Association members, as well as those from Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East and North Africa, were the most likely to use their right to nominate candidates for roles within IFLA in 2023. Nonetheless, far too many are missing out on the possibility to offer colleagues – or themselves – the opportunity that engagement in one of IFLA’s committees offers. On Monday, the call for nominations for our 2025 elections opens – don’t miss out!

The right to nominate people to volunteer positions within IFLA represents a major benefit of membership of the Federation. It is a way to give yourself, or a colleague, association member or someone else the chance to experience international librarianship, with all the professional and personal positives this brings.

However, how far are IFLA members actually using this opportunity?

New analysis of data from 2023, released just before the opening of formal nominations for our next elections, underlines that far too many of our members and affiliates are not doing so, while a few are really making the most of their potential to put forward great candidates.

Key headlines include:

  • Just under 20% of IFLA members and affiliates are nominating candidates for roles within IFLA
  • Associations are most active in making nominations
  • Members from Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East and North Africa are most likely to use their right to nominate, while Sub-Saharan African members were least likely to
  • Most of the time, members who did nominate did so either for a Professional Unit or for a Regional Unit – only 15% of those nominating did both
  • Around 3/4 of members who did nominate for a Professional Unit only made one nomination, despite it being possible to make multiple nominations for many roles. The share was lower for Regional Units, but for these, country caps can apply.

The overall message – there is a great opportunity coming up for IFLA’s members to give a colleague a great opportunity to learn, share and broaden their horizons and networks. Don’t miss out when our call for nominations for our 2025 elections opens on Monday!