April 2022 — Vol. 2, No. 4
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Dear all,
The past weeks have not been easy ones for our Federation.
As a result, many of you have expressed a sense of uncertainty or desire for more information. I acknowledge this, and agree that those who have put so much of themselves into IFLA only deserve to receive accurate and timely information about their - your - our - Federation. I am working with my colleagues in the Governing Board to provide this effectively, without making the process of healing in the future more difficult.
I am grateful to GB Member Halo Locher for his readiness to temporarily act as Interim CEO and execute the management tasks for our Federation. |
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Barbara Lison
IFLA President |
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IN CONVERSATION |
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In conversation with: Atlanta Meyer, Chair, Literacy and Reading Section In line with the focus on World Book Day, we talked to Atlanta Meyer, Chair of IFLA's Literacy and Reading Section, about her perspectives on the importance of books and reading today: |
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From your experience and that of your Section, how has the importance of books and reading been affected by the last two years? The Literacy and Reading Section is currently focusing on Reading for Well-being. This subject has been our main focus over the last two years and we are currently planning initiatives and programs around Bibliotherapy, Shared Reading, Mindful Reading and Storytelling. Reading is a way for communities to connect and heal, especially during the ongoing pandemic in different ways. The last two years allowed our unit to turn the focus on reading and the mental health benefits around reading. Reading allows us to escape for a few minutes (or hours) from the difficult world we live in these days, it's like a retreat we can escape to and slow down. And from my experience at our library, when we contacted our vulnerable customers during the lockdown they only asked for books, when we re-opened our libraries our customers were most excited about the books. As a librarian, I was surprised that the library's books were the most wanted item, not the printer or the free internet, but the books. It was a great feeling and still is, and I believe the importance of books and reading has been affected in a positive way by our library users and communities and their stories. |
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IN THE FIELD |
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Preparations are advancing rapidly for our World Library and Information Congress in Dublin, Ireland, on 26-29 July.
As part of this, IFLA Deputy Secretary General Helen Mandl travelled to Dublin to meet the Irish National Committee, and visit key WLIC venues.
Read on to find out more about how to register for the Congress and more! |
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Donna Scheeder, 1947-2022
It is with deep sadness that IFLA informs its members and colleagues around the world of the passing of former President and IFLA Honorary Fellow, Donna Scheeder. Her presidential theme, Libraries: A Call for Action, encompassed her life and being. |
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IFLA responds to the situation in Ukraine
IFLA stands in solidarity with our colleagues in Ukraine and joins the international community in an urgent call for a ceasefire. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the victims and our colleagues, the library and information workers in Ukraine, who with their communities are suffering from a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe. |
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WLIC 2022 |
WLIC 2022 Dublin is almost upon us!
With registration opening in March, we already have more than 1000 registrants for WLIC 2022 Dublin. This year's WLIC is rich with diverse sessions on a wide range of topics, from copyright to awards, to trends in the profession and standards, with workshops on a myriad of skill-building topics. |
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Get to know Dublin
Dublin is a lively capital city that's as intimate as a village and as friendly as your local Irish pub. With its seamless blend of classic visitor sights, excellent social scene and the natural playgrounds of Dublin Bay and the Dublin Mountains framing it on all sides, this laidback city is an adventure in itself. Find out more about what awaits WLIC participants this July! |
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Share your experience: calls for papers
At the heart of our Congress are the sessions organised by our Sections and other volunteer groups, each providing a space to exchange and explore new ideas. Many of these build on papers and presentations submitted by colleagues from around the world. Presenting a paper can also be a highlight of your conference, and provide valuable professional experience. So if you have insights and ideas to share, take a look at the calls that are open! |
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Check the Satellite Meetings
Satellite meetings make the most of the global library field coming together to hold more in-depth conversations about key professional and policy questions. A total of twelve satellite meetings are taking place, looking at art librarianship, misinformation, eBooks, training and more, as well as the 8th IFLACamp organised by our New Professionals Special Interest Group! Many of these are welcoming papers, so take a look to find out more! |
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Plan your WLIC Library Visits
The World Library and Information Congress is a great opportunity to find out about all of the great work being done by libraries in host countries. 2022 is therefore your year to get to know Irish libraries, and all of the exciting and innovative work they are doing.
There is a choice of eight tours, both in the Dublin area and across the country and beyond. Take a look at what's on offer!If you want to share your work and are able to travel to Dublin this July, come join us at the IFLA Poster Sessions during #WLIC2022! An opportunity to network and get inspired. |
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Aer Lingus the official airline of WLIC 2022
Still to book your travel to WLIC? If you need to come by plane, Aer Lingus is offering reduced fares for registered Congress delegates.
