May 2022 — Vol. 2, No. 5
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THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY ISSUE

Welcome to the May IFLA Newsletter. With just two months to go until the World Library and Information Congress, we've got more exciting updates about what awaits you in Dublin, including links to the full programme, and a key reminder to apply for emerging leaders' grants. There's also news about this year's IFLACamp, and on the recipients of the ARL grants.

As for our theme this month, last weekend, the world marked International Day of Cultural Diversity – an opportunity to recall why it is so important to protect and celebrate this characteristic of our societies as a means of guaranteeing individual rights, and wider sustainable development.

Barbara Lison
IFLA President

IN CONVERSATION WITH… LAN GAO

Within IFLA, the Section on Library Services to Multicultural Populations has a key role in bringing the field together to address the question of how our institutions and professions can serve our communities in all their diversity.

This work is essential to the wider mission of libraries to provide meaningful access to information for all, leaving no-one behind, as well as building stronger and more cohesive societies.

In 2022, the Section is celebrating 40 years of success in providing guidance, insights, and a space for exchange and learning. We interviewed the Section Chair, Lan Gao, to find out more.

1. Your section is focused on helping libraries respond better to the needs of multicultural populations – what are the hottest topics for you right now?

During challenging times, such as political conflicts and the current pandemic, libraries and information institutions need to ensure that vital information and authentic resources are provided to all, especially to those who might be at a disadvantage in such situations. More importantly, in order to have meaningful dialogues with all parties during times of crisis, barriers to equal access of fair information and useful resources should be removed. As the custodian of knowledge, libraries play an important role in proactively removing those barriers.

In April, we sent out a call for newsletter articles. Our main theme of this upcoming issue is how libraries support multicultural communities during times of crisis. I think this theme touches upon our Section's focus on many levels.

The newsletter will be published soon on the IFLA repository. I hope our readers will enjoy reading the upcoming issue and join the dialogue.

Lan Gao
Chair, IFLA's Library Services to Multicultural Populations Section

Time to start planning your week in Dublin!

Explore the Congress Programme, pick sessions of your choice and define your own agenda. An abundance of innovative and thought-provoking sessions awaits you, including:

Fighting fake information at your library
Agile in the library: methods and tools for project management, collaboration and innovation
How the SDGs can change your life
Equity, diversity, inclusion: intersectional issues in libraries
Librarians as evidence intermediaries during times of crisis
Climate Action in libraries: creating a more sustainable future by engaging and inspiring youth
Digital skills on fire
European libraries in a time of war: responses to the crisis in Ukraine
Artificial intelligence: new horizons and implications for libraries

Right now at IFLA HQ, we are busy designing a safe, inspiring and interactive programme alongside our colleagues at the Irish National Committee for those who are able to travel to meet each other face-to-face in Dublin, Ireland.

See the WLIC 2022 Programme →

EMERGING LEADER GRANTS — LAST DAYS TO APPLY

Are you under 35 and consider yourself an emerging leader? Do you want to engage with the international library field, and share what you have learned with colleagues at home and across your networks?

Take a look at our call for applications for Emerging Leader Grants for WLIC 2022 – and hurry! You only have until 29 May to apply.

IFLA ARL GRANTS ANNOUNCED

The IFLA Academic & Research Libraries (ARL) Section is delighted to share the news that the WLIC Congress attendance grants generously sponsored by Sage and Ex Libris to attend WLIC Congress in Dublin in July will go to the following three successful applicants from three different regions. They are:

Roana Flores from the Philippines
Danitza Noemi Coronel Tola from Bolivia
Jerry Mathema from Zimbabwe

We'll be delighted to meet them during the Congress and encourage them to enjoy all aspects of this exciting event.

VISA REMINDER

Do you need a visa in order to attend #WLIC2022? Don't forget that we can provide invitation letters in order to facilitate this process!

IFLACAMP RETURNS!

After two years of the pandemic, you now have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with IFLA's New Professionals Special Interest Group (NPSIG) in Dublin. They have organised their famous unconference, the IFLAcamp!

The IFLAcamp is free and full of discussions, knowledge sharing and meetings with librarians from all over the world. This year it will be held on 23-24 July 2022 in Dublin, Ireland.

The first day of the IFLAcamp will be organized in the vibrant public library and cultural space in the heart of Dún Laoghaire - the DLR Lexicon Library. This space will host the "IFLA skillcamp" — a first market of ideas and useful skills in library and information work which can be presented by everyone. During the second day the NPSIG invites librarians to venture outside to visit Dublin together.

To help them to prepare and organise the event, please remember to register by Sunday, 29 May, 2022.

IFLA's President Barbara Lison represented libraries at the Heritage Istanbul Fair and Conference, the country's most prominent event on conservation, restoration, archaeology, museums and technology, alongside Ertugrul Cimen, member of IFLA's Europe Regional Division Committee.

She also participated in Qatar National Library's (QNL) Libraries Lead Conference, speaking about IFLA and the Sustainable Development Goals. Also present, alongside the President of QNL, was the chair of IFLA's Middle East and North Africa Regional Division Committee.

Furthermore, she spoke at the Association of Hungarian Librarians' conference, the International Conference on Design and Development of Public Library Services in Shiraz, Iran, the Latvian Library Festival, and the Mid-Term meeting of the Management of Library Associations Section.

POLICY AND ADVOCACY

Measuring the impact of cultural diversity on development: how libraries can get involved

Without intercultural dialogue, peace and sustainable development are not possible. The UN World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (21 May) calls for recognition of the essential role that cultural diversity plays in enabling dialogue, building mutual understanding, and supporting better outcomes for all people. This article explores tools for measuring this impact, and opportunities for libraries.

