Past IFLA Congresses
The World Library and Information Congress has gathered library and information professionals from around the world for over 85 years. You can explore our past congresses here.
2022 – Dublin – Inspire, Engage, Enable, Connect
2021 – virtual – Let’s work together for the future
2019 – Athens – Libraries: dialogue for change
2018 – Kuala Lumpur – Transform Libraries, Transform Societies
2017 – Wrocław – Libraries. Solidarity. Society
2016 – Columbus – Connections. Collaboration. Community.
2015 – Cape Town – Dynamic Libraries: Access, Development and Transformation
2014 – Lyon – Libraries, Citizens, Societies: Confluence for Knowledge
2013 – Singapore – Future Libraries: Infinite Possibilities
2012 – Helsinki – Libraries Now! – Inspiring, Surprising, Empowering
2010 – Gothenburg – Open access to knowledge – promoting sustainable progress
2009 – Milan – Libraries create futures: Building on cultural heritage
2007 – Durban – Libraries for the future: Progress, Development and Partnerships
2005 – Oslo – Libraries – A voyage of discovery
2004 – Buenos Aires – Libraries: Tools for Education and Development
2003 – Berlin – Access Point Library: Media – Information – Culture
2002– Glasgow – Libraries for Life: Democracy, Diversity, Delivery
2000 – Jerusalem – Information for Cooperation: Creating the Global Library of the Future
1998 – Amsterdam – On Crossroads of Information and Culture
1997 – Copenhagen – Libraries and Information for Human Development
1996 – Beijing – The Challenge of Change
1995 – Istanbul – Libraries of the Future
1994 — Havana — Libraries and Social Development
1993 — Barcelona — The Universal Library: Libraries as Centres for the Global Availability of Information
1992 — New Delhi — Library and Information Policy Perspectives
1991 — Moscow — Libraries and Culture: Their Relationship
1990 — Stockholm — Libraries: Information for Knowledge
1989 — Paris — Les Bibliothèques et l’information dans l’économie hier, aujourd’hui et demain
1988 — Sydney — Living together: People, Libraries, Information
1987 — Brighton — Libraries and Information Services in a Changing World
1986 — Tokyo — New Horizons of Librarianship towards the 21st Century
1985 — Chicago — Libraries and the Universal Availability of Information
1984 — Nairobi — “Basis of Information Services for
National Development”
1983 — Munich — Libraries in a Technical World
1982 — Montreal — Networks
1981 — Leipzig — The Role of National Centres in National Library Development and in International Library Cooperation
1980 — Manila — Development of Libraries and Information Systems
1979 — Copenhagen — Library Legislation
1978 — Strbské Pleso — Universal Availability of Publications
1977 — Brussels — Libraries for All: One World of Information, Culture and Learning
1976 — Lausanne — IFLA
1975 — Oslo — The Future of International Library Cooperation
1974 — Washington — National and International Library Planning
1973 — Grenoble — Universal Bibliographic Control
1972 — Budapest — Reading in a Changing World
1971 — Liverpool — The Organization of the Library Profession
1970 — Moscow — Lenin and Libraries
1969 — Copenhagen — Library Education and Research in Librarianship
1968 — Frankfurt am Main — Books and Libraries in an Industrial Society
1967 — Toronto — Library Service for a Nation Covering a Large Geographical Area
1966 — The Hague — Libraries and Documentation
1965 — Helsinki
1964 — Rome
1963 — Sofia
1962 — Berne
1961 — Edinburgh
1960 — Lund and Malmö
1959 — Warsaw
1958 — Madrid
1957 — Paris
1956 — Munich
1955 — Brussels
1954 — Zagreb
1953 — Vienna
1952 — Copenhagen
1951 — Rome
1950 — London
1949 — Basel
1948 — London
1947 — Oslo
1939 — The Hague and Amsterdam
1938 — Brussels
1937 — Paris
1936 — Warsaw
1935 — Madrid and Barcelona
1934 — Madrid
1933 — Chicago and Avignon
1932 — Berne
1931 — Cheltenham
1930 — Stockholm
1929 — Rome, Florence, and Venice
1928 — Rome