IFLA Newsletter: October 2022

The message below accompanies the October 2022 edition of the IFLA Newsletter.

IFLA Newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 10

Welcome to the October IFLA Newsletter!

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable – succinctly describes the core role of public libraries. The recently updated IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto is a framework that aligns with the objectives of SDG 11 and provides both an advocacy and evaluation framework in support of urban development.

Public libraries are accessible and welcoming to all, supporting diverse populations and recent immigrants in personal growth and skill development, health, education and literacy, early childhood learning, leisure pursuits, and civic engagement.

Serving as a gathering place for the exchange of ideas and the sharing of experiences, the library draws people together, helping to forge community while also serving as a safe space that frequently becomes a cornerstone of urban redevelopment.

Libraries can be exemplars for resilient and sustainable development through well considered quality library buildings whether newly built or continuously improved existing buildings. The Public Library of the Year Award, jointly managed by the Public Libraries, Metropolitan Libraries and Library Buildings and Equipment Sections, is presented at WLIC each year, celebrating public libraries which have made outstanding contributions to the urban and community development of their neighbourhoods through the development of new library buildings.

Urban October – celebrated throughout the month by UN HABITAT – is an opportunity to highlight these contributions, and so urban development is also the theme of this newsletter.

In addition to more about libraries and sustainable urban development – including from the Library Map of the World – read on too for more about how libraries are contributing to two other international days marked in October – Evidence Based Healthcare Day, and World Statistics Day.

We also have reports from IFLA’s engagement at the UNESCO MONDIACULT conference, our contribution to the UN’s Global Digital Compact, and a look ahead to Global Media and Information Literacy Week. You can also find exciting news about our 2023 World Library and Information Congress, read updates from our regions, and welcome new IFLA members.

Happy reading!


Leslie Weir
Chair, Division A