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Coming Soon: ResiliArt x Mondiacult – Libraries enabling inclusive and meaningful access to culture

International Day of Education - Libraries Contributing to a New Social Contract for Education

Libraries as Cultural Rights Defenders: Looking ahead to Culture, Heritage, and Development in 2022

As the global voice of libraries, IFLA strives to bring a library perspective to discussions and processes relating to international cultural policy. 2022 presents important opportunities to bring library voices to the table and highlight libraries as stakeholders in the culture sector.

At the Heart of Local Development: Culture2030Goal Report on the Place of Culture in Voluntary Local Reviews

A new Culture2030Goal Campaign report explores how effectively local and regional governments are placing culture at the heart - and even the start - of their efforts to deliver on the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. 

The UNESCO General Conference: recognising libraries as partners in culture, education, and access to information

UNESCO’s 41st General Conference has ended. This biennial meeting brings together representatives of the Member States, alongside observers from non-Member States, intergovernmental organisations, and non-governmental organisations, to determine the policies and the main lines of work of UNESCO.

Bringing the Voice of Libraries to COP26

IFLA was proud to join the Climate Heritage Network in a series of events that brought the voices of cultural heritage and cultural institutions to the table – highlighting the sector’s critical role in powering climate action.

Second Edition of the Guidelines for the Selection of Digital Heritage Featured in International Conference on Digital Preservation

The theme for this year’s World Digital Preservation Day (4 November) is: ’Breaking Down Barriers’.

Libraries Inspire: Transcript of the Session with Professor Karima Bennoune

Among the different types of human rights set out in international law, cultural rights have a particular relevance for libraries. Our institutions are key actors in guaranteeing the right of everyone to participate in cultural life, from creativity, to access, to the preservation of heritage. Professor Karima Bennoune, UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights 2015-2021, focused on this topic in her keynote intervention at WLIC 2021.

IFLA Participates in COP26: Culture in the Race to Resilience

Global leaders are coming together to discuss plans to achieve global net zero greenhouse gas emissions and to limit global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Alongside this, cultural actors have been active in highlighting the role of culture in enabling the wide-spread societal transformation that achieving these ambitious goals will require.

Libraries and Cities of Literature: Involvement and Impacts

To mark World Cities Day 2021, IFLA has released a short report looking at the experience of libraries as UNESCO Cities of Literature, and the impact that this designation has.

Get Ready for COP26: Register to engage globally on virtual platforms

The United Kingdom will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, UK, from 31 October – 12 November 2021.

Looking Ahead to the UNESCO General Conference

The 41st General Conference of UNESCO (the United Nations Education, Science, and Cultural Organization) will take place from 9-24 November 2021 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

Get Ready for COP26: Involve Libraries in the Conversation

The United Kingdom will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, UK, from 31 October – 12 November 2021.

Get Ready for COP26: Revisit the "Libraries Sustain" Keynote Speech

The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from 31 October – 12 November 2021.

Libraries Sustain: Transcript of Andrew Potts' keynote speech at WLIC 2021

At the 2021 World Library and Information Congress (WLIC), Andrew Potts, coordinator of the Secretariat of the Climate Heritage Network, gave the keynote speech for the Libraries Sustain thematic track of the Congress.

IFLA Adds a Library Perspective to the 2nd Memory of the World Global Policy Forum

The UNESCO Memory of the World Programme hosted the 2nd Memory of the World Global Policy Forum from 21-22 September 2021.

Accra announced as World Book Capital 2023

IFLA strongly welcomes the announcement by UNESCO that Accra, Ghana, will hold the title of World Book Capital 2023. This represents a great opportunity to highlight the work of Ghana’s libraries in promoting books and reading throughout the population.

Available Now! The 2nd Edition of the UNESCO/PERSIST Guidelines for the Selection of Digital Heritage for Long-Term Preservation

To enable the enduring preservation of and access to documentary cultural heritage, including in digital form, in line with the UNESCO 2015 Recommendation, steps must be taken to preserve digitised and born-digital materials. The volume of digital information is almost incalculable, and continues to grow, which presents a significant challenge.

UNESCO Memory of the World International Register Calls for Nominations for 2022-2023 Cycle

Following a period of review, UNESCO has once again announced they are accepting nominations for materials of world and historical significance to be added to the MoW International Register.

Libraries and culture for a fair, green and local recovery

At a meeting of the mayors of many of the most important cities around the world, IFLA, on behalf of the Culture2030Goal campaign, underlined the importance of investing in culture and libraries, and integrating them into policy planning in order to support greener, fairer development.