The Transforming Education Summit has brought diverse stakeholders including policymakers and civil society organisations together at the Headquarters of theTransforming Education Summit Logo United Nations in New York to make commitments towards reimagining and transforming education.

 From 16-19 September, delegates from around the world are exploring how to respond to the global crisis on equity, inclusion, quality, and relevance of education – helping to recover from learning loss following the pandemic and ensuring learners of all ages are able to secure better learning outcomes. 

IFLA is participating to highlight the role that libraries are already playing in many of the summit’s key thematic areas, including learning and skills for life, work, and sustainable development and digital learning. Find out more about IFLA’s participation at the Transforming Education Summit here.

IFLA’s overview on the role of libraries in transforming education can be accessed here: [download PDF].

The 2022 IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto

This Summit has provided an opportunity to announce the launch of the 2022 IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto at the UN level.

In July 2022, IFLA and UNESCO, represented through the Information For All Programme (IFAP) officially launched the newly updated Manifesto during the 86th World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) in Dublin, Ireland.

 During the Side Event, Transforming Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) by implementing the UNESCO Open Education Resource (OER) Recommendation within Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships, offered on “Solutions Day” (17 September), IFLA took the floor to announce the newly updated Manifesto. IFLA joined an excellent panel of speakers, including the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communications and Information , Dr Tawfik Jelassi.

In his intervention, Dr. Jelassi affirmed:

“The IFLA- UNESCO Public Library Manifesto is very important because it serves as a powerful tool for national governments to engage with and to support the development of public libraries. It helps libraries engage with the formal education system. Libraries are essential partners in the transforming education effort.”

Public Library Manifesto Launch
Credit: UN Photo/Manuel Elías

IFLA echoed the Assistant Director-General’s message, stressing that libraries help all members of society access, produce, create, and share knowledge – including through the promotion of open access to scientific knowledge, research and innovations.

IFLA also highlighted the newly updated IFLA School Library Manifesto during this event, which stresses the role of school libraries in active collaboration for literacies, critical thinking, creativity, and global citizenship in inclusive and equitable education.

These documents underline the role of libraries and library professionals – working both within their communities and within the formal education system – as essential partners for accessing information, implementing the UNESCO OER Recommendation, and transforming education for sustainable development.

This side event was organised by the SDG Academy- Secretariat of Mission 4.7, the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the UN, the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the UN, and UN Academic Impact. IFLA thanks the organisers for the opportunity to participate in this important discussion.

Find out more and download the 2022 Manifesto here: The IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto.

Contact: Claire McGuire – claire.mcguire@ifla.org