A Look at the Management and Marketing Section’s Mid-Term Meetings
15 August 2025
The Importance of Decentralization and Opening New Pathways

By: Roxana Huaman-Huriarte, Information Coordinator 2023–2025
For over 25 years, the IFLA Management & Marketing Section has brought together volunteers from diverse nationalities, backgrounds, and professional experiences. One of IFLA’s greatest strengths is precisely this richness—each member contributes their expertise, cultural perspectives, and innovative ideas, enriching the Section’s work in unique ways.
However, coordinating projects and achieving meaningful results across multiple time zones, languages, and cultural contexts can be challenging. Among the most critical tools for overcoming these challenges are mid-term meetings. These gatherings are not merely checkpoints—they are essential strategic moments for planning, aligning, and executing the Section’s projects and initiatives effectively.
Why Mid-Term Meetings Matter
From a management and marketing perspective, mid-term meetings offer tangible and long-lasting benefits:
- Strategic Alignment: They ensure that the Section’s vision, objectives, and action plans remain coherent and on track.
- Relationship Building: Meeting face-to-face creates trust, strengthens professional networks, and fosters the informal conversations where some of the most innovative ideas emerge.
- Decentralization and Representation: Hosting meetings in diverse locations allows underrepresented regions and professionals—who may be unable to attend IFLA’s larger events—to engage directly, expanding participation and inclusivity.
- Cultural and Professional Exchange: They open new pathways for knowledge sharing, benchmarking, and exploring innovative approaches tailored to different cultural and social contexts.
A History of Global Gathering
Over the years, our Section’s mid-term meetings have been hosted in a range of countries (*).
The historical record shows a clear geographical imbalance:
- Europe: 17 meetings
- North America: 3 meetings
- Asia: 1 meeting
- Latin America: 1 meeting
The decision to host the 2024 mid-term meeting in Lima, Peru, marked a significant milestone. It was not only a strategic step toward geographic equity but also a resounding success for the Section and for the Peruvian library community. Local librarians had the opportunity to engage with international colleagues, fostering collaboration and opening doors to global partnerships. This experience reaffirmed the value of bringing IFLA closer to all regions.
As we approach the WLIC 2025 in Astana, Kazakhstan, our community is energized. Large-scale congresses like WLIC are a testament to what hundreds of committed volunteers can achieve together: opportunities for networking, shared learning, and intercultural exchange on a global stage.
Final Reflection
Mid-term meetings are far more than logistical gatherings—they are strategic investments in the future of our profession. They are moments where vision is refined, collaborations are born, and collective energy is channeled into transformative action. By decentralizing these meetings and bringing them to underrepresented regions, we not only share knowledge—we inspire, empower, and reaffirm that libraries everywhere are vital, visible, and ready for the future.
(*) Mid-term meeting host cities by year
- 2000: Paris, France
- 2001: Vienna, Austria
- 2002: Rome, Italy
- 2003: Barcelona, Spain
- 2004: Budapest, Hungary
- 2005: London, UK
- 2006: Munich, Germany
- 2007: Geneva, Switzerland
- 2008: Montpellier, France
- 2009: Berlin, Germany
- 2010: The Hague, The Netherlands
- 2011: Athens, Greece
- 2012: Paris, France
- 2013: Moscow, Russia
- 2014: Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
- 2015: Munich, Germany
- 2016: Madrid, Spain
- 2017: Vilnius, Lithuania
- 2018: San Francisco, U.S.A
- 2019: Stockholm, Sweden
- 2020: Ottawa, Canada
- 2021: Virtual due to pandemic
- 2022: Virtual due to pandemic
- 2023: Virtual due to pandemic
- 2024: Lima, Peru
- 2025: Virtual
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