academic and Research Libraries Section, to find out more about the thinking behind the Statement, and what it says. Read More
Click here for the complete 2017-2018 IFLA LGBTQ+ SIG Annual Report. Read More
In 10 December, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will turn 70. This is a major opportunity both to celebrate this key document and raise awareness of its messages. In particular, the Declaration sets out clearly a number of the… Read More
The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation enters into force on 25 May, bringing with it significant changes in the rules around how personal data is collected, managed and used. For libraries, which deal not only with their users’ data, but also data held in their collections,… Read More