In the time of coronavirus, as never before, being online is central to all our lives. As we lock down and self isolate, this is how we can keep in touch with family and friends, access reliable health information, manage our own health without depending on overstretched health services, carry on working, access financial support, pursue leisure interests to keep us occupied.

In our next E4GDH webinar (Thursday 23rd April, 1300 -1400 GMT), Bob Gann will describe how community organisations including libraries have worked to support people who might otherwise be excluded, by providing access to technology and building digital skills, confidence and digital health literacy. The webinar will conclude with discussion of action being taken now, during the global health crisis, to ensure those who most need information and support are not left behind in the digital age.  

We are pleased to announce that this is a joint webinar with IFLA Health and Biosciences Libraries section.

Please see our Events page for more information, including the webinar time where you are and how to register.

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Der IFLA-Verwaltungsrat und das Irische Nationalkomitee haben die schwierige Entscheidung getroffen, den Weltkongress für Bibliotheks- und Informationswesen (WLIC) 2020 abzusagen. Dublin wird stattdessen den Kongress 2022 ausrichten, nachdem bestätigt wurde, dass das Internationale Kongresszentrum Neuseeland in Auckland - der bisher geplante Veranstaltungsort - wahrscheinlich nicht rechtzeitig fertig werden wird.

Eine harte, aber notwendige Entscheidung

Als die internationalste Veranstaltung im Bibliothekskalender, die eine ausgezeichnete Gelegenheit bietet zum Lernen, Netzwerken  und zum Aufbau und zur Pflege von Freundschaften, war die Absage des Kongresses 2020 keine leichte Entscheidung.  Wir wissen, wie viel Inspiration und Energie WLIC in unser Fachgebiet als Ganzes einbringt. Es wird das erste Jahr seit 1946 ohne ein solches Treffen sein.

Bei globalen Ereignissen wie dem unseren sind die Herausforderungen jedoch besonders groß. Neben der vordringlichen Notwendigkeit, die Gesundheit unserer Mitglieder, Freiwilligen, Gastgeber, Aussteller, Sponsoren und Mitarbeiter an die erste Stelle zu setzen, sehen wir uns auch mit strengen und sich weiterentwickelnden Reisebeschränkungen und dem unterschiedlichen Verlauf der COVID-19-Pandemie in verschiedenen Teilen der Welt konfrontiert.

Obwohl wir hoffen können und es auch tun, dass das Schlimmste bis August hinter uns liegen wird, gibt es zu viel Unsicherheit, als dass wir eine Veranstaltung garantieren könnten, die für alle so sicher, offen und inspirierend ist, wie wir es uns wünschen, oder die all der hevorragenden Arbeit gerecht würde, die unsere Gastgeber im irischen Nationalkomitee bereits geleistet haben. Infolgedessen sind sich der IFLA-Verwaltungsrat und das irische Nationalkomitee einig, dass wir unter den gegenwärtigen Umständen nicht wie geplant vorgehen können.

Trotz dieser Enttäuschung  hoffen wir, dass die Gewissheit durch die Entscheidung, die wir jetzt treffen, dem Umfeld  bei seiner Zukunftsplanung helfen wird. Bibliotheks- und Informationsmitarbeiter auf der ganzen Welt - von denen viele in ihrem Leben und ihrer Arbeit ernsthaften Einschränkungen ausgesetzt sind - müssen sich jetzt voll und ganz darauf konzentrieren können, ihren Kommunen weiterhin den bestmöglichen Service zu bieten.

Im Einklang mit unserer Verpflichtung werden wir denjenigen, die bereits Karten für WLIC gekauft haben, sowie allen Sponsoren und Ausstellern eine vollständige Rückerstattung gewähren.

Da es nicht möglich sein wird, die Generalversammlung wie üblich während des Kongresses abzuhalten, werden wir ein neues Datum und einen neuen Ort dafür eruieren. Sie soll spätestens am 30. November 2020 stattfinden.

Unsere nächsten Kongresse

Ohne die Möglichkeit, WLIC in diesem Jahr abzuhalten, werden unsere nächsten Kongresse umso wichtiger als Gelegenheit, die Transformation der IFLA und des globalen Bibliotheksbereichs fortzusetzen.

