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Save the Date – Global Media & Information Literacy Week 2020

IFLA at EuroDIG 2020

The 2020 European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) took place online on June 11-12. IFLA joined the conference to get more insights on what recent trends in European internet policy and governance could be relevant and interesting for the library field.

A New Model for Digital Inclusion: An Interview with Helsingborg City Libraries

The long-standing mission of libraries to promote equitable access to information often leads them to get involved in digital inclusion efforts. We talked to Catharina Isberg, IFLA Governing Board Member and Library Director, Helsingborg City Libraries and Eva Hveem, Librarian, to find out about their experience of working with a European Union programme on the subject.

Now available: Community Networks – A Briefing for Libraries

Ensuring equitable access to information and knowledge lies at the heart of the library mission. As part of this goal, many libraries offer public internet access and workstations. And yet, there are still areas where many people do not have an opportunity to get online. Community networks - local community-led initiatives to build and maintain a telecommunications infrastructure – are emerging as an alternative model to help connect the unconnected. How do such Community Network projects relate to libraries’ mission, what can libraries do to support these initiatives?

Libraries Help Deliver on Human Rights in Australia, Georgia and Myanmar

In cooperation with our partners in Australia, Georgia and Myanmar, IFLA prepared stakeholder inputs for the Universal Periodic Review in these countries. The three submissions explore libraries’ contribution to promoting and protecting human rights – from the rights to information, education and culture, to the rights and empowerment of vulnerable populations, and beyond.

International Women’s Day 2020: How Libraries Help Deliver on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women

2020 marks 25 years since UN Member States and international society committed to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action - an ambitious roadmap towards gender equality. A new IFLA study looks at how far governments have, in their implementation efforts, sought to draw on libraries and address questions where information plays a role.

A Question of Judgement: New IFLA-ICA Statement on Archiving and Privacy

Recent privacy laws have reinforced the idea of a right to delete personal data held by others. This is broadly welcome but should not lead to situations where libraries and archives are obliged to destroy works in their collections. The new IFLA-ICA statement sets out principles and alternatives.

IFLA Input to a UN Human Rights Council Report on the Cultural Dimension of the Right to Education

IFLA has prepared a response to the call for submissions by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, highlighting the role libraries play in realising people’s right to culture in educational contexts.

Getting ready for the 2020 International Women’s Day: an Advocacy Kit for Libraries

International Women’s Day - 8 March - is drawing near, and this year’s celebrations will hold special significance in light of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. For libraries, this is an opportunity to join in the global discussion, celebrate the achievements, reflect on lessons learned and chart future action towards gender equality.

Libraries for a Better Internet: Safer Internet Day 2020

Libraries work to protect the online safety and wellbeing of their patrons and communities by promoting digital literacy and offering inclusive ICT skills training and assistance. On Safer Internet Day 2020, libraries in many countries are joining the campaign to raise awareness and help children and young people develop the skills for safe and responsible Internet use.

Now available: Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action - Briefing for Libraries

The 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action set out an ambitious UN agenda to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality. 2020 marks their 25th anniversary, and a large-scale review has been launched to assess the progress made towards implementing the Declaration and the Platform. This review process offers libraries an opportunity to reflect on how their work can help advance gender equality and take further action. This briefing examines the role that access to information, knowledge and lifelong learning play in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; as well as library activities and initiatives noted in national reports prepared as part of the Beijing+25 review.

A Unique Potential, A Real Responsibility: Libraries Mark Human Rights Day 2019

Today is Human Rights Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. To help libraries and others reflect on the state of fundamental rights where they are, IFLA has released its Intellectual Freedom Checklist.

IFLA at IGF 2019

Between 25 and 29 November 2019, IFLA participated in the 14th annual Internet Governance Forum meeting in Berlin. The key messages IFLA emphasised were the importance of policy support for public access in libraries, the role of libraries in enabling meaningful connectivity, and in generating meaningful internet content through digitisation efforts.

A Look Ahead to the 2019 Annual Internet Governance Forum Meeting

Between 25 and 29 November, 2019, IFLA will be taking part in the 14th annual Internet Governance Forum meeting in Berlin. IFLA has participated in IGF events since 2008; and we continue our involvement in policy discussions relevant for the library field: public internet access facilities, digital and information literacy, intellectual freedom in the digital sphere, and many others.

IFLA Input to 2019 WSIS Review

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process is a UN-based initiative to bridge the digital divide, foster an inclusive information society and promote the use of ICT for development. Libraries have an important role to play in achieving these goals, and IFLA has been actively involved with the WSIS process since its first phase in Geneva in 2003. This includes contributing to annual reports to take stock of the progress made towards the WSIS Action Lines and Targets – and the 2019 IFLA submission is now available!

Libraries Defending and Delivering on Fundamental Rights in Croatia and the United States

IFLA has worked with FAIFE committee members from Croatia and the United States to prepare submissions for the Universal Periodic Reviews organised by the UN Human Rights Council.

The Human and the Algorithm: Response to Council of Europe’s Draft Recommendation on Human Right Impacts of Algorithmic Systems

In July 2019, the Council of Europe invited public feedback on its draft recommendation on the human rights impacts of algorithmic systems. IFLA, through its Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Information, has responded, highlighting the issues and priorities of libraries.

Now available: Educational Technologies and Student Data - Briefing for Libraries

The use of technology in education is growing, and a new class of technologies has emerged that relies on tracking and analysing vast amounts of student behavioural data. The position of libraries in educational ecosystems means that they may well, both directly and indirectly, come across this trend. This briefing outlines the key ethical and security concerns for libraries to consider, and suggests some ways for libraries to promote responsible and ethical use of Edtech.

Now available: summary of Mozilla's 2019 Internet Health Report

The Mozilla Internet Health Report is an annual publication which brings together information and reflections about key issues facing the internet today. The report therefore offers a great basis for thinking within the library field about issues around the way we access, share and create information.

Now available: summary of UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel Report on Digital Cooperation

The UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation report "The Age of Digital Interdependence" outlines key issues and offers recommendations for building an inclusive digital future. Several messages and recommendations the report puts forward are directly relevant for libraries.