Newsroom

Culture Greening Communities: Key messages from COP28

IFLA contributes at Summit of the Future stakeholder meeting

Preparations for the United Nations' Summit of the Future are now well underway, with the possibilities to secure helpful decisions and references for libraries growing clearer. Find out more in our new brief, and get involved in shaping the key output document - the Pact for the Future!

IFLA joins Partner2Connect Annual Meeting, pledges work on geolocation and digital inclusion practices

IFLA was honoured to take to the stage at the Partner2Connect Annual Meeting 2023, and present two pledges connected to the initiative's overall goal to bring meaningful internet connectivity within reach of everyone. 

Partnering to rebuild libraries in Guinea-Bissau

At our regional workshop on strong and sustainable library fields in Sub-Saharan Africa, Djalo Iaguba representing the Guinea-Bissau Association of Librarians, Archivists and Documentalists, shared the story of how librarians there engaged with the UN Development Programme to put the country's libraries, in a difficult state after repeated wars, on the right path.

Call for Nominations: IFLA 2024 Honours and Awards [Deadline Extended]

Do you know someone who has made an outstanding contribution to IFLA or to the global library field? IFLA’s Honours and Awards recognise those who have given significant service and made distinguished contributions to the profession.

IFLA at the UNCTAD eWeek - The future of libraries in the digital economy

From the 4 to the 8 of December 2023, IFLA participated at the UNCTAD eWeek that was held at the CICG in Geneva. The global voice of libraries remains relevant in these conversations as libraries hold significant value in the digital economy as they ultimately contribute to the growth of a digitally skilled and economically empowered community.

WEBINAR Recording: Tips for Your First Research Paper — From Proposal to Publish

As part of "Publish and Share Your Research: Suggestions from Editors and Librarians Seminar Series", this webinar focused on the tips and tools on literature search and research publishing. Through this seminar series, researchers at the University of Hong Kong and around the world could gain insights on formulating research topic, conducting research, and publishing and promoting research.

Celebrating International Open Access Week 2023 at the University of Hong Kong Libraries

In celebration of the Open Access Week this year from 23 October 2023 to 29 October 2023, the University of Hong Kong Libraries hosted several events including seminar, online social media campaign, and an online quiz that not only targeting the local community, but also drawing attention from the global academic community.

The Argentine Library of Congress welcomes foreign interns within the context of the agreement with FLACSO Ecuador

A key role of IFLA as the international organisation for libraries is to facilitate exchange between colleagues around the world. As part of its 2021-2023 action plan, the Regional Division Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean committed to facilitate 'pasantías' or job-shadowing schemes to allow people to spend time seeing how libraries in different countries in the region work. The results are now in! 

Libraries Recognised among Essential Partners in Historic Declaration on Culture-based Climate Action

Highlights from the IFLA Governing Board meeting, 4-6 December 2023

Over three days, IFLA’s Governing Board met for its first in-person meeting since Rotterdam, in a week that marked 100 days since it took office. The time spent together was an opportunity not just to look back at what had been achieved, but also to advance key projects, opening the way to further delivery in 2024. 

Stronger Together: 100 Days of Achievement

This week the IFLA Governing Board met in The Hague, The Netherlands. The meeting coincided with our first 100 days.

Building momentum towards a culture goal - IFLA at the UCLG Culture Summit 2023

Local governments are not just a key stakeholder for many libraries, but also a key ally in making the case for a stronger recognition of the role of culture, cultural institutions and cultural actors in advancing sustainable development. We were therefore very happy to join United Cities and Local Governments' Culture Summit, focused on building recognition of this role, and to sign a memorandum of understanding allowing us to take this work further. 

The December 2023 Issue of the IFLA ENSULIB Newsletter now available online

Volume 3, Number 2 (December 2023 issue) of the IFLA ENSULIB Newsletter has been published and is available online as a downloadable PDF.

Libraries: a key infrastructure for adult learning and education

IFLA participated at the 2023 World Assembly on Adult Education, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of our sister organisation, the International Council for Adult Education. Engaging with professionals and activists from around the world, we underlined the ability and readiness of libraries to realise their potential to make a reality of learning for all.

Libraries as Pillars of Information Integrity: Event Report Released

The world is waking up to the importance of information integrity as a precondition for success in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals. Fortunately, libraries have long not just understood the need for reliable, verifiable and accurate information, but have delivered it. They can contribute much to any future policy framework here.

Updates from COP28: Get involved in library climate advocacy

IFLA is excited to invite colleagues from the library and museum fields, as well as from the Permanent Delegation of the UAE to UNESCO, to join us in a discussion at the Greening Education Hub. We will explore how cultural actors help implement lifelong greening community strategies, and integrate these perspectives into the work programme of the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership.

Building a strong and sustainable library field in Europe together – IFLA Regional Workshop for Europe and RDC Meeting

Over 50 colleagues from across Europe came together in Brussels on 21-23 November 2023 to explore tools and share views on how to ensure a strong future for our field on the continent, working hand-in-hand with other library organisations and external partners.

Two new members appointed to the Europe Regional Division Committee

In October a call for candidates for co-opted members of the Europe Regional Division Committee has been announced. We are happy to share that as a  result the EURDC welcomed two new members: Dagnija Baltiņa from Latvia, Director of the Special Collections Department at the National Library of Latvia and Kateryna Aleksieienko from Ukraine, Partnership Coordinator at the "Library Country" Charitable Foundation.

Digital Inclusion: Bridging the information gap for people with disabilities

Digital technology is becoming indispensable to everyday life and participation in society (EuroDIG Forum, 2023). Work, schooling, commerce, banking, and government services all increasingly have digital components or may even be conducted entirely online. Digital inclusion is a crucial aspect of modern society that cannot be ignored. With the rapid advancement of technology, there is a growing need to ensure that everyone has equal access to online or digital resources and information. For people with disabilities, this issue is particularly significant. Read more to find out how Libraries and information organisations can bridge the digital exclusion gap.