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CELEBRATING CULTURES ISSUE |
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Cultural heritage envelops us. It is our literature, art, buildings, landscapes, language, documents, and tools. It is our stories, rituals, food, theatre, craft, and knowledge. It tells us who we are.
While cultural heritage is flourishing on many fronts, it is simultaneously, in peril. Wars, fires, floods, new technologies, climate change, threats to free expression, to access to information, and to the veracity of the historical record jeopardize its preservation and use.
For libraries, through our work to protect, promote and enable engagement with cultural heritage, we have an opportunity to strengthen our recognition as an essential part of the public infrastructure for upholding cultural rights. Through this, we foster social cohesion, create a sense of belonging and mutual respect, and strengthen resilience in the face of challenges.
Happy reading! 🌍 |
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After a World Library and Information Congress that was as intense and dynamic as ever, IFLA has barely slowed down as we head into the final months of the year.
IFLA President Leslie Weir joined the Collections 2030 Conference, co-organised by IFLA alongside ICCROM, and focused on how to leverage collections to support achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
IFLA Secretary General Sharon Memis, in the meanwhile, spoke at the Special Libraries Association, Arabian Gulf Chapter meeting in Jeddah, as well as playing an active role both in the Civic Agora and the formal segment of the UNESCO MONDIACULT meetings in Barcelona.
Finally, there is still time to register at least for the second of the two Stronger, Bolder, Together sessions being hosted by current IFLA President Leslie Weir, as well as former President Vicki McDonald on 1 October – don't miss it! |
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Stay in the loop with IFLA — now on Substack! Subscribe today to get updates, insights, and stories delivered straight to your feed, accessible anytime, anywhere. |
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UN Resident Coordinator underlines libraries' key contributions to achieving UN goals |
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"Libraries, as trusted public institutions, play a pivotal role in this ecosystem: they democratise knowledge, bridge digital divides, and foster safe spaces for dialogue and learning."
Read more about the powerful message shared by United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms Sarangoo Radnaaragchaa at WLIC 2025.
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"This Congress has expanded my skills, networks, and sense of responsibility to my community, and our sector."
Hear from Dany Miller-Kareko, an IFLA Emerging Leader Grant recipient, reflecting on the World Library and Information Congress as a first-time attendee. |
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| "It was a pivotal experience that strengthened my conviction in the humanistic and transformative role that libraries play in building just and sustainable societies."
Hear from Salma Ayoub and Raghad Ghanem Alqahtani, QIMAM Awardees at the IFLA WLIC 2025 in Astana, KZ. |
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2025 IFLA Dynamic Unit and Impact Awards announced |
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An IFLA dynamic Professional Unit has the greatest impact on IFLA's global work – engaging members, developing strong leadership and identity, delivering high-quality services with measurable impact, and communicating activities within IFLA and beyond.
The Professional Council launched the Dynamic Unit and Impact Awards to recognise those Professional structure committees who have excelled in putting Dynamic Unit goals into practice. |
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Call for articles: ENSULIB December 2025 Newsletter |
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Celebrating the impact of IFLA's Concluding SIGs in 2025 |
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IFLA Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are dynamic, term-based committees that unite professionals to explore important and emerging topics in the library and information field.
At the end of each four-year term, SIGs have the opportunity to grow into a new form of IFLA committee or to celebrate the completion of their journey as an IFLA SIG, leaving behind a lasting contribution.
Read about the inspiring work of three SIGs that are concluding their terms in 2025: |
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New Advisory Committee on Standards Expert Advisor: Copyeditor appointed |
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One of the final tasks of the 2023-2025 Advisory Committee on Standards was the appointment of its first Expert Advisor, a Copyeditor, who will be responsible for the editing of endorsed IFLA Standards documents.
