Stay up to date with our latest developments, initiatives, and new resources!
The United Nations is calling for inputs to its Global Digital Compact, a major new initiative which will shape its work on internet governance in the years to come. In order to prepare a response from the global library field, IFLA today launches a survey in order to bring together the insights, ideas and priorities. Deadline: 31 August.
From 26 to 30 June, mayors, UN agencies, local officials, NGOs and experts met at the 11th World Urban Forum, to discuss how to transform cities and so deliver sustainable development. IFLA was present in order to underline the place of libraries and information in making this happen.
The 7th International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII) provided a great opportunity to talk about the essential role of libraries in making a reality of the right of all to education and lifelong learning, and to encourage governments and other stakeholders alike to place libraries at the heart of partnerships.
The three key documents published as part of the 7th meeting of the International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA) all include affirmation of the place of libraries within adult and lifelong learning strategies. These can be helpful references for libraries and library associations in calling for stronger recognition at the national level.
An IFLA-led session at RightsCon explored tips and ideas for community-centric, bottom-up digital rights capacity-building.
To mark the 7th meeting of the International Conference on Adult Education, IFLA is releasing research looking into the place of libraries in adult learning strategies around the world.
In the first weeks of 2022, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights gathered inputs and contributions for an upcoming study on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people’s fundamental rights. An input prepared by the IFLA Section on Library Services for Children and Young Adults and HQ draws on library experiences to highlight some key challenges and measures taken to deliver on the rights of young users.
Supporting learning is at the heart of the mission of libraries, and indeed in many cases is why they were built in the first place. However, this role isn't always as celebrated as much as it should be. However, there are great examples of our institutions taking the lead, as our interview with some of the team behind the Global Learning Festival shows. We talked to Lara Pugh, Project Leader Learning City, Wollongong City Libraries and Global Learning Festival Working Group member, and Diane Tabbagh, Coordinator Learning Community, Wyndham City Council and Global Learning Festival Working Group Chair.
Within IFLA, the Section on Library Services to Multicultural Populations has a key role in bringing the field together to address the question of how our institutions and professions can serve our communities in all their diversity. In 2022, the Section is celebrating 40 years of success in providing guidance, insights, and a space for exchange and learning. We interviewed the Section Chair, Lan Gao, to find out more.
Share your insights on library policies, services, and initiatives for users with disabilities by 20 June 2022!
On 28 April, IFLA led a virtual session at the 2022 WSIS Forum, exploring innovative approaches to shared and public access for digital inclusion. Drawing on the experiences of public and community libraries, the workshop highlighted good practices and ways to maximise the impacts and reach of these services.
In its role as a member of the World Book Capital (WBC) Advisory Committee, IFLA was invited to participate in a meeting of the WBC Network, held in Tbilisi, Georgia. The meeting provided an opportunity to shape core documentation, and highlight the need for future activities to include libraries and library goals, as well as to meet with IFLA Members locally.
In September, ministers and other key cultural policy decision-makers will meet in Mexico City for MONDIACULT 2022 to discuss how they can better promote sustainable development. The Culture 2030 Goal campaign, of which IFLA is a member, has released a statement in preparation for this.
As part of the 2022 MozFest, IFLA hosted an interactive workshop examining what recent library experiences with media literacy learning can tell us about effective ways to tackle misinformation.
The new IFLA Statement on Cybersecurity examines what key cybersecurity concepts and principles mean in the context of library work - and how libraries, governments, library associations and educators can help build a safer digital environment for library users and staff.
On this International Women’s Day, we look forward to seeing the new and continued ways libraries offer support for a sustainable future – and we encourage libraries to share best practices and how you’ve implemented services.
Addressing persistent digital divides remains a key priority in internet governance policy dialogues and initiatives. Libraries bring valuable solutions, practices and lessons learned to this discussion – and the Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries (DC-PAL) continues to facilitate this learning and exchange within the Internet Governance Forum platforms.
February is an important month for online safety education around the world, marking the annual Safer Internet Day (SID). As part of this, many educational institutions, including libraries, promote safe use of the internet and new technologies, as well as media literacy and overall online wellbeing in their communities. We interviewed New Professionals Special Interest Group Convenor Magdalena Gomułka to find out about how libraries in Poland are engaging.
As part of the February edition of IFLA’s newsletter, an interview with a founding member of the Dynamic Coalition on Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment outlines what the recent developments in online safety policy and practice can mean for libraries."
IFLA’s Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section will soon publish the results of a survey into how libraries around the world are finding ways both to deliver on children’s right of access to information, while also keeping them safe.