December 2023 — Vol. 3, No. 12
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THE VALUES, ETHICS AND RIGHTS ISSUE |
Welcome to our December newsletter, this month focused on the topics of values, ethics and rights.
The choice of theme comes from the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed on 10 December 1948. This, of course, includes Article 19, reflected in IFLA's own values, which underlines the importance of freedom of expression, including the right to seek, receive and impart information.
This remains at the heart of what libraries are and do: the idea that ensuring access to information, and the freedom to engage with it and use it is a vital precondition for achieving wider development. |
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IN THE FIELD |
IFLA's Governing Board met in person on 4-6 December in The Hague, The Netherlands, followed by in-person meetings of the Regional Council and a workshop with our Regional Offices and Language Centres. You can find out more in the highlights from the meeting, as well as check out the results of our pulse surveys which provided the basis for a workshop about our future Strategy.
In addition to chairing the Governing Board, IFLA President Vicki McDonald also participated in ANKOS Link in Türkiye through a message and gave a keynote at the International Summit of the Book in Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
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Stronger Together: 100 Days of Achievement |
Earlier in December, the IFLA Governing Board met in The Hague, The Netherlands. This meeting coincided with our first 100 days in office.
It is therefore timely to provide you with an update on how the Governing Board, together with the IFLA team, has progressed on the commitments that I made in the WLIC closing ceremony in Rotterdam. |
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Vicki McDonald IFLA President 2023-2025 |
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Benefit from our year-end membership offer! |
Did you know? There is still time to make use of our year-end membership offer, which will end on 31 December 2023.
By becoming an IFLA member or affiliate now, you will pay at the 2023 rate, and your fee will cover your membership for the rest of the year and all of 2024. |
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PROFESSIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT |
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Library ethics and access |
Libraries strive to reflect their communities comprehensively, allowing individuals, regardless of background, to access a diverse range of materials, including those representing LGBTQ+ experiences. Read more about helpful access resources to support library users available from the IFLA LGBTQ+ Users SIG. |
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Law libraries provide access and awareness |
Law Libraries are tasked with ensuring that people around the world can exercise their right to information, and more particularly ensure access to justice in an inclusive manner. These values guide the work of the IFLA Law Libraries Section. Read about this section's goals for 2024 and their supporting research. |
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Equal rights are better for knowledge management |
There are three crucial elements for effective knowledge management within an organization: People, Process, and Technology. However, to extend our reach to the market, clients, and desired results, we must consider more diversity with equal rights. Read how a member of the IFLA Knowledge Management Section has implemented these principles into hiring practices. |
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A thank you message to our volunteers, our cornerstone |
On International Volunteer Day, IFLA Governing Board and staff wanted to take a moment to express gratitude to all our volunteers for all the hard work they do: from working on and delivering various professional projects, to organizing engaging WLIC programmes, and more. |
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Out Now: December 2023 issue of IFLA Journal |
The latest edition of IFLA Journal features six original research articles on topics such as eBook use in Vietnam, health literacy in Bangladesh, the role of academic libraries in facilitating friendships among students, and the role of public libraries in national language assimilation policies. Also featured is an essay on global artificial intelligence policies and their implications for libraries. |
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Library values – RISS values |
Librarianship and other information work is value rich, underlying the activities across different library types and parts of the world, supported by different shaped communities and varying professional approaches that are ethical at their core.
Read more about how IFLA's Reference and Information Services Section will explore the field's values in their work this term. |
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Looking for the ideal gift this holiday season? 🎁 |
One of IFLA's new publications may be just the thing.If you are an IFLA member, be sure to collect your 30% discount!
Two new titles in De Gruyter's IFLA Publications Series were released in 2023: |
Bridging Research and Library Practice – Global Perspectives on Education and Training
Edited by: Krystyna K. Matusiak, Kawanna M. Bright and Debbie Schachter
Bridging the gap between research and practice communities is more pertinent than ever because of the need for evidence in developing and evaluating library services and programs.
