Vol. 4, No. 6: Climate

Green chronicles from the library field 🌱

June 2024 —  Vol. 4, No. 6 View in your browser → THE CLIMATE ISSUE Welcome to the June 2024 IFLA Newsletter! In the spirit of World Environment Day, which was celebrated on 6 June, this month's newsletter is all about the climate! World Environment Day has become one of the world's largest platforms for environmental outreach, bringing tens of millions of people together to learn about environmental sustainability and participate in events. For libraries, any opportunity to increase access to education, information, and ways to participate in making our communities more sustainable is very welcome! When talking about the climate, IFLA strongly believes that libraries make a real difference in getting all people involved in imagining and creating more resilient, green futures. Happy reading! 🌳 The full editorial → In the field Throughout the month, IFLA's leadership was busy preparing for the 2024 General Assembly, which took place on 20 June. A full summary and recording are available, but the biggest takeaway is that IFLA's members have given overwhelming support for the necessary changes to the Federation's Statutes to allow us to apply for charity status, as well as approving the annual accounts for 2023. With this, IFLA is one step further forwards in its work towards a sustainable future. In addition, IFLA's President Vicki McDonald was able to share greetings with our Section on Libraries Serving Multicultural Populations, as well as the Management of Library Associations Section event in Astana, Kazakhstan. She was also active launching the READ Brisbane initiative ahead of the Information Futures Summit later this year! Vicki's June message to IFLA Members and Volunteers recaps additional activities, including the release of a dashboard which reports on the progress against each of the six key goals she set out in her first speech as IFLA President in August 2023. Meanwhile, IFLA Secretary General Sharon Memis was an active participant at BiblioCon in Hamburg, Germany, alongside many others closely involved in IFLA's work. Last day, last chance! 🐦 IIFS Early Bird tickets Through our Early Bird offer, IFLA Members can take advantage of their membership rate and save 27% when registering for IIFS! Non-members can save 17% with the Early Bird rate. 24 June 2024, 24:00 CEST is your last chance to take advantage of our offer and save big! Catch the early bird → IFLA Emerging Leaders grants for IIFS now available! Our Emerging Leaders Grant targets emerging leaders in the library field aged 25 to 35 who are personal affiliate members of IFLA, personnel of an IFLA institutional member, or members of an IFLA Association. Is this you? Apply by 12 July 2024. Leaders needed! → IIFS Ignite Talks programme now up: Prepare to feel the heat ❤️‍🔥 A blaze of excitement awaits you as our Ignite Talks speakers light up the IIFS stage with burning enthusiasm and red-hot presentations that are sure to leave you inspired! With topics covering libraries and library science, AI literacy, open access, information, storytelling, & shaping the future of libraries & communities, among others, our lineup of over 40 speakers is sure to spark your minds and give you something inspiring to take back home. Discover the programme → When in Brisbane, 🌏 discover the Gold Coast: This month's must-visit destination! Australia's Gold Coast, famous for its golden beaches, iconic surf breaks, and vibrant nightlife, is a playground for sun-seekers and thrill-seekers alike. Stretching along the coastline south of Brisbane, this bustling metropolis boasts a diverse range of attractions, from theme parks and wildlife sanctuaries to world-class shopping and dining. Catch a wave at Surfers Paradise, explore the lush hinterland of the Gold Coast Hinterland, or cruise along the sparkling waters of the Broadwater. With its endless sunshine, stunning scenery, and endless array of activities, the Gold Coast is the ultimate destination for an unforgettable holiday. Transforming libraries for environmental education on climate action Extreme weather has been progressing for decades, especially in recent years. Read how ENSULIB is promoting environmental education and climate awareness in libraries across the globe. To the update → 2024 IFLA Dynamic Unit and Impact Awards winners! 🏆 A 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 the Professional Units who have excelled in putting Dynamic Unit goals into practice. Meet our 2024 winners → Out Now: June 2024 issue of IFLA Journal! The June 2024 issue of the IFLA Journal delves into the multifaceted roles of libraries in navigating contemporary global challenges. The 14 original articles are organised into four thematic categories: Libraries as Facilitators of Knowledge Dialogue and Cultural Exchange; Libraries and the Impact of Technology on Literacies; Challenges and Opportunities Facing Libraries in the Face of Climate Change and COVID-19; and Fostering Inclusivity and Addressing the Gender Gap. This issue underscores the diversity of library practices worldwide, highlighting their pivotal role as catalysts for knowledge, technology, and social resilience in the face of global