IFLA and UNESCO: Celebrating 75 years of partnership

On 20-22 May 1947, at its first council meeting following the end of the Second World War, IFLA signed an agreement to cooperate with the newly formed United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Our article explains more all that has been achieved over the last 75 years!

WIPO SCCR 42: Limitations and exceptions discussions advance

IFLA was proud to attend the 42nd meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization's Standing Committee on Copyright and Related rights (WIPO SCCR) on 9-13 May, an eventful week that saw discussions of the impact of COVID-19 on libraries and a commitment to further study cross-border challenges and develop toolkits on copyright limitations and exceptions before SCCR 43 in 2023.

Innovation in library digital inclusion initiatives: insights from the 2022 World Summit on the Information Society Forum

On 28 April, IFLA led a virtual session at the 2022 WSIS Forum, exploring innovative approaches to shared and public access for digital inclusion. Drawing on the experiences of public and community libraries, the workshop highlighted good practices and ways to maximise the impacts and reach of these services.

Looking to libraries for resilience: stories of support in Ukraine and beyond

In times of hardship, individuals turn to one another to overcome, to recover, and to rebuild. The places where communities meet, where they can access services, and come together to support one another are therefore important for building community resilience.

IFLA Information Technology Section + Strategy

With an eye to disseminating information technology programmes and initiatives in a useful and practical way, IFLA's Information Technology Section (IT Section) is actively engaging with relevant topics to support the sharing of best practices across IFLA's membership and the global library field.

These initiatives are closely aligned to the IFLA Key Initiative 2.3 "Develop standards, guidelines, and other materials that foster best professional practice".

ENSULIB announces the Top Ten Green Libraries and Green Library Projects 2022

Building on a total of 31 submissions from around the world, the shortlist for the seventh IFLA Green Library Award have been announced. Coming from four continents, the candidates include both green libraries themselves, and green library projects. Find out more about who is in the running!

Join IFLA's Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section

The Children and Young Adults Section has released a call for members for regional diversity and a casual vacancy.

Deadline: 1 June, 2022

Knowledge Rights 21

The Knowledge Rights 21 Programme, in which IFLA is a partner, is looking for institutions or organisations who can carry out research into into the scope of provisions to override contracts and circumvent technological protection measures that prevent libraries from benefitting from copyright exceptions and limitations.

Deadline: 3 June, 2022

Look out for upcoming calls for work on copyright training and advocacy, as well as calls for people and projects to support the Programme nationally across Europe – more on the KR21 website.

REGIONAL NEWS

IFLA engages at the UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

IFLA participated actively in the Regional Forum for Sustainable Development for Europe, which included a strong emphasis on promoting resilience and ensuring a strong and inclusive future. Maia Simonishvili, member of IFLA's Europe Regional Division Committee, participated, using the opportunity to place libraries on the agenda, gather insights, and build connections.

5 June, 2022

Engaging library professionals in research and practice about critical pedagogy and social justice in librarianship

Hosted by: Information Literacy Section

6 June, 2022

IFLA CPDWL & NPSIG Webinar: Library Advocacy for the Win

Hosted by: IFLA CPDWL and IFLA NPSIG

16 June, 2022

In Substance and in Spirit: Delivering the SDGs through Adult Learning in Libraries

Hosted by: IFLA

LIBRARY MAP OF THE WORLD

Respecting and integrating diversity of culture is one of the prerequisites for sustainable development. Cultural diversity as a source of innovation, creativity and exchange unites people – individuals and communities. Diversity is essential in libraries, and they strive to create welcoming spaces for all people both at the library and in the community.

Inspire from some of our SDG stories to embrace cultural diversity at your library!

The Bremen City Library (Stadtbibliothek Bremen), in Germany, anchored a diversity strategy in its mission statement. The library expanded its intercultural offerings to patrons, carried out an extensive series of training courses for intercultural openness for all employees and implemented a staff position for diversity management. Read more about training opportunities for refugees and other newcomers in Bremen.

In Toronto, Canada, immigrants make up close to 50% of city's overall population. This diversity is welcomed and celebrated, embedded in the city's unique value proposition: Diversity Our Strength. Read about Toronto Public Library's active involvement in the city's mobilisation efforts to welcome and support Syrian refugee families to integrate newcomers and provide all residents with equal access to social and vocational opportunities.

In Kazakhstan, communities which are not a part of the country's five main religious groups are at risk of facing discrimination. Among them are ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. Read how the Nazarbayev University Library engaged in the Human Library events to open the culture and environment up to differences. This has led the community seeing the uniqueness of each individual, dispelling pre-conceived notions, and starting a dialogue and interaction.

Member Discount for WLIC 2022

The World Library and Information Congress is a great networking opportunity to share and learn with Librarians around the world. Join now to receive special member discounted rates for WLIC 2022. As a member, you can register with 25% discount using your member code.

Become a Member →

NEW MEMBERS

IFLA warmly welcomes the following libraries as members of IFLA

House of Wisdom – United Arab Emirates
HSE Health Library Ireland – Ireland
Sao Paulo State University, Unesp – Brazil
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries – United States of America

We look forward to their engagement and involvement!

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS 2022

Existing members should renew their membership as soon as possible. If you remain unpaid as of the 30th June 2022, your membership plan and related benefits will be suspended. Please contact our membership department (membership@ifla.org) with any questions regarding renewal.