Call for nominations: IFLA Advisory Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) – term of office August 2019 – August 2021
5 November 2018term of office August 2019 – August 2021
175 items
IFLA celebrates open access week 2018
22 October 2018It’s Open Access Week! This year’s topic is “Designing Equitable Foundations for Open Knowledge”. It raises questions such as “How do we ensure sustainability models used for open access are not exclusionary? What are inequities that open systems can recreate or reinforce? Whose voices are prioritized? Who is excluded?”.
Build Skills, Fight Censorship: IFLA’s Response to Fake News
24 August 2018Misinformation online can both distort decision-making by individuals and harm debate across societies. Yet at the same time, the notion of a fight against ‘fake news’ is also serving as an excuse for repressive laws that curb free speech.
Open, Transparent and Free: Libraries Defend an Internet that Works for Users at LACIGF
22 August 2018Given libraries’ contribution to expanding access – and reliance on the right laws and infrastructures – they have an important place in discussions about the future of the Internet. The Latin America and Caribbean Internet Governance Forum is no exception. IFLA’s representatives at the latest edition provided the following report.
IFLA Secretary-General Welcomes Naming of Michelle Bachelet as Human Rights Commissioner
22 August 2018Defending, promoting and respecting human rights is fundamental for libraries. IFLA strongly supports the work of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to identify and criticise abuses at the highest level. The naming of Michelle Bachelet to the role of High Commissioner offers hope that the pressure for improvement will grow stronger in years to come.
IFLA launches a new Net Neutrality Toolkit
27 June 2018IFLA is launching an important tool for librarians: the Net Neutrality Toolkit. It provides a definition of terms and an several online tools to assess whether your connection has been throttled and what to do about it. Also, the links to several important partners in the battle to maintain Net Neutrality are highlighted for your convenience.
Internet for People: IFLA signs onto joint letter to G20 Presidency
17 June 2018IFLA has added its name to a letter to Mauricio Macri, President of Argentina and host of the G20 – a gathering of the governments of the world’s biggest economies. The letter sets out a number of areas where policy-makers should act to ensure the Internet works, first and foremost, for its users.
IFLA at EuroDIG 2018
14 June 2018The Pan-European dialogue on Internet governance (EuroDIG) is an open platform for informal and inclusive discussions on public policy issues related to Internet Governance (IG). It was held in Tbilisi, Georgia on the 5th and 6th of June 2018. IFLA participated to the event and organized a workshop on Freedom of Expression.
Getting to Grips with Information in a Digital Age: IFLA Joins Reflections at UNESCO Conference
13 June 2018The first UNESCO-IFAP conference on ‘Tangible and Intangible Impacts of Information and Communications in the Digital Age’ took place in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia on 3-8 June 2018. The meeting took a long-term perspective on the implications of digital transformation on the way we learn, share and communicate. IFLA offered words of welcome, underlining the contribution libraries could make to such debates.
Inclusive Smart Cities: Not Without Libraries!
6 June 2018The growing role of technology in our daily lives can only be a force for inclusion if we have the tools necessary for everyone to benefit. In an event at the UN Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (UN STI Forum), IFLA President 2015-2017 Donna Scheeder underlined the role of libraries in ensuring no-one in our cities and communities is left behind.
Global MIL Week is Coming! How Can You Get Involved?
29 May 2018Global Media and Information Week 2018 will take place from 24 to 31 October 2018, and provides an opportunity to discuss – and celebrate – the importance of skills as both a response to the challenges of a digital world, and an opportunity for people of all ages. IFLA is playing an active role in the preparation of the events, and encourages its members and the broader library community to get involved!
IFLA at RightsCon 2018: “Digital literacy for all: how can libraries help?”
16 May 2018As the world’s leading conference on human rights in the digital age, RightsCon is opening its doors, taking place in Toronto on 16-18 May 2018. The event brings together business leaders, policy makers, government representatives, and human rights defenders from around the world to tackle pressing issues at the intersection of human rights and digital technology. IFLA President 2015-2017, Donna Scheeder will represent IFLA at a workshop titled: “Digital literacy for all: how can libraries help?”
IFLA Secretary General's Statement on the Mexican copyright reform
4 May 2018Following the adoption of a copyright Bill in Mexico that is likely to harm freedom of expression and freedom of access to information, IFLA Secretary General urges decisionmakers to stop the process and follow all due consultations and assessment of impact.
IFLA Provides Input on the Challenges to the Right of Privacy in the Digital Age
10 April 2018The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights invited stakeholders to provide input on human rights challenges relating to the right to privacy in the digital age. Read IFLA's contribution to this fundamental topic.
Women and Libraries: Marking International Women's Day
9 March 2018Women are central to the well-being of any society. In turn, meaningful access to information and the defence of cultural rights is central to the empowerment of women. Meeting these needs is a major contribution of the library field.
Education before Regulation: IFLA Engages at Fake News Workshop
1 March 2018As calls grow for governments to act quickly on fake news, many seem tempted to create ‘bans’ or regulation. However, simple solutions are rarely the best response to complex problems. At a workshop on fake news with European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel in 27 February, IFLA underlined the weaknesses of regulation, and the importance of education, as a way forwards.
Sustainable, Resilient Communities: IFLA Submits Views for SDG 11 Position Paper
28 February 2018IFLA works through the NGO Major Group - a network of non-governmental organisations active at the UN - in order to make our voice heard. With SDG 11 - sustainable cities and communities - in focus this year, IFLA has submitted comments for the Major Group's position paper on this essential SDG
Offline Internet: Providing Access without a Connection
20 February 2018For around half of the world’s population, Internet connectivity is not a reality. Often, this is simply because there are no cables, or a good enough mobile signal, where they live. Cut off from information about jobs, education or healthcare, the lack of access risks compounding their marginalisation. A conference in Tempe, United States, looked at how library initiatives to provide 'offline Internet' can better help people bridge the information divide.
Stay Safe Online? Go to your Library! IFLA Celebrates Safer Internet Day 2018
6 February 2018Libraries guarantees people access to knowledge through literacy, innovation and creativity. Through the work of libraries, users young and old are empowered to discover, better their lives and stay safe online. They guarantee a strong and democratic society and they enable an open and informed citizenry.
Libraries, Media and Information Literacy Only Sustainable Response to Fake News
2 February 2018Faced with growing concerns over fake news, the European Union launched a consultation on fake news, and how to fight it in November 2017. IFLA has responded, underlining that the only sustainable response is a literate, critical population. Libraries are essential in delivering this, and should be supported to do so.