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President-elect 2009-2011

to serve as President 2011-2013

Theme 2011-2013

Libraries play many roles that benefit individuals, communities and society in general. To realize their full potential, libraries must provide inclusive and transformative services, innovate and forge new collaborative alliances.

Inclusion

Libraries serve all without judgement, prejudice or bias. By democratizing access to information, libraries empower individuals to learn freely, improve their lives and create knowledge.

Transformation

Libraries transform lives and in doing so transform society. Libraries are community repositories, gathering places, digital depositories, interactive learning centres, research catalysts, and much more.

Innovation

By harnessing the power and potential of today's rapidly changing technologies, libraries play an essential role for people who wish to access information in any form. To remain relevant new means of enhancing the user experience and services must be implemented continuously.

Convergence

Increasingly collaboration is both expected and required among institutions supporting learning and culture. As institutional goals align, new opportunities for enhanced collaborative services emerge.

Commentary

The 2011/2013 Presidential Theme provides continuity by building on the past two Presidential themes; Libraries on the Agenda and Libraries Driving Access to Knowledge. It also intends to inspire new external and internal IFLA initiatives in accord with the four directions identified in the Governing Board Strategic Plan for 2010-2015.

• Empowering libraries to enable their user communities to have equitable access to information
• Building the strategic capacity of IFLA and that of its members
• Transforming the profile and standing of the profession
• Representing the interests of IFLA's members and their users throughout the world.

The Presidential Theme and Strategic Plan provide the necessary scope to permit IFLA Sections and Core Activities to plan their activities moving forward both in implementing internal organizational and communication enhancements and in shaping external program delivery, services and engagement.

The President - Elect is planning a 2012 Presidential meeting on issues relating to traditional knowledge which will touch on all four of the Presidential Theme sections. A further 2013 Presidential meeting is tentatively planned to address issues relating to the growing importance of digital content - replacing print on paper content.

In the words of an attendee at the President- Elect Brainstorming session in Gothenburg; "We are all prisoners of our preconceptions". It is intended that the 2011/2013 Presidential Theme prompt consideration of our attitudes and assumptions and lead to dialogue on how we can better serve our users as institutions and professionals and how IFLA can better serve its members.

Are our services truly inclusive from the perspective of the tech savvy university student, the print disabled user or children living in poverty? Has library education kept pace with the rapidly changing technology environment in training new professionals? Is IFLA ensuring that its service delivery to members reflects the new economic and technological realities.
These are among the challenges facing our profession and our Association globally. We are continuously reminded of how our world is changing rapidly in unforeseen ways as new technologies reshape our perceptions and even our political landscape.

Access to information through libraries enables individuals to engage and advocate for positive change. As IFLA President Elect I pledge to work with all of you to ensure our Association remains strong and supports libraries in fulfilling this essential role.

Ingrid Parent
IFLA President-elect

President-elect

Last update: 31 August 2011