The World Bank invited IFLA to speak on The Role of Libraries in Access to Information Development as part of its Transparency and Information Management Open Discussion Forum on the 2nd of October 2014.

IFLA Deputy Secretary General Stuart Hamilton discussed why IFLA is involved with the United Nations post-2015 development agenda and why libraries are important supporters of development. He introduced the Lyon Declaration on Access to Information and Development, IFLA’s new major advocacy initiative and highlighted the impact this can have on the post-2015 development discussions. As the United Nations reflects on the future of global development and the post-2015 agenda, access to information must be recognised as critical to supporting governments to achieve development goals, and enabling citizens to make informed decisions to improve their own lives.

Background

IFLA launched the Lyon Declaration on Access to Information and Development during the World Library and Information Congress in August of 2014, and now has over 350 signatories.  The Lyon Declaration, information on how to sign and the list of signatories are available at www.lyondeclaration.org.

IFLA also launched the Toolkit on libraries and the post-2015 Development Agenda on the 6th of October. The toolkit supports library institutions and associations and other civil society organisations to advocate for access to information in the post-2015 Development Agenda.