The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) held its IFLA Global Vision Regional Workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean on 8 and 9 June 2017 at the Library of the National Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Headquarter of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Vice President of the Argentine Republic, Lic. Gabriela Michetti, opened the event welcoming participants and highlighting the key role of libraries–especially public libraries–in providing free and democratic access to information fostering economic and social development.

IFLA President-elect Glòria Pérez-Salmerón, remarked: “Today we will start a workshop of the IFLA Global Vision Discussion, which is not a project, it is a process. Because we believe that the future is in our hands and that libraries can change how things are in society—for the better.”

IFLA Secretary General Gerald Leitner, emphasized: “For the realization of our ideas we will need the support of visionary policy makers. Today we heard a strong commitment of high political representatives to the central role of libraries for the development of societies.”

The Latin American Regional Workshop gathers senior representatives of library associations and national libraries of 27 Latin American and Caribbean countries to discuss how a united and connected library field can tackle the challenges of the future.

This is the fourth in a series of six regional workshops taking place around the world. Two more workshops will be held in Singapore (28 – 29 June 2017) and in Madrid, Spain (5 – 6 July 2017).

About the IFLA Global Vision

IFLA is facilitating a Global Vision discussion through a series of high-level meetings and workshops in different parts of the world following our kick-off event in Athens, Greece on 4 April 2017.  Face-to-face and online, future-oriented conversations will be taking place throughout the year. See the Global Vision discussion website: globalvision.ifla.org for more details, and join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram using the #iflaGlobalVision hashtag.

Together we create the future: Join us!