IFLA’s global reach and geographical diversity will be on show at this year’s World Library and Information Congress, in particular through the sessions organised by our Regional Council and Regional Division Committees. Each Committee has worked hard to prepare exciting open sessions, complemented by open business meetings, and our new Hubs Results Session, sharing views from our WLIC 2023 Regional Hubs. 

Our regional units are an important part of IFLA’s overall structure, with membership in regional divisions a key benefit of belonging to IFLA as a whole Take a look at the sessions set out below in order to get to know what is happening in the world of libraries across all the regions of the world and how you can get involved!

IFLA’s Regional Council

Making IFLA more regionally relevant: Regional Council Session

Tuesday, 22 August, 13:30 – 14:30

With the first mandate of IFLA’s Regional Council coming to an end, it’s time to look back at the work that it – and IFLA’s six Regional Division Committees – have done over the past few years. What impacts have they had? What issues have they identified? What actions have they taken? You can find more information here.

IFLA’s Regional Council 2021-2023 also plans to have their last in-person business meeting on Saturday 19 August, before passing the torch to the next committee (2023-2025), which will have their first in-person business meeting on Friday 25 August. These meetings are open for observers, and so you are welcome to attend.

Visit IFLA’s Regional Council webpage for more!

IFLA Regional Hubs Results Session

Thursday, 24 August, 13:15 – 14:15

An innovation at our 2023 Congress is the set of regional hubs, hosted in institutions in five world regions, with the mission of developing the regional dimension of our discussions. They are each organising a programme which will be available to all in-person and virtual WLIC registrants, going into more depth on key themes for their regions which are already tackled at the Congress.

More details about each programme will be available shortly, and you can already mark the results session in your diary!

IFLA’s Regional Division Committees

Asia and Oceania

Asia-Oceania responses to environmental challenges to the sustainability of library services

Thursday, 24 August, 11:45 – 13:15

This session has been organised by the IFLA Regional Division Committee for Asia-Oceania, in collaboration with ENSULIB and the E4GDH SIG. It will examine the practices of library services in responding to environmental challenges and improving resilience and sustainability in this region vulnerable to natural disasters. The 5 presentations from panelists from the wider Asia-Oceania region will be followed by moderated discussion of the individual cases/topics, with members of the audience working in interactive groups moderated by the panelists and discussion leaders from Asia-Oceania. More information here.

IFLA’s Asia-Oceania Regional Division also plans to have an in-person business meeting on 20 August which you can join as an observer.

Visit IFLA’s Asia-Oceania Regional Division Committee webpage for more!

Europe

European libraries: Platforms for Democracy

Monday, 21 August, 14:30 – 16:00

Libraries are at the heart of societies, and as such are challenged by several societal issues that can be seen across Europe, including, but not limited to attacks on intellectual freedom, immigration, and the rise of populism in general and its effects on discourse. The session will look at these challenges, at the possible risks and dangers that they represent for libraries, and seek to reaffirm that libraries are key actors of a democratic and sustainable future in the European Continent. More info here.

IFLA’s  Europe Regional Division is also organising a satellite meeting titled Advocating for Public Libraries in Europe on 19 August at the Rotterdam Public Library ahead of IFLA WLIC 2023 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

IFLA’s  Europe Regional Division also plans to have an in-person business meeting on 20 August which you can join as an observer.

Visit IFLA’s Europe Division Committee webpage for more!

Latin America and the Caribbean

The Caribbean and Latin American Libraries work on SDGs. Building a sustainable future.

Tuesday, 22 August, 15:00 – 16:15

The panel will seek to make visible the exchange of work experiences related to the 2023 agenda in a diverse and multilingual region, such as the Caribbean. Three professionals from the Caribbean islands will be invited as references to think about building a sustainable future and present their activities developed from the SDGs. A space for conversation with the audience will be opened afterwards and it is expected that the result of the exchange will provide tools to think about the points of contact between the Caribbean region and continental Latin America as an integral region that allow a deeper bond despite the existing language and cultural barriers. More info here.

IFLA’s LAC Regional Division also plans to have an in-person business meeting on 20 August which you can join as an observer.

Visit IFLA’s Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Division Committee webpage for more!

Middle East and North Africa

Activities of cultural heritage preservation and Open Access publishing at selected MENA countries

Wednesday, 23 August, 08:30 – 09:45

This session will cover two interrelated subjects namely cultural heritage preservation and Open Science in the Arab countries. It aims at shedding closer light on the MENA countries activities and projects concerned with cultural preservation and open access to knowledge. In addition, it will investigate the main running projects undertaken by Arab university, national and public libraries. Moreover, the session will highlight the link between the activities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). More info here.

IFLA’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Division also plans to have an in-person business meeting on 20 August which you can join as an observer.

Visit IFLA’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Division Committee webpage for more!

North America

Digital inclusion and libraries in North America: Lessons learned

Tuesday, 22 August, 16:30 – 18:00

Digital Inclusion is defined as “the ability of individuals and groups to access and use information and communication technologies.” It is one of the keys to achieving a sustainable future through the SDGs, particularly SDG 10 Reduce Inequalities. Libraries across the globe have taken programs and initiatives to reduce the digital divide, offer equitable and accessible library services to diverse populations, and promote digital inclusion locally, nationally, and internationally. As we recover from the global pandemic, libraries in North America are leading exciting projects in the areas of digital inclusion that may have applications globally (such as Library Impact Ontario by Toronto Public Library) and can serve as local inspiration. More info here.

IFLA’s North America Regional Division also plans to have an in-person business meeting on 20 August which you can join as an observer.

Visit IFLA’s North America Regional Division Committee webpage for more!

Sub-Saharan Africa

Lets library; Lets bridge inequality in Africa

Monday, 21 August, 12:30 – 13:45

Africa has made efforts towards attainment of the SDG’s, however, the inevitable multiple crises in the region continue to hamper progress. Libraries continue serving as conduits in bridging the existing multiple political, economic, socio and technological ( PEST ) inequalities. This session is aligned to the WLIC Congress Lets Library; Lets work together by bringing together experts who will share insights on how libraries work together with different stakeholders to bridge the multiple inequalities that hamper Africa’s success stories. The nature of the challenges in the continent, will bring in aspects of education; poverty; access to information and partnerships as they collectively build towards the broader goal of bridging inequality. More info here.

IFLA’s Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Division is also organising a satellite meeting titled Librarying SDGs: sharing experiences for progress on 19-20 August at the Rotterdam Public Library ahead of IFLA WLIC 2023 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

IFLA’s Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Division also plans to have an in-person business meeting on 20 August which you can join as an observer.

Visit IFLA’s Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Division Committee webpage for more!