The phenomenon of ‘fake news’ has risen to prominence in many countries, regularly appearing in political debate. IFLA is concerned by the risk that this can pose to access to information, where people do not have the skills to spot it, but also by the way… Read More
The 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. Read More
Global 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! Read More
As the leading UN institution working on education, science and culture, UNESCO is a key partner for libraries. IFLA already engages with the institution across a wide variety of issues, from cultural heritage at risk to Internet universality. The announcement of four new senior appointments in key sectors – in education, culture and communications and information, as well as a new Deputy Director-General – is therefore a useful opportunity to reaffirm these relationships. Read More
The book retains its status as a symbol of the possibility to preserve and share knowledge, the foundation of our evolution and development. Libraries continue to focus on collecting and giving access to books, alongside other resources now, and have a key function in preserving historic texts for the future. This was the message at the 7th International Summit of the Book, held in Baku, Azerbaijan 18-19 March 2018, which two past IFLA Presidents helped open. Read More
Faced 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. Read More
Media and information literacy (MIL) plays a key role in giving people the ability to find, understand, evaluate and create information. Libraries have a long expertise in helping users of all ages, in all situations do this, in order to create, innovate, and improve their lives. IFLA attended this year’s Global MIL Week feature conference in Jamaica in order to underline this point in front of an international audience. Read More
For libraries, the contribution of access to information to building stronger, fairer and better societies is obvious. They are a place whith no barriers to getting hold of the knowledge needed to learn, innovate and create, or simply take the right decisions. Even as information has become… Read More