Find out more on the WLIC website! |
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Invitation letters and visa requirements
We know that for many participants in the Congress, a letter of invitation can make a big difference. Find out how to ask for one on the Congress website, as well as checking on what visa requirements you may need to fulfil. Don't forget to make sure you have everything organised as early as possible to avoid any last-minute stress! |
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POLICY AND ADVOCACY |
IFLA Statement on Online Storytimes Storytimes are a central pillar of many libraries' work to promote literacy, reading development, and engagement with young children and families in the communities they serve. During and since COVID-19-related closures, storytimes – along with other library services – have been increasingly offered online. |
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Library voices joining the global conversation on cultural rights IFLA's recent ResiliArt x Mondiacult event added a library perspective to a worldwide discussion on culture's role in tackling global challenges. The outcomes of this event will help inform the agenda of the upcoming UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development, Mondiacult 2022. |
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Libraries Upholding Cultural Rights: IFLA Welcomes Special Rapporteur for Cultural Rights Alexandra Xanthaki IFLA welcomed the UN Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights Alexandra Xanthaki as she addressed the Human Rights Council for the first time during their 49th Session. An IFLA representative sat down with the Special Rapporteur following her address to discuss priorities for the coming years and highlight the ways in which libraries work to uphold cultural rights for their communities. |
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Interrogating Media Literacy as a Response to Misinformation: Notes from MozFest 2022 Every year, the Mozilla Festival – informally called MozFest – brings together digital activists working towards a healthier and fairer internet. As part of the 2022 MozFest, IFLA hosted an interactive workshop examining what recent library experiences with media literacy learning can tell us about effective ways to tackle misinformation. |
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REGIONAL FOCUS |
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Libraries engage at the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development The IFLA Asia Oceania Regional Division Committee (IFLA AO RDC) participated at the 9th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, which was organised by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) and took place in a hybrid mode – in Bangkok and online – on 28-31 March. The IFLA AO RDC sent Dr Premilla Gamage and Dr B. Shadrach as representatives to the physical meeting, and also organised the webinar "Informed societies at the foundation of a better post-COVID world" as one of the Forum's side events. |
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Libraries engage at the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development IFLA Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Division Committee (IFLA LAC RDC) sent one of its members as a representative to the 5th Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and Caribbean on Sustainable Development, held on 7-9 March online and in San José, Costa Rica. |
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IFLA Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Division Committee: a vital player in the region for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals On the 25th February 2022, the IFLA Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Division Committee (IFLA SSA RDC) organised a Panel Discussion as a side event in the context of the UN Africa Regional Forum for Sustainable Development, held in Kigali, Rwanda. The discussion focused on the theme: Building forward better: African library partnerships for inclusive information and education towards Agendas 2030 and 2063. |
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DEEP DIVE |
Wellness for Librarians Since March 2020 librarians, along with the entire world, have been experiencing acute levels of stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic. Recently, stressors related to civil conflict have exacerbated panic levels. How can we help our exhausted library workers serving exhausted library patrons? Which resources can help library workers with burnout and anxiety? There are no magical solutions, but by working together over time we can build networks to support each other.
IFLA's Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section held a webinar addressing these key questions on 4 April. Did you miss it, or just want to watch again? Take a look at the recording! |
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PROFESSIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT |
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Green Library Definition produced by IFLA ENSULIB
The IFLA Environment, Sustainability and Libraries (ENSULIB) Section has recently published an updated definition of a "green library". The concept of "green library" has been discussed since the 1990s. Since then, libraries have been undertaking various activities in order to minimize the negative human impact on the natural environment, and a green library is associated with the concept of a sustainable library working toward this aim. This definition from ENSULIB, considers environmental, economic and social sustainability. Read more about the definition, new for 2022 and find out more about ENSULIB's activities below. |
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IFLA MEMBERSHIP |
Among the benefits of IFLA membership, two key ones are reduced rates for participation at our World Library and Information Congress, and the right to vote at our General Assembly. Being a member also gives you a vote in our upcoming elections in 2022, as well as looking ahead to those in 2023 when the full range of positions will be open again, in particular in our Sections and other volunteer committees.
Existing members will have received a reminder letter last week with details, and you can find out more on the membership pages of our website. |
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NEW MEMBERSIFLA warmly welcomes the following libraries as members of IFLA:
- The Library of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Guangzhou, China
- UIN Sunan Kalijaga Library, Indonesia
- Csbno, Italy
- Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
We look forward to their engagement and involvement!
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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| MetLib 2022
Sponsored by IFLA Metropolitan Libraries Section |
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LIBRARY MAP OF THE WORLD |
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Did you know that you can find information about copyright laws from around the world on the Library Map of the World? Check out country profiles to learn about exceptions for libraries in country profiles from Armenia, Australia, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Suriname, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Explore also our SDG stories to learn how different reading promotion and literacy programmes from around the world help governments ensure quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Our latest addition features Malaysia's 'Reading Seeds', one of the reading promotion programmes included in the National Reading Decade 2021-2030, the government's initiative to promote reading habits, increase the rate of early childhood reading and make Malaysia a reading nation within the next 10 years. |
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SOCIAL SPOTLIGHTWant to get featured here? Don't forget to use the #WeAreIFLA hashtag! |
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