challenges. To the Journal → IFLA Section update: Equitable and Accessible Library Services Section (EALS) We are pleased to announce that the Libraries for People with Special Needs Section has now officially been renamed Equitable and Accessible Library Services Section (EALS). The new name reflects contemporary understanding of disability and disadvantage while it puts emphasis no longer on disability, but on everyone's claim to accessible library services! Culture2030Goal Campaign welcomes recognition of culture in new draft of the Pact for the Future The latest draft of the United Nations' Pact for the Future, likely to be a milestone document for the UN this decade, represents welcome progress towards recognising the importance of culture – and the need for a goal in future development agendas. Read the latest update → This just in: Key messages from IFLA's climate communication and education survey One year ago, IFLA launched surveys on climate communication and education together with the Measuring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education (MECCE) Project. We wanted to get a more complete picture of how libraries around the world contribute to education, public participation, and access to information on the climate crisis. We are excited to present a first look at key messages resulting from this survey! IFLA brought these messages to the 2024 June UN Climate Meetings; we hope they will also power your advocacy! To the messages → IFLA Joins Creative Commons in outlining a roadmap towards Open Culture Culture that is open, or made available for free, with few or no copyright restrictions on access and (re)use, can transform how the public interacts with a memory institution's collection. Material can reach broader and more diverse audiences, be easier to find and use for learning, research, and enjoyment, and be more securely preserved and safeguarded. IFLA joined partners from Creative Commons, UNESCO, and beyond in helping to envision next steps towards an intergovernmental recommendation on Open Culture. Open Culture Strategic Workshop Group Photo by Filipa Alfama, CC BY 4.0  Read on → IFLA at the WSIS+20 Forum: Libraries for a more people-centered Internet IFLA engaged in the recent WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event in Geneva, joining diverse multistakeholder discussions to highlight the crucial role that libraries play as key actors of the information society. IFLA hosted a session in collaboration with the UNESCO-Information For All Programme (IFAP), bringing together a series of speakers that highlighted the importance of closing the digital divide and catering to the underserved as the only pathway towards the achievement of a truly people-centered information society. Continue reading → Deadline approaching for Public Library of the Year Award 2024 applications This award is granted to a library anywhere in the world which has successfully integrated open and functional architecture with sustainable and creative IT solutions and has included both digital developments and local culture. Apply by Friday, 28 June 2024 Learn more & apply → ISBDM world-wide review The IFLA ISBD Review Group is conducting a world wide review of ISBD for Manifestation from 15 May 2024 to 15 July 2024. Please visit the ISBD Manifestation website to participate in the review process. Take part → Knowledge for development in Small Island Developing States Small Island Developing States face unique challenges in their efforts to ensure strong, fair, and sustainable development. Knowledge, information and libraries can make a major contribution to achieving this, as IFLA's representatives at the 4th UN SIDS Conference in Antigua and Barbuda underlined. Find out more → 24 June Scientific Innovation and Growth – what should the EU do in 2024-2029? Knowledge Rights 21 27 June National Bibliographies: Wider Perspectives IFLA Bibliography (BIB) Section 3 July Focus on Impact – Session 4: Let's Hear from You about Impact IFLA Statistics & Evaluation (STATSEVAL) Section 10 July Focus on Impact – Session 5: Redefining the Library Experience IFLA Statistics & Evaluation (STATSEVAL) Section 6-10 August International Symposium on Libraries and Censorship (in-person event) IFLA LGBTQ+ Special Interest Group (LGBTQ+ Users SIG); Advisory Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE); School Library Section; Management of Library Associations (MLAS) 20 August Seminar in Washington, D.C. (in-person event) IFLA Libraries Serving People with Print Disabilities (LPD) Section NEW MEMBERS IFLA warmly welcomes the following new members: Belize National Library Service and Information System – Belize Kardinia International College – Australia Ksiaznica Beskidzka – Poland Linda Hall Library – United States of America Onassis Library – Greece Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) – Pakistan TAFE Queensland – Australia Universidad Anáhuac México – Mexico Universitas Medan Area – Indonesia York University – Canada We look forward to your engagement and involvement! SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT Want to get featured here? Don't forget to @IFLA and use the #IFLA hashtag! Update your preferences / Unsubscribe