What?

Relindial is an acronym for “Religions: Libraries and Dialogue,” a Special Interest Group dedicated to libraries serving as places of dialogue between cultures through a better knowledge of religions.

Since when?

The idea of Relindial was born following the meeting, at the IFLA Congress (2009), between Silvano Danieli and Odile Dupont. The group was officially created in April 2012 and held its first meeting in Helsinki, in August 2012. Since then, Relindial has always been present at IFLA Congresses, organising sessions and satellite meetings.

Who?

As a SIG, Relindial has no members, unlike the sections. It does, however, have many supporters who regularly participate in the group’s activities.

Libraries likely to follow Relindial are not only Libraries specialising in religion (theology libraries, religious science libraries) but also libraries with specialised collections on religious issues, (history, theology, anthropology, etc) or faced with questions involving religious aspects. Associations of Libraries are also very welcome to join us.

Relindial is directed by its Convenor, Donatus Duesterhaus. He is assisted by Odile Dupont, former Convenor, and Fabien Vandermarcq, Communications Officer.

Where?

Relindial has supporters on every continent.

Which activities?

Relindial has developed the Relindial Cartonera Project, a collaborative effort whose objective is to help people of different origins to work together and to better know each other.

Through its publications, Relindial helps colleagues to develop their skills through feedback shared by librarians from around the world.

Thanks to the IDEO’s Library work in Cairo, tools were developed to serve the classical Arabic-Muslim culture through the development of FRBR cataloguing.

Our work continues and many activities will be developed in the future: Semantic Web; Conservation of older documents useful for religious searches; Knowledge of religions; Religious patrimony; Digitized resources, etc.

Why support Relindial?

Libraries are places of dialogue, openness, tolerance and they offer food for thought. Religious libraries or libraries with religious interests often host documents to preserve and protect them.

Within IFLA, libraries that house religious collections – whatever the religion represented – have a common place where they can:

  • share their experiences,
  • increase global awareness of the messages of peace of their collections,
  • provide better access to the tools designed to help people learn about the religious roots of culture.

It is very simple to get involved. Just send us an email and you will be informed of Relindial’s activities.

This unit is sponsored by the Social Science Libraries Section.
This unit is part of the Professional Division F.