The creation of the new Advisory Committee on Open Science and Scholarship (OSS) was endorsed by the Governing Board in late 2023 and membership finalised in early 2024. OSS continues and builds on the work of many IFLA initiatives, including a statement on Open Access and Open Access Working Party. Its members span IFLA’s regions and many library types, showing how open science affects all parts of the profession.
An IFLA delegation made up of representatives from Argentina, South Africa, Namibia, Oman, Georgia and the United States made the most of the 2024 High-Level Political Forum to build connections and get people thinking about how libraries can contribute to the SDGs.
The June 2024 issue of the IFLA Journal delves into the multifaceted roles of libraries in navigating contemporary global challenges. This issue underscores the diversity of library practices worldwide, highlighting their pivotal role as catalysts for knowledge, technology, and social resilience in the face of global challenges.
Summary of 4th AI in ibraries symposium - Chile
IFLA’s newest advisory committee, Open Science & Scholarship, was endorsed by the Governing Board in 2023. The committee is using its first term to August 2025 to further define IFLA’s contributions to these issues, raise awareness among the Federation, collaborate with other IFLA units and partners to to shape opinion and debate around open access and library values, including intellectual freedom and human rights. Other issues that intersect with open science and scholarship include copyright reform and rights retention, equity and diversity (in all forms), trust and misinformation.
Last week, the Parliament of South Africa took the important step of voting through the Copyright Amendment Bill, which promises to do much to support libraries in fulfilling their missions, as well as empowering authors and other creators. One key step remains - for the bill to be signed into law by the President.