We are happy to share a survey aimed at analysing the Building Strong Library Associations (BSLA) programme that ran at IFLA until 2018, and looking at what should feature in any future support. Whether you were involved in BSLA or not, your views are welcome!

At the heart of IFLA’s plans is our work to build strong, sustainable and connected library fields. We see these as having a key role in advancing professional practice, building partnerships, and developing capacity to deliver systemic and meaningful change for societies. Through this, we can achieve sustainable futures for all through knowledge and information.

As part of these efforts, IFLA is happy to benefit from the financial support of Stichting IFLA Global Libraries (SIGL) in order to understand better the impact of previous efforts in this area. This has allowed a contract to be signed with Quality Metrics in order to carry a project here.

Our contractors are therefore engaging with participants in the BSLA programme to explore their experiences, and the changes this has led to over time. Through this, we hope to build a stronger sense of what content and methods had the biggest and most lasting impact.

In addition, the contractors are looking to the future, working to understand in which areas associations would appreciate more help and support. In this, we will work around a new typology of the factors that enable strong associations, the result of consultation with an expert group involving our Management of Library Associations Section and others.

We therefore strongly welcome your input, which will have a major impact in how we plan future work around capacity building. The survey is available in English, French and Spanish and is open until 10 December.

Respond to the survey!

This work is made possible by the financial support of Stichting IFLA Global Libraries.