We are happy to share a new report from QualityMetrics which explores the experience of library associations with IFLA’s Building Strong Library Associations, as well as setting out a taxonomy of their needs into the future. This work is supported by the Gates Foundation via SIGL.

Library associations have a key animating role within their fields, providing a space where library and information workers can meet, exchange and act.

Associations  do vary strongly in their size, resources, and the type of individuals or institutions involved. Moreover, they also may operate alongside other systemic players in library fields, such as national libraries, agencies, ministries and even other NGOs.

Nonetheless, they also have much in common in terms of their need for effective governance, membership mobilisation, and delivery on goals. With the legitimacy of bringing together people, and their role as civil society organisations, they also have unique strengths that can help them to be effective.

As such, a key goal for IFLA as part of its Strategy 2024-2029 is to strengthen associations, as a means of strengthening wider library fields. By doing this, we boost the sustainability and impact of libraries in general, through both stronger support from government.

The report commissioned from QualityMetrics is an important step in this process, helping both to learn lessons from IFLA’s previous major effort in this area – the Building Strong Library Associations initiative – and looking to future needs.

Download the report from our Repository

Building Strong Library Associations ran primarily from 2008 to 2018, and offered a series of modules addressing different elements of how associations function. As the report indicates, this did create skills and capabilities that have had had a lasting effect, but at the same time, there was a risk that those individuals trained could move on.

The report also offers a taxonomy of library association needs into the future. These cover both core operational needs, notably around governance, membership and support for the profession, and the abilities needed to get involved in partnership.

Based on survey work, as well as consultations with an expert group, the report provides a useful starting point both for IFLA’s plans for the future, as well as for individual associations.

The authors are clear that different elements of the taxonomy will be more useful than others for each association, and that small, volunteer-run ones have specific needs too. Indeed, this fact provides a great basis for reflection within associations.

We encourage you to consult and use the report, and use it as a basis to think about your own association. Keep an eye on our website also for more.

This work was made possible by the financial support of the Gates Foundation, via Stichting IFLA Global Libraries.