| International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) | |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: | Vicki McDonald[1] |
| Leader Title2: | Secretary General |
| Leader Name2: | Sharon Memis[2] |
| Location: | Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 5, The Hague, Netherlands |
| Type: | International nongovernmental organization |
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is an international body representing the interests of people who rely on libraries and information professionals.[3] A non-governmental, not-for-profit organization, IFLA was founded in Scotland in 1927 with headquarters at the National Library of the Netherlands in The Hague. IFLA sponsors the annual IFLA World Library and Information Congress, promoting access to information, ideas, and works of imagination for social, educational, cultural, democratic, and economic empowerment. IFLA also produces several publications, including IFLA Journal.[4]
IFLA partners with UNESCO, resulting in several jointly produced manifestos.[5] IFLA is also a founding member of Blue Shield,[6] which works to protect the world's cultural heritage when threatened by wars and natural disaster.
IFLA was founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 30 September 1927, when library associations from 14 European countries and the United States signed a resolution at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Library Association of the United Kingdom. Isak Collijn, head of the National Library of Sweden, was elected the first president. The first constitution was approved in Rome in 1929 during the World Congress of Librarianship and Bibliography.[7] [8]
During the 1930s the first library associations from outside Europe and the US joined: China, India, Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. By 1958 membership had grown to 64 associations from 42 countries. A permanent secretariat was established in 1962. By 1970 there were 250 members from 52 countries. The secretariat was moved to The Hague in 1971. By 1974 IFLA membership stood at 600 members in 100 countries.[7]
Membership criteria were expanded beyond library associations in 1976 to include institutions, i.e. libraries, library schools and bibliographic institutes. At this time, the word Institutions was added to the organisation's name. Since then further new categories of membership have been created, including personal affiliates.[7]
IFLA has now grown to over 1,700 members in approximately 155 countries. It is headquartered in the Dutch; Flemish: [[Koninklijke Bibliotheek, National Library of the Netherlands|Koninklijke Bibliotheek]]|italic=no, the National Library of the Netherlands, in The Hague.
In 2021 for the first time, IFLA held World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) online because of the continuing global pandemic.[9]
IFLA's objectives are:
| Sharon Memis | 2023–present | |
| Helen Mandl | 2021–2023 (Acting) | |
| Gerald Leitner | 2016–2021 | |
| Jennefer Nicholson | 2008–2016 | |
| Peter Lor | 2005–2008 | |
| Rasu Ramachandran | 2004–2005 | |
| Ross Shimmon | 1999–2004 | |
| Leo Voogt | 1992–1998 | |
| Paul Nauta | 1987–1992 | |
| Margreet Wijnstroom | 1971–1987 | |
| Anthony Thompson | 1962–1970 | |
| Maria Razumovsky | 1962 (Interim) | |
| Joachim Wieder | 1958–1962 | |
| Tietse Pieter Sevensma | 1929–1958 | |
| Heinrich Uhlendahl | 1928–1929 |
More than 60 sections, strategic programmes, and special interest groups are organized in five divisions to carry out a variety of IFLA's activities and programs.[11]
These divisions are:
IFLA operates six strategic programmes:
Copyright and intellectual property issues and laws have long been recognized important to the library profession.[18] A volunteer-driven committee, the CLM was created to advise and represent IFLA on matters of international copyright law.
The CLM produces legal briefs and is the representative for IFLA at meetings of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).[19] The CLM's activities for the WIPO involve:
A core activity of IFLA is the Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression,[21] which monitors the state of intellectual freedom within the library community worldwide, supports IFLA policy development and co-operation with other international human rights organisations, and responds to violations of free access to information and freedom of expression.[22] FAIFE provides guidance and leadership on issues of intellectual freedom around the world through the publication of annual reports, guidelines, manifestos, special reports, and statements.[23]
In 2022, the 25th anniversary of the establishment of IFLA's Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression, the landmark IFLA Statement on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom was the focus of a special issue of the IFLA Journal [24]
IFLA/FAIFE is a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, a global network of non-governmental organisations that monitors freedom of expression worldwide.[25] It is also a member of the Tunisia Monitoring Group, a coalition of 16 free expression organisations that lobbies the Tunisian government to improve its human rights record.