Wir freuen uns sagen zu können, dass die Vorbereitungen für Rotterdam 2021 gut laufen. Wir stehen in regelmäßigem Austausch mit dem niederländischen Nationalkomitee, das intensiv  daran arbeitet, dass dieser Kongress  eine  wichtige Gelegenheit zum Lernen, zur Vernetzung und zur Entdeckung des niederländischen Bibliothekswesens werden  wird.

Mit Blick auf das Jahr 2022 haben wir die bedauerliche Nachricht erhalten, dass es beim Bau des geplanten Veranstaltungsortes in Auckland zu weiteren Verzögerungen gekommen ist. Die derzeitigen Einschränkungen der Bewegungsfreiheit und die Unterbrechung der Lieferketten stellen eine weitere Herausforderung dar. Infolgedessen kann nicht garantiert werden, dass das Gebäude rechtzeitig für unseren Kongress fertig sein wird. Es gibt keine vergleichbaren Veranstaltungsorte im Land. 

Nach Rücksprache mit dem neuseeländischen Nationalkomitee hat der IFLA-Verwaltungsrat daher beschlossen, die Vorbereitungen für Auckland im Jahr 2022 einzustellen. Wir sind uns bewusst, wie enttäuschend dies ist, nicht nur für Bibliotheks- und Informationsmitarbeiter auf der ganzen Welt, sondern insbesondere auch für das  neuseeländische  Nationalkomitee. Ihr Einsatz, die IFLA in den pazifischen Raum zu bringen, war hervorragend und hat bereits die Energie und das Fachwissen des nationalen Bibliothekswesens unterstrichen.

Stattdessen wird der Weltkongress Bibliothek und Information  2022 in Dublin stattfinden. Wir danken dem irischen Nationalkomitee für seine bisherige ausgezeichnete Arbeit und seine Bereitschaft, den diesjährigen WLIC neu zu planen, und freuen uns darauf, den WLIC nach Irland zu bringen. Für den Kongress 2023 wird ein Aufruf zur Einreichung von Kandidaten für alle Weltregionen mit Ausnahme Europas veröffentlicht werden.

IFLA-Präsidentin Christine Mackenzie sagte:

   

Es ist eine große Enttäuschung, dass wir uns im August nicht mit Ihnen allen treffen können, aber es ist die beste Entscheidung für unsere Mitglieder und die Gemeinschaften, denen sie dienen. Es gibt jedoch so viele andere Möglichkeiten, wie wir in der Zwischenzeit weiter zusammenarbeiten können! Ich freue mich darauf, mit so vielen von Ihnen wie möglich in Kontakt zu bleiben und den Kongress 2021 in Rotterdam zu etwas ganz Besonderem zu machen.

Das irische Nationalkomitee sagte:

   

Wir bedauern zwar, dass wir die globale Bibliotheksgemeinschaft im Jahr 2020 nicht in Irland begrüßen können, sind uns aber einig, dass die Absage von WLIC in diesem Jahr angesichts der Schwierigkeiten und Unsicherheiten, denen wir alle ausgesetzt sind, die richtige Entscheidung ist.  Wir freuen uns darauf, in zwei Jahren allen einen noch wärmeren und enthusiastischeren Empfang - Céad Míle Fáilte - zu bereiten, und wir senden unseren Kollegen und Freunden im neuseeländischen Nationalkomitee unsere besondere Anerkennung.

Bill Macnaught und Te Paea Paringatai, Ko-Vorsitzende des neuseeländischen Nationalkomitees, sagten:

   

Das Neuseeländische Nationalkomitee nimmt die Verbindungen, die in den letzten Jahren der Zusammenarbeit zwischen IFLA, LIANZA und Te Rōpū Whakahau aufgebaut wurden, sehr ernst und unterstützt die Entscheidung und Ausrichtung des Präsidiums. Wir senden dem Irischen Nationalkomitee unsere herzlichsten Wünsche - 2022 ist Dublins Zeit, zu glänzen.

Weitermachen

Es ist natürlich traurig, dass wir uns im August nicht persönlich treffen können. Nichtsdestotrotz sind wir entschlossen, die Dynamik, die durch den Prozess der Globalen Vision und den Start unserer Strategie im vergangenen Jahr entstanden ist, aufrechtzuerhalten.

