The Advisory Committee on Standards (CoS) welcomes you to its meetings and sessions during the World Library and Information Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan, 17-22 August 2025.

Open Sessions related to Standards

Session ID: 105. Standards Matter: Building a sustainable future for information

Tuesday, August 19, 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM

Room: Astana Hall/Hilton

Organised by the Advisory Committee on Standards

Metadata standards are essential for the organization, management, and retrieval of information in various domains. They provide a structured framework for describing data, ensuring consistency and interoperability across systems and platforms. They are more than technical specifications; they are the pillars that support the accessibility, interoperability, and preservation of information across various platforms and institutions. The session continues the dialogue started during the IFLA Standards and Metadata Symposium, Metadata Standards Matter, held in Athens, Greece, on 19 March 2025, as well as highlighting current standards work within IFLA.

Presentations and Speakers:

Session ID: 099. Reliable data, stronger libraries: UBC for the future

Tuesday, August 19, 09:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Room: Astana Hall/Hilton

Organisers: Bibliography, Cataloguing, and Subject Analysis and Access sections, with the support of the Advisory Committee on Standards

This session aims to introduce and promote the 2025 IFLA Professional Statement on Universal Bibliographic Control (UBC). It will explore UBC’s enduring importance in an era shaped by data-driven technologies, AI, and the need for trusted, structured data. By presenting the updated statement and showcasing practical implementations, historical perspectives, and regional case studies, the session will encourage global adoption and adaptation of UBC principles. Through presentations and lightning talks, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how UBC supports equitable knowledge sharing, fosters interoperability, and remains central to the future of metadata in a changing world. 

Presentations and Speakers:

  • Mathilde Koskas and Maud Henry, co-chairs of the UBC Working Group. IFLA’s 2025 Professional Statement on Universal Bibliographic Control
  • Steven Witt, University of Illinois, USA, Editor, IFLA Journal. From Universal Bibliographic Control to Open Access: Tracing IFLA’s Legacy in Global Knowledge Sharing 
  • Saeedeh Akbari Daryan, National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI). Extending UBC to Research Data: A Conceptual Model Informed by the National Library and Archives of Iran 
  • Satu Niininen, National Library of Finland. Leveraging Publisher Metadata for Universal Bibliographic Control 
  • Ajay Pratap Singh, National Library of India & Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation, Ashwin Kumar Kushwaha, Vikram Singh Sahi, and Rakhi Kumari, University of Jammu, India. From Granthagar to Global: Reimagining Universal Bibliographic Control Through India’s National Library and RRRLF Network 
  • Nadya Mentari, National Library of Indonesia. Enhancing Inclusive Bibliographic Data: A Study of Disability Terminology in the Subject Headings of the National Library of Indonesia
  • Mohammed Nasser Al-Suqri, Acting Dean, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. UBC in LIS Education in the Arab World: Rethinking Curricula for AI-Driven Metadata Ecosystems 

Session ID: 194. Meet with metadata!

Thursday, August 21, 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Room: Conference Hall 5&6/Hilton

Organisers: IFLA, in cooperation with the Advisory Committee on Standards

The library field operates like a wheel, with cataloguing and metadata forming the hub that supports and connects all services. In the way a solid hub enables a wheel to rotate smoothly, standardized cataloguing practices—using MARC, UNIMARC, ISBD, RDA, LRM and related metadata frameworks as well as appropriate subject access—ensure that every part of the library system works in harmony and provides efficient and effective service to patrons and information seekers. IFLA’s related committees – The Advisory Committee on Standards, ISBD, BCM, METATEC and UNIMARC Review Groups, the Accessibility Metadata Network and the Bibliography, Cataloguing, and Subject Analysis and Access Sections are a strong, accomplished group of dedicated information professionals who are leading experts in their fields. Come meet a panel of these specialists to discover more about what makes metadata work GLAMorous and to learn more about how you can get involved in the technical aspects of the Library and Information field.

Session ID: 162. Reimagining Library Services: Updating the Multicultural Communities Guidelines

Thursday, August 21, 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Room: Astana Hall/Hilton

Organised by the Library Services to Multicultural Populations Section

The Section is engaged in a project to update its Multicultural Communities: Guidelines for Library Services. The aim is to review and update all chapters where needed, making it more inclusive by accommodating user groups not previously covered. New practice developed since the 3rd edition was published in 2009 and updated examples will be included.

Advisory Committee on Standards and Review Groups Business Meetings

Observers are welcome at all our meetings.

Session ID: 052. Advisory Committee on Standards Business Meeting

Sunday, August 17, 03:30 PM – 05:30 PM

Room: Astana Hall/Hilton

Session ID: 120. International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD) Review Group Business Meeting

Tuesday, August 19, 03:00 PM – 04:15 PM

Room: Alatau/Congress Center

Session ID: 136. METATEC Business Meeting

Wednesday, August 20, 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Room: Alatau/Congress Center

Session ID: 149. UNIMARC Business Meeting

Wednesday, August 20, 01:30 PM – 03:00 PM

Room: Conference Hall 1/Hilton