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IFLA Newsletter, July 2025: Strengthening partnerships

In this month's edition of the IFLA newsletter, we explore how strong partnerships can strengthen ties and bridge gaps. 🤝

ENSULIB proudly announces the release of its new book Libraries Driving Education for Sustainable Development

ENSULIB is thrilled to announce the release of its new book, Libraries Driving Education for Sustainable Development. This is number 186 in the IFLA Publications Series, and is published open access via a generous funding provided by the IFLA Professional Council.

Serial and Other Continuing Resources Section (SCORE) Open Session in WLIC 2025, Astana

Just Released: IFLA’s 2025 Professional Statement on Universal Bibliographic Control - A Strategic Vision for Reliable Metadata

As technology continues to transform how information is created, shared, and accessed, the vision of global access to authoritative metadata remains more important than ever. The rapid growth of digital content and the increasing complexity of the information landscape demand reliable, standardised, and interoperable metadata. This is essential to ensure trustworthy access to global knowledge. In this context, IFLA is pleased to announce the release of the new Professional Statement on Universal Bibliographic Control (UBC), a strategic, updated reaffirmation of a long-standing commitment to global bibliographic coordination.

End of term report: Open Science and Scholarship Advisory Committee and the current state of policies, infrastructure, and access

Extended deadline - Call for newsletter articles - IFLA Library Services to Multicultural Populations Section

Webinar Series for LIS students organized by IFLA SET at IFLA Division C

CPDWL at WLIC Astana at-a-glance

Making the case for the right copyright

Copyright can sometimes be portrayed (especially by those with an interest in slowing reform) as complicated and conflictual. But as new IFLA research shows, all library associations and actors around the world can get involved and help both build confidence and promote the laws and policies we need. 

Leveraging WSIS 2025 outcomes to strengthen library advocacy: time to act 📢

After two decades of involvement on the WSIS process, IFLA continues to echo libraries voices via this dialogue policy platform. This year, the forum took place at the same time and venue as the AI for Good Summit looking to promote an ethical use of AI and emerging technologies within the WSIS framework. This is a pivotal moment for the WSIS process as it will undergo an overall review by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 16-17 December 2025, where the assembly will provide strategic direction for the next phase of its implementation.

IFLA Launches Digital Cultural Heritage (DCH) Network

IFLA launches a new Digital Cultural Heritage Network to bring together diverse perspectives and address the challenges and opportunities that digital cultural heritage poses to collecting institutions.

Making the distance smaller in Meteora, Greece

The partnership between the Kalambaka Library and the Mobile Police Unit of the Trikala Police Directorate is a good example of successful collaboration between libraries and local entities to advance equitable access to information for underserved communities. The programme "Making the Distance Smaller" is an innovative initiative to serve citizens who live in remote areas.

Information Integrity a Key Topic in Climate Meetings: Updates and a Global Call to Action

Information Integrity on Climate Change is a major focus for the first time in international climate policy discussions, including the ACE Dialogues at the June Climate Conference. It is expected to play a key role on the agenda at COP30. Read on for updates, and more information about a Global Call to Action that offers a new opportunity for libraries to get involved.

IFLA selects Busan, South Korea to host the 2026 World Library and Information Congress

The Hague, Netherlands – 22 July 2024 – The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has selected Busan, South Korea to host the 2026 World Library and Information Congress.

Addressing the perceptions gap: IFLA Regional Advocacy Priorities Survey Results 2025

Globally, while there is a lot of attention to threats to intellectual freedom, library and information workers are primarily concerned about the level of financial and political support for libraries and its impacts on how they can do their jobs. Yet there is, at least in some regions, optimism about the future.

New IFLA ARL blog post: "Human Touch in the AI Era: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Libraries"

MENA librarians named recipients of QIMAM: Qatar-IFLA Award for Aspiring Minds

Qatar National Library (QNL), home of the IFLA Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Office, named Raghad Ghanem Alqahtani of Saudi Arabia and Salma Mohamed Ayoub of Egypt as the first recipients of the QIMAM: Qatar-IFLA MENA Award for Aspiring Minds, recognising their leadership potential and professional contributions.

Now available: Information Literacy Section Newsletter – Summer Issue 2025

The Information Literacy Section Newsletter is published twice a year. This Summer Issue 2025 features 12 articles, grouped into three thematic columns, with contributors from around the world, including Italy, China, Belgium, Bolivia, India, Cyprus, Trinidad & Tobago, Chile, Sri Lanka, and Croatia. These articles cover a variety of topics, focusing on diverse information literacy programs in different countries, including: information literacy education technology; media and information literacy assessment; AI literacy education and ethics; academic integrity; K-12 education and policy; data visualization and digital arts; community engagement and lifelong learning; as well as digital literacy, educational transformation, and library innovation.

Convening Notice for IFLA General Assembly, August 2025 in Astana, Kazakhstan

The IFLA General Assembly 2025 will be live from in Astana, Kazakhstan which will be streamed to Members and observers who are unable to attend in person on Wednesday, 20 August 2025 15:30 –17:30 (UTC +5). IFLA’s voting Members will receive an invitation to register for the meeting in person, virtually or to supply a proxy.

RADAR: Réseau Africain de Documentation et des Archives des Parlements

IFLAPARL participation at the French-speaking African countries Network for the Documentation and the Archives of Parliaments (RADAR: Réseau Africain de Documentation et des Archives des Parlements)