Wir sind der festen Überzeugung, dass die darin festgelegte Mission - das globale Bibliothekswesen zu inspirieren, zu engagieren, zu befähigen und zu vernetzen - heute so relevant ist wie eh und je. Es besteht ein dringender Bedarf an Zugang zu Informationen, Kultur und Dienstleistungen, die Bibliotheken zur Verfügung stellen, um die globale Pandemie und ihre Folgen zu bekämpfen. Der Bedarf an Bibliotheken wird nicht weniger groß sein, wenn sich die Welt danach erholt. Wir können ihm am besten gemeinsam entsprechen.

Die IFLA möchte allen freiwilligen Helfern, Partnern, Sponsoren und Ausstellern für alles danken, was sie getan haben. Besonders dankbar ist der IFLA-Vorstand dem neuseeländischen und dem irischen Nationalkomitee für all ihre Arbeit sowie für ihr Verständnis und ihre volle Unterstützung für diese schwierigen Entscheidungen.

IFLA-Generalsekretär Gerald Leitner sagte:

   

Auch ohne einen Kongress in diesem Jahr gehen unsere Bemühungen, das globale Feld weiter zu stärken und zu vereinheitlichen, weiter. Um dies zu ermöglichen, haben wir bereits intensiv  gearbeitet, um sicherzustellen, dass unsere Freiwilligen und Mitarbeiter ihre wichtige Arbeit fortsetzen können. Wir wenden uns an relevante Gruppen und Partner, um die Situation und die Optionen für die künftige Arbeit zu erläutern. Wir freuen uns auch auf die Ankündigung aufregender neuer Dienste und Möglichkeiten zum Aufbau eines stärkeren Berufsfeldes, das lese- und schreibkundige, informierte und partizipatorische Gesellschaften in die Zukunft führt.

Wir wünschen Ihnen in diesen schwierigen Zeiten alles Gute.

Christine Mackenzie
​IFLA-Präsident 2019-2021

Gerald Leitner
IFLA-Generalsekretär

 

09. April 2020

The IFLA Governing Board and Irish National Committee have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 World Library and Information Congress (WLIC). Dublin will instead welcome the 2022 Congress, following confirmation that the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland – the previous planned venue – is unlikely to be ready on time.

A Hard but Necessary Decision

As the most international event in the library calendar, providing a great opportunity for learning, networking, and building and continuing friendships, cancelling the 2020 Congress was no easy choice. We know how much inspiration and energy WLIC brings to our field as a whole. It will be the first year since 1946 without such a meeting.

However, for global events such as ours, the challenges are particularly acute. Alongside the overriding need to put the health of our members, volunteers, hosts, exhibitors, sponsors and staff first, we are also facing strict and evolving travel restrictions, and the varied progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in different parts of the world.

While we can and do hope that the worst will be behind us by August, there is too much uncertainty to be able to guarantee an event that is as safe, open and inspiring for all as we want, or that would do justice to all the great work already done by our hosts on the Irish National Committee. As a result, the IFLA Governing Board and Irish National Committee agree that because of the current circumstances, we cannot go ahead as planned.

While disappointing, we hope that providing certainty now will help the field in its planning for the future. Library and information workers around the world – of whom many are facing serious restrictions in their lives and work – need to be able to focus fully on continuing to provide the best possible service to our communities.

In line with our commitment, we will be providing full refunds to those who have already registered for WLIC, as well as to all sponsors and exhibitors.

Given that it will not be possible to hold the General Assembly during the Congress as usual, we will investigate a new date and location for this, to be held at the latest by 30 November 2020.

Our Next Congresses

Without the possibility to hold WLIC this year, our next Congresses will be all the more important as opportunities to continue the transformation of IFLA and the Global Library Field.

We are glad to say that preparations for Rotterdam in 2021 are going well. We are in regular communication with the Netherlands National Committee, who are working hard to ensure that this will be a great opportunity for learning, networking, and discovering the Dutch library field.

Looking ahead to 2022, we have received the unfortunate news that the planned venue in Auckland has suffered further delays in its construction. Current restrictions on movements and disruption to supply chains are creating further challenges. As a result, it is not possible to guarantee that it will be ready in time for our Congress. No other suitable venues are available in the country. 

