The International Federation of
Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body
representing the interests of library and information services and their users.
It is the global voice of the library and information profession.
Founded in Edinburgh, Scotland,
in 1927 at an international conference, IFLA celebrated 75th birthday at IFLA conference in Glasgow, Scotland in 2002. We now have over 1500 Members in
approximately 150 countries around the world. IFLA was registered in the
Netherlands in 1971. The Royal Library, the national library of the
Netherlands, in The Hague, generously provides the facilities for IFLA headquarters.
Aims
IFLA is an independent,
international, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization. IFLA aims are to:
- 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.
Core Values
In pursuing these aims IFLA
embraces the following core values:
- the endorsement of the principles of freedom of access to information. ideas and works of imagination and freedom of expression embodied in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- the belief that people, communities and organizations need universal and equitable access to information, ideas and works of imagination for their social, educational, cultural, democratic and economic well-being
- the conviction that delivery of high quality library and information services helps guarantee that access
- the commitment to enable all Members of the Federation to engage in, and benefit from, its activities without regard to citizenship, disability, ethnic origin, gender, geographical location, language, political philosophy, race or religion.
Membership
We have two main categories of
voting members: Association Members and Institutional Members. Associations of
library and information professionals, of library and information services and
of educational and research institutes, within the broad field of library and
information science, are all welcome as Association Members. Institutional
Membership is designed for individual library and information services, and all
kinds of organizations in the library and information sector. International
organizations within IFLA sphere of interest may join as International
Association Members.
National Association Members,
International Association Members and Institutional Members have voting rights
in elections and meetings. They are entitled to nominate candidates for the
post of IFLA President. Individual practitioners in the field of library and
information science may join as Personal Affiliates. They do not have voting
rights, but they provide invaluable contributions to the work of IFLA, by
serving on committees and contributing to professional programmes.
Corporate Partners
More than 25 corporations in the
information industry have formed a working relationship with IFLA under IFLA Corporate Partners scheme. In return for financial and 'in kind' support they
receive a range of benefits including opportunities to present their products
and services to IFLA worldwide membership.
Relations with Other Bodies
We have established good working
relations with a variety of other bodies with similar interests, providing an
opportunity for a regular exchange of information and views on issues of mutual
concern. We have Formal Associate Relations with UNESCO, observer status with
the United Nations, associate status with the International Council of
Scientific Unions (ICSU) and observer status with the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO). In 1999, we established observer status with the World
Trade Organization (WTO).
In turn, we have offered
consultative status to a number of non-governmental organizations operating in
related fields, including the International Publishers Association (IPA). We
are members, along with the International Council on Archives (ICA),
International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the International Council on
Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), of the International Committee of the Blue Shield
(ICBS). The mission of ICBS is to collect and disseminate information and to
co-ordinate action in situations when cultural property is at risk.
World Library and Information
Congress: IFLA General Conference and Assembly
IFLA conference is held in August
or early September in a different city each year. More than three thousand
delegates meet to exchange experience, debate professional issues, see the
latest products of the information industry, conduct the business of IFLA and
experience something of the culture of the host country.
Regional Meetings
A range of professional meetings,
seminars and workshops are held around the world by IFLA professional groups and
Strategic Programmes. Use the IFLA website and IFLA Journal to find out what is
going on when and where.
Governance
The governing structure of IFLA
has been revised and came into force in 2008. The revision was necessary in
order to reflect the opportunities presented by IFLA increasingly global
membership and the greater ease of worldwide communications. For the
description of the governing structure please consult the IFLA Statutes.
Assembly
The General Assembly of Members
is the supreme governing body, consisting of delegates of voting Members. It
normally meets every year during the annual conference. It elects the President
and members of the Governing Board. It also considers general and professional
resolutions which, if approved, are usually passed to the Executive Committee
and the Professional Committee for action as appropriate.
Governing Board
The Governing Board is
responsible for the managerial and professional direction of IFLA within
guidelines approved by the Assembly. The Board consists of the President, the
President-elect, 10 directly elected Members (by postal and/or electronic
ballot, every 2 years) and 6 indirectly elected members of the Professional
Committee (by the professional groups through the sections and divisions, and
the Chair of the Management of Library Associations Section); up to 3 Members
may be co-opted.
