Stay up to date with our latest developments, initiatives, and new resources!
While difficult financial times almost certainly lie ahead for many countries, it is not inevitable that libraries must suffer. We talked to Glòria Pérez-Salmerón, IFLA President 2017-2019, in order to learn lessons from the 2008 financial crisis and its aftermath that can help us be effective library advocates today.
IFLA is launching a series of interviews looking to learn the lessons from the financial crisis of 2008, and its aftermath, for library advocacy today. In this post, we talk to former IFLA President Claudia Lux about her experiences and ideas, preceded by an introduction to the series by IFLA Secretary General Gerald Leitner.
The United Nations has underlined the role of libraries in extending connectivity and building skills, ahead of discussions about how digital technologies can advance social development.
IFLA has responded to a consultation by the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development, highlighting the value of a focus on access to information as a driver of success in the Sustainable Development Goals.
For many libraries, the world of politics can seem a long way away. However, if our institutions and profession are to get the support - both legal and financial - that we need, engaging with politicians is vital. We interviewed Steen Bording Andersen, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Danish Library Association and himself a politican, to find out more about how to do this?
Throughout its advocacy around the Sustainable Development Goals, IFLA underlines the importance of information - and libraries as the institutions that provide meaningful access to it - in driving progress. We interviewed Genilson Geraldo, Federal University of Santa Catarina, to find out about work in Brazil to build understanding of the interaction between information and development.
In a survey out now, OCLC is exploring how libraries are working with the SDGs. IFLA interviewed Evi Tramantza, Chair of the OCLC Global Council Program Committee, to find out more.
IFLA has published a new statement on the role of library and information services in improving the way societies are governed, both through optimal decision-making within government, and effective scrutiny and engagement by parliaments and wider populations.
Libraries have traditionally seen themselves as places open to all members of the community, creating opportunities for everyone. However, being welcoming is as much a question of what you do proactively. We interviewed the Sub-Committee on Serving Refugees, Immigrants, and Displaced Persons of the ALA, to find out about their work.
The latest update on activities related to the Sustainable Development Goals from IFLA includes information on the following: IFLA SDG Update (Dec 2020): Update on 2021 VNRs, Africa Youth SDG Forum, UN Meetings in 2021, Reviewing 5 years of VNRs, Digital Inclusion, Library Map of the World, Library Stat of the Week, Delivering on the SDGs during COVID, and a list of recent blogs.
Over the last five years, 168 different countries have presented Voluntary National Reviews on their work to deliver the SDGs. The latest IFLA analysis highlights the example they offer of recognising libraries as partners for development.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only highlighted old and created new challenges for the library field, but also opens an opportunity for change, if we can seize it. We interviewed Damilare Oyedele of Library Aid Africa to find out about his organisation's work to understand the situation and design a way forwards.
An important part of the right to health is the right to health information and knowledge. COVID-19 has only underlined this connection. We interviewed María Angélica Fuentes Martínez and Mónica Núñez of the Association of Chilean Librarians to find out more about their involvement in a project to strengthen advocacy around this.
IFLA was present at the 3rd African Youth SDGs Summit in Accra, Ghana, on 4-5 November. IFLA’s representative, Damilare Oyedele, shared the below report.
The title of UNESCO World Book Capital 2022 will fall to Guadalajara, Mexico. From 23 April 2022, the city will host a year-long programme of events celebrating books, reading and libraries.
As a new associate member of the Global Alliance for Literacy, IFLA spoke at the alliance’s annual meeting, held on 28-29 October. IFLA’s intervention underlined the importance of ensuring that libraries are integrated into literacy strategy planning and delivery.
IFLA has submitted a statement ahead of the 59th meeting of the United Nations Commission on Social Development, focus on the role of digital technologies. The statement underlines the need to give everyone the connection, collections and confidence to use the internet effectively.
The latest update on activities related to the Sustainable Development Goals from IFLA includes information on the following: Voluntary National Reviews 2021, our Data for Advocacy webinar, the Library Pledge for Digital Inclusion, an update on the Library Map of the World, our latest Library Stat of the Week posts, the Gates Foundation's Goalkeepers report, IFLA's Get Into Guides, and a list of relevant recent blogs.
IFLA, alongside the International Association of University Libraries, has signed onto the below statement, calling for publishers to recognise pressures on library funding, and reduce prices in 2021, in order to avoid a significant drop in the information available to students and researchers.
Libraries were among the winners of this year's World Summit on the Information Society Prizes, celebrating projects which show how digital technologies can contribute to development. We interviewed Heba Ismail, Director of the winning INELI-MENA programme, to find out more.