After consultation with the New Zealand National Committee, the IFLA Governing Board has therefore decided to halt preparations for Auckland in 2022. We are aware of how disappointing this is, not only for library and information workers around the world, but also particularly for the New Zealand National Committee. Their work to bring IFLA to the Pacific has been superb and has already highlighted the energy and expertise of the national library field.

Instead, the 2022 World Information and Library Congress will take place in Dublin. We are grateful to the Irish National Committee for its excellent work to date and its readiness to reschedule this year’s WLIC, and are looking forward to bringing WLIC to Ireland. For the 2023 Congress, a call for candidates will be issued for all world regions other than Europe.

IFLA President Christine Mackenzie said:

   

It’s a huge disappointment not to be able to meet with you all this August, but it is the best decision for our members and the communities they serve. However, there are so many other ways we can continue to work together in the meanwhile! I’m looking forward to being in touch with as many of you as possible, and to making the 2021 Congress in Rotterdam extra special.

The Irish National Committee said:

   

While we regret not being able to welcome the global library community to Ireland in 2020, we agree that cancelling WLIC this year is the right decision given the difficulty and uncertainty we all face. We look forward to offering an even warmer and more enthusiastic welcome - Céad Míle Fáilte - to everyone in two years’ time and we send our particular appreciation to our colleagues and friends on the New Zealand National Committee.

Bill Macnaught and Te Paea Paringatai, co-chairs of the NZ National Committee said:

   

The New Zealand National Committee takes great heart in the connections built between IFLA, LIANZA, and Te Rōpū Whakahau over the last few years of collaboration and is supportive of the Governing Board’s decision and direction. We send our warmest wishes to the Irish National Committee – 2022 is Dublin’s time to shine.

Continuing to Serve

It is of course sad not to be able to meet in person in August. Nonetheless, we are determined to maintain the momentum created by the Global Vision process and the launch of our Strategy last year.

We believe strongly that the mission it sets out – to inspire, engage, enable and connect the global library field – is as relevant now as it has ever been. There is a pressing need for the access to information, culture and services that libraries provide in order to fight the global pandemic and its consequences. The need for libraries will be no less great as the world recovers afterwards. We can best meet it together.

IFLA wants to thank all of the volunteers, partners, sponsors and exhibitors for all they have done. The IFLA Governing Board is particularly grateful to the New Zealand and Irish National Committees for all their work, and their understanding and full support for these difficult decisions.

IFLA Secretary General Gerald Leitner said:

   

Even without a Congress this year, our efforts to strengthen and unify further the global field go on. To enable this, we have already worked hard to ensure that our volunteers and staff can continue their crucial work. We are reaching out to relevant groups and partners in order to explain the situation and the options for future work. We are also looking forward to announcing exciting new services and opportunities to build a stronger field powering literate, informed and participatory societies into the future.

We wish you all the best in these difficult times.

Christine Mackenzie
IFLA President 2019-2021

Gerald Leitner
IFLA Secretary General

 

9 April 2020

Mirjana Nešić has made a video, "Video editing tools for librarians"

The goal is to learn about video editing tools that can improve librarian services, find ideas on how to use video materials and get some practical tips on recording.

You find the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZv4iKbLopI

In the description you will find links to the tools and sites mentioned in the video.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working with our partners globally to help ensure that education and research continue despite disruptions, and that the scientific and health sectors have access to the widest range of trusted resources to support their work while the crisis continues.

UNESCO’s statement, Turning the threat of COVID-19 into an opportunity for greater support to documentary heritage, co-signed by IFLA, stresses the importance of continued support for preservation and access to documentary heritage.

IFLA joined the International Council of Museums (ICOM), International Council on Archives (ICA), The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA) in supporting this statement from UNESCO and the Memory of the World programme.

IFLA is proud to join these partner organisations in stressing the shared educational, social, scientific and artistic values of documentary heritage. The statement goes on to give concrete examples of the role of documentary heritage in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in preparing society for similar situations in the future.

Read the full statement here: Turning the threat of COVID-19 into an opportunity for greater support to documentary heritage

This document is part of the Resources for Documentary Heritage Professionals page recently launched by UNESCO. This is a comprehensive collection of resources and responses to COVID-19, both from UNESCO and other memory institutions.

Featured here is a statement from IFLA's Secretary General Gerald Leitner on Libraries in Action at the time of COVID-19.

