By Loida Garcia-Febo, MLAS Chair

The IFLA Management of Library Associations Section (MLAS) is delighted to share a first look at the highlights from its activities during the World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) 2025 in Astana. A more detailed report will be published soon, but we are excited to reflect on the energy, participation, and rich discussions that took place across our three distinctive sessions.

Business Meeting
Chaired by MLAS Secretary Loy Jyoon Chin (Malaysia) and co-chaired by MLAS member Dr. Antoine Torrens (France), the Business Meeting brought together leaders from library associations around the globe. The discussions highlighted shared priorities and strengthened international connections, laying the groundwork for collaborative initiatives to come. MLAS was delighted to welcome IFLA President Vicki McDonald, President-Elect Leslie Weir, Secretary General Sharon Memis, Deputy Secretary General Helen Mandl, and Director of External Affairs Stephen Wyber, who shared updates.

Open Session: Successful Strategies for Library Advocacy and Financial Sustainability
Our Open Session drew more than 130 attendees, underscoring the importance of advocacy and financial sustainability for library associations worldwide. Participants engaged in dynamic table discussions to share challenges and identify solutions, fostering peer-to-peer learning and actionable takeaways. The Open Session was Chaired by MLAS Secretary Loy Jyoon Chin and co-chaired by MLAS member Dr. Marwa El Sahn (Egypt).

Associations Members Meeting
In collaboration with IFLA HQ, MLAS once again hosted the Associations Members Meeting. This year’s focus was on membership retention among young professionals, a theme that resonated strongly as it speaks directly to the long-term vitality and impact of library associations.

These achievements represent truly global teamwork—MLAS members and the Chair  Loida Garcia-Febo working across time zones and regions of the world, before and during the WLIC, to make things happen. A big thanks goes to MLAS Secretary Loy Jyoon Chin for her outstanding leadership, and to each one of the MLAS members present in Astana for their dedication and contributions.

We are deeply grateful to all who attended and contributed to these sessions. Each conversation advanced our collective mission to strengthen library associations globally.

Stay connected with MLAS through IFLA’s communication channels and IFLA MLAS Facebook page to follow our ongoing work and future initiatives.

MLAS Business Meeting

MLAS Open Session

IFLA Association Members Meeting