IFLA Global Vision: North America collaborates for their big bold ideas
19 April 2018
Hot on the heels of our fantastic Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) regional workshop last week, it was North America’s turn to shine as the IFLA Global Vision world tour reached Ottawa, Canada and to a wondrous reception.
The weather outside may have been frightful, but the atmosphere inside the National Library and Archives Canada, hosts of our second IFLA Global Vision Regional Workshop, was wonderfully warm owing to the great ideas generated over the two highly productive days.
We need Libraries and Archives more than ever
We were honoured to hear from Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage, Graham Flack, who produced a special moment for all when he endorsed not only the sector but IFLA’s Global Vision goals, saying:
We live in an era where false information threatens our democracy. In this era, we need our libraries and archives more than ever”
Bolstered by these reassuring words, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, Guy Berthiaume welcomed the 37 key players from a cross-section of academic and research libraries, public libraries and library associations across United States of America and Canada who were eager to begin.
A new style of collaboration
Something magical happens when the library field comes together. A spirit of collaboration forms, providing fertile ground for rich vibrant discussions and North America seized this opportunity, producing amazing, bold ideas for actions to develop diverse cross-sectoral and cross-regional partnerships.
This second phase in the IFLA Global Vision journey is about finding fresh, innovative approaches to the challenges and opportunities we face and IFLA President Glòria Pérez-Salmerón shared her thoughts on the importance of collaboration in this process:
“Challenges and opportunities must be analysed together to develop a new style of collaboration, not only among the regions but across the world and in all levels of the library community.
And judging by the enthusiasm and openness to discuss with each other, North America is already poised to explore diverse opportunities to collaborate!
A big step forward
Both Glòria Pérez-Salmerón and IFLA Secretary General Gerald Leitner were thrilled by the buzz of lively conversation, stories and a collective agreement from North America to make the vision a reality and Gerald Leitner added:
With this vibrant workshop of North-American key players we made a big step forward to reach our goal creating the biggest idea store for actions which will inspire the library field and will help IFLA to build a strategy for the future"
IFLA Global Vision now wings its way to Tunis, Tunisia on 8 – 10 May for the Middle East and North Africa Regional Workshop. We cannot wait to hear what their ideas for actions will be!
View all photos from the North American Regional Workshop in our Flickr album.