IFLA – opportunities for international involvement & action

Ian Smith

Senior Librarian (Personnel)

La Trobe University

IFLA

• What is it?

• What does it do (or try to do)?

• How to get involved!

IFLA – what is it?

• International Federation of Library Associations & Institutions

• Founded – 1927

• 1700 institutional members (+ affiliate members)

• 155 countries

IFLA – what is it?

• Independent, international, non-governmental, not-for-profit.

• Aims: – Promote high standards of provision and delivery of

library and information services – Encourage widespread understanding of the value of

good library & information services – Represent the interests of IFLA members throughout

the world.

IFLA – what does it do?

• Global/strategic level– Lobby group – Advocacy – Global voice for libraries/librarians

Example: World Summit on the Information Society - 2003

IFLA – what does it do?

• “Grass roots” level– Sections & Special Interest Groups, e.g.:

• Action for Development Through Libraries Programme

• Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression

• New Professionals Discussion Group• Continuing Professional Development and

Workplace Learning Section.

The “new” IFLA

• Membership

• Leadership and Governance

• Focus

• Engagement

• Action

Opportunities for involvement

• Sections

• Special Interest Groups

• Conferences– Annual World Library & Information Congress– Satellite conferences & programs

• Discussion Groups

• eLists

Sections

• Forty seven sections, including:– Government Libraries – Metropolitan Libraries – Social Science Libraries – Geography and Maps Libraries – Science and Technology Libraries

– Public Libraries – Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons – Libraries for Children and Young Adults – School Libraries and Resource Centers – Mobile Libraries

Sections …

– Acquisition and Collection Development – Cataloguing – Bibliography – Document Delivery and Interlending – Reference Work

– Serials and Other Continuing Resources – Government Information and Official Publications – Rare Books and Manuscripts

Sections …

– Information Literacy

– Knowledge Management

– Women's Issues

– Continuing Professional Development & Workplace

Learning

Other programs

– @ your library® - The Campaign for the

World's Libraries

– Action for Development Through Libraries

Programme

Conferences

• World Library & Information Congress

– 2004 Buenos Aires

– 2005 Oslo

– 2006 Seoul

– 2007 Durban

– 2008 Québec

Satellite conferences/meetings

Some examples:

– Literacies for the 21st Century

– Public Libraries from Public Education to

What?

– The Physical Library and Beyond - Library as

Place and the Library in Cyberspace

– The Impact and Outcomes of Library Services

CPD&WL Section Conference

• Continuing Professional Development &

Workplace Learning Section – Satellite

Conference -

CPD - Preparing for New Roles in

Libraries: a Voyage of Discovery

Satellite conference themes

– Preparing for new/changing roles through CPD & workplace learning

– Engaging & supporting people in CPD & workplace learning

– Putting it all together – tools for CPD & workplace learning

– Context and place –CPD & WPL practice in different countries/contexts

CPD&WL Section Conference

• 40 presenters

• 17 countries

• Plenary and parallel sessions

• Workshops

• Joint sessions with Schools & Reading Section – Information Literacy/CPD&WPL

Discussion Groups

• Represent emerging issues/interests

• Provide node for discussion & further development

• Four groups:– E-Learning – Law Libraries – New Professionals – Quality Issues in Libraries

eLists

• 38 eLists, including– ACQUIS-L– CPDWL– DIGILIB– FAIFE-L– FRBR– IFLAART– IFLA-L

eLists …

– IFLAPARL– IFLAREF– LAW-L– LIBJOBS– MEDLIBS– SCHOOL-L– WOMENISS

More information …

• IFLANet:– http://www.ifla.org/

• IFLA activities:– http://www.ifla.org/act-serv.htm

• Oslo conference:– http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla71/index.htm

• Ian Smith– i.smith@latrobe.edu.au– Ph: 03 9479 1918