We thank our partners at UNESCO and all other organisations working to promote the value of memory institutions to society, especially in these challenging times.

IFLA continues to address the changes and challenges brought about by COVID-19 across all areas of our work. For updates, please see the COVID-19 and the Global Library Field Resource Page.  

Researchers in EIFL partner countries can now publish their articles in open access with waived or discounted Article Processing Charges (APCs) in 780 journals as a result of agreements signed by EIFL with publishers.

In developing countries, budgets for research are low or non-existent. This makes it difficult for researchers to publish their articles in open access in journals that charge APCs. To support researchers from these countries, EIFL negotiates with publishers for free or discounted APCs. 

Researchers in EIFL partner countries can now publish their articles in open access with waived or discounted Article Processing Charges (APCs) in 780 journals as a result of agreements signed by EIFL with publishers.

In developing countries, budgets for research are low or non-existent. This makes it difficult for researchers to publish their articles in open access in journals that charge APCs. To support researchers from these countries, EIFL negotiates with publishers for free or discounted APCs. 

EIFL worked with partner organizations in drafting an open letter to the Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr Francis Gurry, calling on WIPO to ensure that intellectual property (IP) systems are a support, not a hindrance, in global efforts to tackle the coronavirus crisis, and its consequences. The letter was signed initially by more than 140 organizations and individuals in 33 countries. Update 9 April: the letter has been endorsed by over 450 organizations and individuals in 45 countries.

Faced with the urgent need to combat the COVID-19 Pandemic and its consequences, it is vital to ensure that intellectual property laws and practices do not become a blockage. IFLA, working with its partners, has led in drafting an open letter to the Director General of WIPO to underline this point and call for action. UPDATE - over 312 organisations and individuals have now signed. 

Copyright and intellectual property laws – and the practices they support – have a defining influence on the work of libraries at any time.

For many years, IFLA and its partners have been active in calling for reforms which bring relevant rules up to date with a global, digitised world.

The need for such laws, enabling both analogue and digital uses of works – for example eLending alongside traditional lending, or remote access to academic books, alongside on-site possibilities – has been made clearer than ever with the crisis.

Forced to close their doors to the public, libraries need to be able to provide access in support of research, education and access to culture at distance. Without this possibility, not only is it more difficult to counter the spread of COVID-19, but there is more widespread disruption which will leave scars long into the future.  

However, intellectual property laws and practices do not necessary allow this. While there have been many positive initiatives from publishers – often in response to calls from libraries – these do not cover all needs or situations.  

As a result, IFLA has worked with partners to prepare an open letter to Dr Francis Gurry, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), calling on the Organization to show leadership. Over 312 organisations and individuals, as of 5 April 2020, have already signed. 

It stresses the need for Member States to use existing flexibilities to facilitate public interest uses of works, for rightholders to give the necessary permissions for use, and for steps to be taken to support the development and delivery of treatments.  

In line with the goals of the wider United Nations system to accelerate the fight against the pandemic and its consequences – as well as the broader Sustainable Development Goals – we hope that WIPO will be able to play its part.

You can access the letter as a pdf. The letter is still open for sign-on for interested organisations and individuals through this form.

The Mid Year Meeting in Rome, Italy was cancelled due to the Coronavirus. Instead, a Zoom meeting was held. Here are some of the participants.

The conference The Evolving Concept of School Library and Its Profession to be held in Rome, Italy was replaced by a virtual one due the Corona crisis. The Meeting was initially intended to be on April 2, 2020: See here

Ensuring equitable access to information and knowledge lies at the heart of the library mission. As part of this goal, many libraries offer public internet access and workstations. And yet, there are still areas where many people do not have an opportunity to get online. Community networks - local community-led initiatives to build and maintain a telecommunications infrastructure – are emerging as an alternative model to help connect the unconnected. How do such Community Network projects relate to libraries’ mission, what can libraries do to support these initiatives?

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a rapid shift to online education and work. However, this simply isn’t a possibility for everyone, highlighting just how large of an impact the continuing digital divide has.

Many libraries have, of course, long worked to support digital inclusion by offering public internet access. As quarantines or lockdowns can impact libraries’ ability to offer such services (or make them temporarily impossible), we could use this time to explore other ways that libraries can support digital inclusion in a world post-COVID.

