Newsroom

Library ethics and access

Libraries and their staff increasingly find themselves navigating challenges related to intellectual freedom, censorship, and intolerance towards diverse perspectives, especially evident in instances of LGBTQ+ book bans and restrictions on library programs. The IFLA Code of Ethics for Librarians and other Information Professionals underscores the librarian's duty to provide unrestricted access to information, promote inclusivity, and eliminate discrimination, emphasizing equal rights for all, irrespective of various characteristics.

IFLA Newsletter, December 2023: the values, ethics and rights issue

Welcome to the December 2023 edition of the IFLA Newsletter, this month focused on the topic of values, ethics and rights.

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 in the work of ensuring access to justice in an inclusive manner. These values guide the work of the IFLA Law Libraries Section.

Equal rights are better for knowledge management

There are three crucial elements for effective knowledge management within an organization: People, Process, and Technology. When examining the composition of staff in many enterprises, it is often observed to be homogenous. This is not uncommon, as we tend to gravitate toward individuals similar to ourselves, relying on familiarity and trust in what we already know. However, to extend our reach to the market, clients and desired results, we must consider diversity and equal rights.

Library values - RISS values

According to the IFLA Code of Ethics for librarians and other information professionals, librarianship is value rich, underlying all the activities that are included in that work, across different library types and parts of the world, supported by different shaped communities and varying professional approaches.

New IFLA ARL Blog post: (one more) "IFLA WLIC 2023 Grant Winners Congress Experience"

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.

Culture Greening Communities: Key messages from COP28

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!

IFLA joins Partner2Connect Annual Meeting, pledges work on geolocation and digital inclusion practices

IFLA was honoured to take to the stage at the Partner2Connect Annual Meeting 2023, and present two pledges connected to the initiative's overall goal to bring meaningful internet connectivity within reach of everyone. 

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.

Call for Nominations: IFLA 2024 Honours and Awards [Deadline Extended]

Do you know someone who has made an outstanding contribution to IFLA or to the global library field? IFLA’s Honours and Awards recognise those who have given significant service and made distinguished contributions to the profession.

IFLA at the UNCTAD eWeek - The future of libraries in the digital economy

From the 4 to the 8 of December 2023, IFLA participated at the UNCTAD eWeek that was held at the CICG in Geneva. The global voice of libraries remains relevant in these conversations as libraries hold significant value in the digital economy as they ultimately contribute to the growth of a digitally skilled and economically empowered community.

WEBINAR Recording: Tips for Your First Research Paper — From Proposal to Publish

As part of "Publish and Share Your Research: Suggestions from Editors and Librarians Seminar Series", this webinar focused on the tips and tools on literature search and research publishing. Through this seminar series, researchers at the University of Hong Kong and around the world could gain insights on formulating research topic, conducting research, and publishing and promoting research.

Celebrating International Open Access Week 2023 at the University of Hong Kong Libraries

In celebration of the Open Access Week this year from 23 October 2023 to 29 October 2023, the University of Hong Kong Libraries hosted several events including seminar, online social media campaign, and an online quiz that not only targeting the local community, but also drawing attention from the global academic community.

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! 

Libraries Recognised among Essential Partners in Historic Declaration on Culture-based Climate Action

Highlights from the IFLA Governing Board meeting, 4-6 December 2023

Over three days, IFLA’s Governing Board met for its first in-person meeting since Rotterdam, in a week that marked 100 days since it took office. The time spent together was an opportunity not just to look back at what had been achieved, but also to advance key projects, opening the way to further delivery in 2024. 

Stronger Together: 100 Days of Achievement

This week the IFLA Governing Board met in The Hague, The Netherlands. The meeting coincided with our first 100 days.

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.