Launched in 1984 and initially known as Advancement of Librarianship in the Third World, the programme has supported capacity building through a series of small grants and projects in developing and transition countries and advocacy for access to information.[26] This program focuses predominantly on three main programs:
Established in 1984, The Strategic Programme on Preservation and Conservation (PAC) was established in 1984. It focuses on efforts to preserve library and archive materials, in any form, around the world.[31] Unlike other IFLA Strategic Programmes, PAC features a decentralised approach, with global strategies implemented by a Focal Point and activities managed by Regional Centres.
PAC aims to ensure that both published and unpublished library and archive materials are preserved in an accessible form. In doing so, the programme follows three main guiding principles:
The first IFLA Trend Report, "Caught in the waves or caught in the tide? Insights from the IFLA Trend Report", was launched at the World Library and Information Congress in Singapore on 19 August 2013.[33] The IFLA Trend Report resulted in the identification of emerging high-level societal trends which may affect the global information environment. The Trend Report consists of a number of documents—including an overview, annotated bibliography and research papers—and is also intended as a web platform for ongoing consultation. In the first stage of the review from November 2012 through 2013, "social scientists, economists, business leaders, education specialists, legal experts and technologists"—mainly from outside the library field—were consulted. One of the key focal points of the report was the inundation of the archives with a tidal wave of information. By 2010 this represented more than 1 zettabytes of data or 1.8 trillion gigabytes.
The report listed five key trends predicted to impact how societies and individuals "access, use, and benefit from information in an increasingly hyper-connected world":[34]
The IFLA Trend Report continues to publish annual updates on these five key trends, as well as compiling and creating further resources.
IFLA has endorsed and collaborated on several manifestos that cover a wide range of issues related to libraries. These manifestos include:
Endorsed by IFLA's Governing Board in April 2012, the first draft of the Manifesto for Libraries Serving Persons with a Print Disability was intended to support the Marrakesh VIP Treaty. After further drafts, the LPD Manifesto was passed in November 2013 at the 37th UNESCO General Conference in Paris.[46] The LPD Manifesto encourages libraries to provide more accessible library and information services for blind and visually impaired patrons. According to the IFLA, lack of access to information is the biggest barrier for persons with a print disability to fully and effectively participate in all aspects of society.[47]
The six statements of the LPD Manifesto are as follows:
The Jay Jordan IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellowship Program Sponsored by IFLA and OCLC, "provides early career development and continuing education for library and information science professionals from countries with developing economies."[48] Each year, the four-week program provides up to five individuals with the opportunity to interact with important information practitioners in the field. Fellows deliver presentations that address libraries' challenges and formulate development plans that benefit their personal career growth.[49]
| 2019 | John Oluwaseye Adebayo, Chrisland University, Nigeria Samar Jammoul, Safadi Public Library, Lebanon Davaasuren Myagmar, National Library of Mongolia Tracey-Ann Ricketts, National Library of Jamaica Ramiro Jose Rico Carranza, Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo, Bolivia | |
