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News from Libraries, Development and the UN 2030 Agenda

Digital Technologies and Social Development: We Need Meaningful Inclusion Efforts

IFLA has submitted a statement ahead of the 59th meeting of the United Nations Commission on Social Development, focus on the role of digital technologies. The statement underlines the need to give everyone the connection, collections and confidence to use the internet effectively.

27 October 2020 | Access to information, Digital inclusion, social development, SDGs

IFLA SDGs Update: October 2020

The latest update on activities related to the Sustainable Development Goals from IFLA includes information on the following: Voluntary National Reviews 2021, our Data for Advocacy webinar, the Library Pledge for Digital Inclusion, an update on the Library Map of the World, our latest Library Stat of the Week posts, the Gates Foundation's Goalkeepers report, IFLA's Get Into Guides, and a list of relevant recent blogs.

24 October 2020 | Access to information, Development, SDGs, UN 2030 Agenda

IFLA signs joint statement with IATUL on Publisher Pricing

IFLA, alongside the International Association of University Libraries, has signed onto the below statement, calling for publishers to recognise pressures on library funding, and reduce prices in 2021, in order to avoid a significant drop in the information available to students and researchers.

23 October 2020 | Academic and Research Libraries, Access to knowledge, pricing, COVID-19

Libraries on the World Stage: An Interview with the Winners of the WSIS Prize

Libraries were among the winners of this year's World Summit on the Information Society Prizes, celebrating projects which show how digital technologies can contribute to development. We interviewed Heba Ismail, Director of the winning INELI-MENA programme, to find out more.

25 September 2020 | Digital libraries, E-learning, Capacity building

Five ways to show how libraries support the SDGs

A week today, SDG Action Week begins with an ‘SDG Moment’ at the United Nations General Assembly. Leaders of countries around the world will underline their commitment to delivery and set out their plans. But libraries are already acting. In this article, we we set out five ways in which you can ensure this is recognised.

11 September 2020 | Access to information, Advocacy, Development, SDGs, UN 2030 Agenda, sustainable development goals

Literacy Cannot Wait: How Libraries Have Continued to Fulfil their Mission to Promote Literacy during COVID-19

Literacy is a foundational skill. With it, doors are opened to countless other opportunities to learn and grow. Even with few - or no - possibilities to offer activities in person during the pandemic, libraries have continued to support users to develop literacy. Happy Literacy Day!

7 September 2020 | Literacy and Reading, New professionals, Reading

Participation, Partnerships, Progress - Libraries Engaged in the SDGs in Costa Rica

The Sustainable Development Goals create valuable opportunities both for new links with governments, and focus within the library sector. We interviewed Lidiette Quirós Suiz to find out about the Costa Rican experience.

26 August 2020 | Access to information, Development, Costa Rica, SDGs

New Partnerships, Stronger Voice: Libraries Engage in Brazil's 2030 Agenda Work Group

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have provided a great framework both for libraries to think about their own services, and to engage with governments and build new partnerships. The Federation of Brazilian Library Associations (FEBAB) is a great example, recently joining the country's Agenda 2030 Work Group.

19 August 2020 | Access to information, Development, Brazil, SDGs

IFLA joins European Library Associations in Calling for Effective Support for Education, Research, Culture and Digital Inclusion

IFLA alongside EBLIDA, LIBER, NAPLE, and SPARC Europe has signed a joint letter calling on European leaders to reconsider their choices around the EU budget for 2021-27, and, in particular to do better for research, education, culture and digital inclusion.

6 August 2020 | Access to information, Cultural heritage, Digital inclusion, Europe, research

UN, Government and Civil Society Underline Need to Include Culture in post-COVID-19 Planning

IFLA, alongside partners from the Culture 2030 Goal Coalition, organised a successful side-event at the UN High-Level Political Forum, focusing on culture as an accelerator of development. Victoria Okojie, representing IFLA, underlined the particular contribution that libraries can make.

20 July 2020 | Access to information, Development, culture, sustainable development goals, #Culture2030Goal

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