We welcome Karys McEwan from Australia, who will serve in this volunteer role for the 2025-2027 term. |
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Interested in contributing to Metadata Standards? Join one of IFLA's Review Groups as a Co-opted Member! |
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IFLA's Review Groups maintain, support and develop work on IFLA's metadata standards, bibliographic models, linked data and formats. Specific technical skills and experience are required to serve as an effective contributor to the ongoing standards revision processes of each Review Group.
Apply by 1 December 2025. |
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Recording available: Cultural Rights in the Digital Environment |
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As an official side event of MONDIACULT 2025, IFLA and Creative Commons hosted a panel discussion on cultural rights and culture in the digital environment. The event highlighted openness as a key principle for preserving and sharing heritage, while affirming its role in advancing human rights. Watch it here ▶️. |
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IFLA statement on contract override |
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Digital technologies have brought exciting new possibilities to enable access and use However, the transition from buying to licensing has also brought practices that pose serious questions about what libraries are and can do.
We need to ensure that contract terms and technological protection measures cannot override the rights of libraries and their users. |
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A Case for a concerted approach to knowledge and information in SDG delivery |
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Timed to coincide with the celebrations of this year's International Day for the Universal Access to Information, IFLA has published the first part of a review of the treatment of knowledge and information in delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals, based on the 38 Voluntary National Reviews submitted by UN Member States this year. |
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Pay to share? New IFLA Statement on Network Usage Fees |
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Network usage fees don't just threaten freedom of access to information, but could impose new costs on digital libraries and repositories. Our new statement, building on our previous position on Net Neutrality, calls for governments to reject calls for this tax on sharing. |
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Africa Climate Summit: Building partnerships and supporting the development of the library field |
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We're pleased to share a report on the Africa Climate Summit, highlighting the collaboration between the IFLA Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Division Committee (SSA RDC) and the Climate Heritage Network – Africa and Arab States Secretariat during African Climate Summit 2 (ACS2) and a follow-up workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. |
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QNL celebrates Qatar's contribution to the IFLA Library Map of the World |
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Qatar National Library (QNL) organised and hosted a workshop at its premises, celebrating Qatar's successful contribution to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Library Map of the World, with discussions centred on measuring and demonstrating the impact of library services. |
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Now Available: IFLA Asia and Oceania Regional Newsletter – September 2025 |
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The IFLA Asia & Oceania Regional Newsletter Issue 3 – 2025 is now available! Read messages from the Regional Division Committee and Office, plus catch up on news from the region and beyond. |
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Job opportunity @ IFLA HQ: Business Development Manager |
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Are you an experienced Business Development Manager? If you are looking for a change and are brilliant at what you do, this opportunity at IFLA HQ is for you! |
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Become a co-opted IFLA Professional Section Member |
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The co-opting process serves to strengthen the ability of committees to carry out their missions by drawing on a diverse and deep set of expertise and to ensure that the work of each committee can benefit from the experience and perspective of each region. This is done through the appointment of additional committee members after the official IFLA elections process has been completed.
The forms for expressions of interest for co-option to a Professional Committee are open now! Co-opting will be finalised by 1 December, though there may be additional opportunities to be co-opted throughout the term. |
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The 19th EIFL Public #Library Innovation Award is open! |
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The EIFL Public Library Innovation Award for 2025 is open! Public and community libraries in developing/transition countries running STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Art, Math) activities are encouraged to apply by 10 November 2025. |
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30 September Multiple sessions
Virtual event |
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5-9 October
In-person event
Toronto Public Library
Toronto, Canada |
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Want to become an IFLA member? Perfect timing! ⏰ |
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Join between September and December and enjoy some fantastic benefits: FREE membership for the rest of this year + all of next year at the current rate, 25% discount for the 2026 IFLA Congress in Busan, South Korea, participation in the IFLA elections, and the chance to connect with a global community that shares your passion for libraries.
Don't miss this limited-time offer: Join today and keep making a difference! |
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SOCIAL SPOTLIGHTWant to get featured here? 👇 Don't forget to @IFLA and use the #IFLA hashtag! |
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