In recent years, more and more people have taken up Community Network initiatives to help bridge the digital divide. These are local community-led projects to build and jointly operate a digital communications infrastructure – often in areas where commercial networks are not available. These networks are built on the principle of open commons: the users of the network govern and manage it cooperatively, contributing their time and resources.

What does this mean for libraries? Supporting Community Network projects can be a fundamentally new way for libraries to help their communities get online. In the digital age, this aligns closely with libraries’ mission to help ensure equitable access to information and knowledge.

A new briefing prepared by IFLA explains this in more detail:

• What are Community Networks?
• Why are Community Networks important for libraries?
• How can libraries help and support community network projects?
• How have libraries helped community network projects in different parts of the world?
• What are the different ways a library can get involved?

[Visit the publication page to download the briefing]

The deadline of the Committee on Standards call for papers for our open session at this year's IFLA WLIC 2020 has been extended to 8 April 2020. 

Please see the IFLA WLIC 2020 website for complete details on the call.

Dear Colleagues,

 

It is with great regret that I must tell you that, by agreement between the IFLAPARL Standing Committee and the Houses of Oireachtas Service, the IFLAPARL 2020 Conference has been cancelled.

 

The IFLAPARL 2020 conference was due to run 12-14 August 2020 in Dublin, Ireland. It would have been the 36th Library and Research Services for Parliaments IFLA Pre-Conference.

 

The main IFLA WLIC conference, including the IFLAPARL session within it, remains on.  

 

The COVID-19 pandemic requires great efforts now and in the coming months from all our services, and the Houses of the Oireachtas Service must be allowed to focus on that. This consideration applies also to speakers and to conference delegates. Further, there are many uncertainties regarding travel to Ireland and the feasibility of running such an event in Ireland in August.  We know that round the world there are prohibitions on making travel arrangements and colleagues have understandable concerns regarding both health and travel in August.

 

We do not believe that the many challenges and uncertainties will clear in sufficient time for this event to be viable, considering the logistics, content and level of attendance.

 

The Standing Committee will look in due course at options to run some kind of virtual conference in the last quarter of the year. As Chair, I will urge IFLA to postpone the Dublin main conference to 2021, saving some of the work done by the Irish organising committee, with the event in Rotterdam deferred to 2022, and that in New Zealand to 2023. We cannot guarantee that the IFLAPARL conference planned for 2020 can be offered in 2021 but it might at least be a possibility. Deferment would acknowledge the efforts made to date by our Irish colleagues from all Sections, as well as the National Committee.

 

I wish to thank the Houses of the Oireachtas Service for their cooperation to date – which was splendid – and I wish them all the very best in dealing with this crisis situation.

 

I thank all of you, and in particular those who made proposals to speak, for your interest and investment in IFLAPARL 2020 up to this point. I would ask for your understanding in regard to this very difficult decision.

 

Yours faithfully,

Iain Watt

Chair of IFLAPARL

New research from Australia has explored how the way eBooks are offered to libraries affect their decisions over what to offer borrowers.

Led by Associate Professor Rebecca Giblin of the University of Melbourne law school as part of the international eLending Project (elendingproject.org), this builds on previous work that has underlined the restrictions, inconsistencies and lack of adaptation to demand that characterises the library eBook market, both in Australia and worldwide.

The new research is based on a survey of libraries across Australia. The researchers sought to understand how publisher licensing practices were impacting library decisions about which ebooks to add to their collections, as well as the trade-offs they were making in balancing scarce resources with their communities’ diverse needs.

It finds that the prices and licence terms set by publishers are having real impacts on the books that get added to public library collections – and thus the authors who get read and paid for library uses. 

 

A Flawed Market

Previous work from the library eLending project have identified a series of challenges associated with the library eLending market on the side of suppliers. Not all ebooks are made available for lending (although availability is better in some countries than others). Different publishers take different approaches. Increasingly, they are adopting ‘metered’ (only a certain number of loans are possible) or ‘exploding’ licences (which see the library lose access to a book after a set time, regardless of how many times it has been borrowed. The eLending Project’s previous work had also shown that the licence type and price charged do not necessarily reflect likely demand, with older books just as likely to be made available at high prices and on exploding licenses as the newest ones. But what does this mean for libraries?