The Governing Board meets at
least twice per year, once at the time and place of the annual World Library
and Information Congress.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee has
executive responsibility delegated by the Governing Board to oversee the
direction of IFLA between meetings of this Board within the policies
established by the Board. The Committee consists of the President,
President-elect, the Treasurer, the Chair of the Professional Committee, 2
members of the Governing Board, elected every 2 years by members of the Board
from among its elected members, and IFLA's Secretary General, ex-officio.
Professional Committee
It is the duty of the
Professional Committee to ensure coordination of the work of all the IFLA units
responsible for professional activities, policies and programmes. The Committee
consists of a chair, elected by the outgoing Committee, the chair of each of
IFLA's 5 Divisions plus 2 members of the Governing Board, elected by that Board
from among its members, the President-elect, and the Chairs of the FAIFE and
CLM committees; an additional member may be co-opted.
The Professional Committee meets
at least twice per year, once at the time and place of the annual IFLA General
Conference.
Strategic Programmes
Issues common to library and information
services around the world are the concern of the IFLA Strategic Programmes.
Directed by the Professional Committee, the objectives and projects of the
Strategic Programmes relate to the Federation's Programme and the priorities of
the Divisions and Sections. ALP (Action for Development through Libraries
Programme) has very wide scope, concentrating on the broad range of concerns
specific to the developing world. The others cover current, internationally
important issues, including: Preservation and Conservation (PAC), IFLA UNIMARC
and the IFLA Committee on Standards, which coordinates standards work within
and beyond IFLA and support standards activities in IFLA professional units,
principally in sections.
Strategic Programmes are each
managed by a Director, who reports to the Professional Committee and Governing
Board. IFLA is grateful to the Biblioteca Nacional, Portugal and their
librarians for generously hosting the UNIMARC Strategic Programme.
The Action for Development
through Libraries Programme (ALP), Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom
of Expression (FAIFE), and Committee on Copyright and other Legal Matters (CLM)
Strategic Programmes, Committees, and programs are managed by the IFLA Director
of Policy and Advocacy. These committees
report the Governing Board.
Divisions and Sections
Sections are the primary focus
for the Federation's work in a particular type of library and information
service, in an aspect of library and information science or in a region. All
IFLA Members are entitled to register for Sections of their choice. Once
registered, voting Members have the right to nominate specialists for the
Standing Committee of the Sections for which they are registered. The Standing
Committee is the key group of professionals who develop and monitor the
programme of the Section. Sections are grouped into five Divisions.
Regional Activities
Three Regional Sections (Africa,
Asia and Oceania, and Latin America and the Caribbean) make up the Division of
Regional Activities (Division 5). They are concerned with all aspects of
library and information services in their regions. They promote IFLA activities
and work closely with the IFLA Regional Offices, located in Pretoria, South
Africa; Singapore and Mexico CIty, Mexico.
Special Interest Groups
Special Interest Groups may be
set up, on a temporary and informal basis, to enable groups of Members to
discuss specific professional, or social and cultural issues relating to the
profession. Discussion Groups may be established for two-years, once renewable,
and must be sponsored by a Section.
Publications
The results of the programmes
developed by IFLA's professional groups are recorded and disseminated in IFLA publications.
IFLA Journal is published four
times a year. Each issue covers news of current IFLA activities and articles,
selected to reflect the variety of the international information profession,
ranging from freedom of information, preservation, services to the visually
impaired and intellectual property.
The IFLA publications series,
published by IFLA's publisher, De Gruyter in Berlin, Germany.
The IFLA Professional Reports
series feature reports of professional meetings and guidelines to best practice.
Resources
Many librarians and information
professionals throughout the world, who contribute their time, expertise and
financial resources, make IFLA achievements possible. Approximately 60% of IFLA income is derived from membership fees.
Other sources of income include
sales of publications, contributions in cash and kind from IFLA corporate
partners, grants from foundations and government agencies.
IFLA Strategic Programmes are
supported by grants from international funding agencies and the generous
support through donations and in kind contributions by national and university
libraries and national associations.
Source: ifla.org
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