The issues range from limited transfer of ideas from research into practice to a lack of education in research methods for library practitioners. This book introduces new voices from international research and practice communities into the discussion and contributes to the debate about the research-practice divide. |
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Information Services for a Sustainable Society – Current Developments in an Era of Information Disorder
Edited by: Madeleine Fombad, Collence Chisita, Omwoyo Bosire Onyancha, and Mabel Majanja
Twenty-one articles contribute explorations of critical issues related to how libraries, archives, and related institutions are responding to seismic shifts in the information landscape. |
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POLICY AND ADVOCACY |
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IFLA hosted a side event at COP28 in the Greening Education Hub that featured librarians, museum professionals, UNESCO partners and more. The conversation highlighted key advocacy messages and actions anyone can take to support and grow the role of institutions like libraries in climate empowerment. |
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Building momentum towards a culture goal – IFLA at the UCLG Culture Summit 2023 |
Local governments are not just a key stakeholder for many libraries, but also a key ally in making the case for a stronger recognition of the role of culture, cultural institutions and cultural actors in advancing sustainable development.
We were therefore very happy to join United Cities and Local Governments' Culture Summit, focused on building recognition of this role, and to sign a memorandum of understanding allowing us to take this work further. |
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IFLA at the UNCTAD eWeek – The future of libraries in the digital economy |
During the past week leaders from governments, private sector, international organizations, development banks, academia and civil society convened to discuss key challenges and opportunities of the evolving global digital landscape.
The global voice of libraries remains relevant in these conversations as libraries hold significant value in the digital economy by championing digital inclusion, fostering digital literacy and providing crucial access to technology. |
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IFLA contributes at Summit of the Future stakeholder meeting |
Preparations for the United Nations' Summit of the Future are now well underway, with the possibilities to secure helpful decisions and references for libraries growing clearer. Find out more in our new brief, and get involved in shaping the key output document—the Pact for the Future! |
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Libraries: a key infrastructure for adult learning and education |
IFLA participated at the 2023 World Assembly on Adult Education, celebrating the 50th anniversary of our sister organisation, the International Council for Adult Education.
Engaging with professionals and activists from around the world, we underlined the ability and readiness of libraries to realise their potential to make a reality of learning for all. |
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REGIONAL FOCUS |
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Building a strong and sustainable library field in Europe together – IFLA Regional Workshop for Europe and RDC Meeting |
Over 50 colleagues from across Europe came together in Brussels on 21-23 November 2023 to explore tools and share views on how to ensure a strong future for our field on the continent, working hand-in-hand with other library organisations and external partners. |
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Partnering to rebuild libraries in Guinea-Bissau |
At our regional workshop on strong and sustainable library fields in Sub-Saharan Africa, Djalo Iaguba representing the Guinea-Bissau Association of Librarians, Archivists and Documentalists, shared the story of how librarians there engaged with the UN Development Programme to put the country's libraries, in a difficult state after repeated wars, on the right path. |
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The Argentine Library of Congress welcomes foreign interns within the context of the agreement with FLACSO Ecuador |
A key role of IFLA as the international organisation for libraries is to facilitate exchange between colleagues around the world. As part of its 2021-2023 action plan, the Regional Division Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean committed to facilitate 'pasantías' or job-shadowing schemes to allow people to spend time seeing how libraries in different countries in the region work. The results are now in! |
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OPEN CALLS |
Nominate someone you know for an IFLA Honour or Award |
Each year, IFLA is able to honour colleagues who have made extraordinary and meaningful contributions to international librarianship.
We need your help to collate and submit nominations. The deadline for submissions is 15 March 2024. |
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Don't miss these opportunities to contribute to IFLA Journal! |
Deadlines for two calls for papers for Special Issues on AI and Research Trends are fast approaching.
Call for papers: IFLA Journal Special Issue on Research Trends [Deadline 30 December 2023]
Call for papers: IFLA Journal Special Issue on Artificial Intelligence (AI): Transforming Global Librarianship [Deadline 8 January 2024] |
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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NEW MEMBERS, WELCOME! |
IFLA warmly welcomes the following new members: |
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We look forward to your engagement and involvement! |
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SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT
Want to get featured here? Don't forget to use the #IFLA hashtag! |
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