 

As the new research shows, it is not the conditions offered by publishers and platforms, but rather patron demand that is the main driver of decision-making. In order to meet that demand, libraries are signing up for multiple platforms (with multiple platform fees), and buying access to individual books on less-than-favourable terms.  Libraries reported that they often felt they had no choice but to agree to unreasonable prices or restrictions for in-demand books. As one put it, ‘Remaining relevant means that we are a slave to demand driven purchasing. (Don’t tell the publisher.)' But that then means they have less resources to fulfil their other missions, including collection development and supporting local and emerging writers.

In this, they are not helped necessarily by the lack of information received from platforms, which tend to be readier to share numbers on waiting lists rather than on use, potentially in order to encourage more sales. This makes it difficult for libraries even to calculate costs per loan, and many libraries reported not having the skills or resources to do so.

 

A Way Forwards?

Some of the potential improvements to the situation already appeared in the previous work, notably greater consistency in offer from one platform to the next, and an approach to licensing and pricing that reflects likely demand for books.

The new research identified further suggestions, including most importantly, the need for libraries to have a choice between licensing models, including pay-per-loan.

This would help libraries to promote more local content, in particular from new and emerging authors, and so both ensure deeper and more balanced collections and continue libraries’ role as a supporter of literary diversity.

It could also make it easier for libraries to serve minority groups by buying books that may be of less interest to the rest of the population. This would help realise the potential of eBooks as a means of giving access to a much wider range of content that better meets the needs of all readers.

There are many powerful lessons to be taken from this work, many of which may be familiar to libraries in other countries.

Despite increasing spending – indeed, library eLending is one of the rare growth areas in the wider eBook market – libraries and their users are not necessarily seeing the benefits, and indeed are struggling to fulfil traditional missions to offer wide, deep collections that respond to the needs of all members of the community while helping new writers find an audience.

This research underlines, again, the need for serious reflection on the way the library eLending market operates, in the interests of authors and readers like. 

You can download the full research report as a pdf.

Dear friends,

We present to you the January 2020 issue of our IFLA Asia and Oceania Regional Quarterly Newsletter.

Hope you have enjoyed it so far.

~Please open the PDF newsletter to access the links.~

Thank you and have a great week ahead!

Happy Reading! 

With warmest regards,

Soh Lin Li
Regional Manager
IFLA Regional Office for Asia and Oceania

Dear LIBER network, The coronavirus is having an unprecedented effect on life and working routines around the globe. Research libraries are also impacted by this crisis. With many physical buildings forced to close, virtual library teams are working harder than ever to provide digital support to students and researchers. On behalf of LIBER’s Executive Board…

The post Coronavirus: A Message for Our Libraries from LIBER’s President appeared first on LIBER.

UNESCO has recently announced a call for nominations for the 2020 Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education. This is an opportunity to mark the contributions of various organizations, institutions, or individuals to the education of women and girls. Libraries of course often work to offer various learning opportunities, and library projects that focus on women and girls’ education and learning could be eligible for a nomination!

WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS?

According to the announcement, a project needs to meet the following criteria to be eligible:

“The Project:

• has a clear focus on advancing girls’ and women’s education, and  the  promotion  of  gender equality in and through education, and contributes to one or more of the five priority areas of the Prize:

1.Participation: Supporting  girls  to  transition  from  primary  education  to  lower-secondary education and to complete full basic education

2.Literacy: Supporting adolescent girls and young women to acquire literacy skills

3.Environment: Supporting the creation of a gender-responsive and safe teaching-learning  environment

4.Teachers: Engaging  teachers  to  be  change  agents  with  gender-responsive  teaching attitudes and practices

5.Skills: Supporting girls and women to acquire knowledge/skills for life and work

• has already been running for at least two years; and
• shows evidence that it may be replicable, scalable and/or provide significant learning potential for initiatives in other contexts”

Furthermore, it is good if a project is able to show qualitatively or quantitatively measurable impacts - a change in attitudes, beliefs or practices; girls’ participation in education or their learning outcomes, or removing existing barriers to education – as well as innovation and sustainability. You can find out more about the nomination here: https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/gwe_prize_explanatory_note.pdf#page=2

The deadline for nominations is 26 May 2020 (midnight, Paris time)

Check out the all new SET Bullentin from January 2020 for complete coverage of the SET meetings, programs and activities at IFLA August 2019 in Athens as well as the satellite meetings.