IFLA: Opportunities for International Involvement & Action

Slide1IFLA – opportunities forinternational involvement & action Ian Smith Senior Librarian (Personnel) La Trobe University

Slide2IFLA• What is it? • What does it do (or try to do)? • How to get involved!

Slide3IFLA – what is it?• International Federation of Library Associations & Institutions • Founded – 1927 • 1700 institutional members (+ affiliate members) • 155 countries

Slide4 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.

Slide5IFLA – what does it do?• Global/strategic level – Lobby group – Advocacy – Global voice for libraries/librarians Example: World Summit on the Information Society - 2003

Slide6IFLA – 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 .

Slide7The “new” IFLA• Membership • Leadership and Governance • Focus • Engagement • Action

Slide8Opportunities for involvement• Sections • Special Interest Groups • Conferences – Annual  World Library & Information Congress – Satellite conferences & programs • Discussion Groups • eLists

Slide9Sections• 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

Slide10Sections …– 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

Slide11Sections …– Information Literacy – Knowledge Management – Women's Issues – Continuing Professional Development & Workplace Learning

Slide12Other programs– @ your library® - The Campaign for the World's Libraries – Action for Development Through Libraries Programme

Slide13Conferences• World Library & Information Congress – 2004  Buenos Aires – 2005  Oslo – 2006  Seoul – 2007  Durban – 2008  Québec

Slide14Satellite conferences/meetingsSome 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

Slide15CPD&WL Section Conference• Continuing Professional Development & Workplace Learning Section – Satellite Conference - CPD - Preparing for New Roles in Libraries: a Voyage of Discovery  

Slide16Satellite 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

Slide17CPD&WL Section Conference• 40 presenters • 17 countries • Plenary and parallel sessions • Workshops • Joint sessions with Schools & Reading Section – Information Literacy/CPD&WPL

Slide18Discussion Groups• Represent emerging issues/interests • Provide node for discussion & further development • Four groups: – E-Learning – Law Libraries – New Professionals – Quality Issues in Libraries

Slide19eLists• 38 eLists, including – ACQUIS-L – CPDWL – DIGILIB – FAIFE-L – FRBR – IFLAART – IFLA-L

Slide20eLists …– IFLAPARL – IFLAREF – LAW-L – LIBJOBS – MEDLIBS – SCHOOL-L – WOMENISS

Slide21More 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