| 2018 | Alehegn Adane Kinde, University of Gondar, Ethiopia Arnold Mwanzu, International Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology (icipe), Kenya Boris Đenadić, National Library of Serbia, Serbia Chantelle Richardson, National Library of Jamaica Chandra Pratama Setiawan, Petra Christian University, Indonesia | |
| 2017 | Patience Ngizi-Hara, The Copperbelt University, Zambia Eric Nelson Haumba, YMCA Comprehensive Institute, Uganda Sharisse Rae Lim, National Library of the Philippines Jerry Mathema, Masiyephambili College, Zimbabwe Nguyen Van Kep, Hanoi University, Vietnam | |
| 2016 | Idowu Adegbilero-Iwari, Nigeria Željko Dimitrijević, Serbia Penninah Musangi, Kenya Rhea Jade Nabusan, Philippines Shaharima Parvin, Bangladesh | |
| 2015 | Stanislava Gardaševic, Serbia Nomsa Mathabela, Swaziland Masimba Muziringa, Zimbabwe Martin Julius Perez, Philippines Sadaf Rafiq, Pakistan | |
| 2014 | Olufunmilayo Fati, Nigeria Franklin Flores Urrutia, El Salvador W. M. Tharanga Dilruk Ranasinghe, Sri Lanka Leonila Reyes, Philippines Sonam Wangdi, Bhutan | |
| 2013 | Dwaymian Brissette, JamaicaCaroline Nyaga-Kithinji, Kenya David Ofili, Nigeria Rozita Petrinska-Labudovikj, Republic of Macedonia Chona San Pedro, Philippines | |
| 2012 | Efua Ayiah, GhanaGladys Mungai, Kenya Md. Shafiur Rahman, Bangladesh Tanzela Shaukat, Pakistan Ngozi Ukachi, Nigeria | |
| 2011 | Khumo Dibeela, BotswanaGeanrose Lagumbay, Philippines Ngwira Fiskani, Malawi Milan Vasiljevic, Serbia Tian Xiaodi, China | |
| 2010 | Sasekea Harris, JamaicaMahmoud Khalifa, Egypt Elchin Mammadov, Azerbaijan Catherine Muriuki, Kenya Sidra Shan, Pakistan | |
| 2009 | John Kiyaga, UgandaAni Minasyan, Armenia Caleb Ouma, Kenya Saima Qutab, Pakistan Raymond Sikanyika, Zambia Vesna Vuksan, Serbia | |
| 2008 | Hanan Erhif, MoroccoAtanu Garai, India Kamal Giri, Nepal Sarah Kaddu, Uganda Cyrill Walters, South Africa | |
| 2007 | Kodjo Atiso, GhanaAlicia Esguerra, Philippines Pauline Nicholas, Jamaica Elisangela Silva, Brazil Nevena Tomić, Serbia | |
| 2006 | Maria Cherrie, Trinidad & TobagoJanete Estevão, Brazil Festus Ngetich, Kenya Roman Purici, Moldova Salmubi, Indonesia | |
| 2005 | Thomas Bello, MalawiXiaoqing Cai, China Edwar Delgado, Colombia Lela Nanuashvili, Georgia Rev. Gillian Wilson, Jamaica | |
| 2004 | Nayana Wijayasundara, Sri LankaMacAnthony Cobblah, Ghana Musa Olaka, Rwanda Muhammad Rafiq, Pakistan | |
| 2003 | Anjali Gulati, IndiaIbrahim Ramjaun, Mauritius Vu Thi Nha, Vietnam Hyekyong Hwang, Korea Selenay Aytaç, Turkey | |
| 2002 | Ferry Iranian, Indonesia Sibongile Madolo, South Africa Purity Mwagha, Kenya J.K. Vijayakumar, India Dayang Zarina Abang Ismail, Malaysia | |
| 2001 | Andy Igonor, South Africa Tuba Akbayturk, Turkey Smita Chandra, India Rashidah Bolhassan, Malaysia |
The current president of IFLA is Vicki McDonald.[50]
| Isak Collijn |  Sweden | 1927–1931 | |
| William Warner Bishop |  United States | 1931–1936 | |
| Marcel Godet |  Switzerland | 1936–1947 | |
| Wilhelm Munthe |  Norway | 1947–1951 | |
| Pierre Bourgeois | Switzerland | 1951–1958 | |
| Gustav Hofmann | 1958–1963 | ||
| Sir Frank Francis |  United Kingdom | 1963–1969 | |
| Herman Liebaers |  Belgium | 1969–1974 | |
| Preben Kirkegaard |  Denmark | 1974–1979 | |
| Else Granheim | Norway | 1979–1985 | |
| Hans-Peter Geh | 1985–1991 | ||
| Robert Wedgeworth | United States | 1991–1997 | |
| Christine Deschamps |  France | 1997–2003 | |
| Kay Raseroka |  Botswana | 2003–2005 | |
| Alex Byrne |  Australia | 2005–2007 | |
| Claudia Lux |  Germany | 2007–2009 | |
| Ellen Tise |  South Africa | 2009–2011 | |
| Ingrid Parent |  Canada | 2011–2013 | |
| Sinikka Sipilä |  Finland | 2013–2015 | |
| Donna Scheeder | United States | 2015–2017 | |
| Gloria Pérez-Salmerón |  Spain | 2017–2019 | |
| Christine Mackenzie | Australia | 2019–2021 | |
| Barbara Lison[52] | Germany | 2021–2023 | |
| Vicki McDonald | Australia | 2023–2025 |