During the recent organisation of the Public Libraries in the Islamic Republic of Iran, a major movement has been started to properly equip the central public libraries with a focus on the following areas – spatial arrangement, equipment, facilities, segmentation and user spaces. Various national and international models, including their library equipment and services, were studied and examined as part of the planning process.

Yazd Central Library is one of these libraries and was launched on 6 March 2021 with an infrastructure of 8,000 square metres and a capacity of 200,000 copies of books in various sections. This launch date coincided with the anniversary of the establishment of the Iran Public Libraries Foundation. The distinctive features of this library include: anticipating the need for new spaces and functions in the library, reviewing the design and equipment of the library, allocating skilled and specialised manpower, and standardising the internal equipment. With the opening of the Central Library of Yazd, the number of central public libraries in Iran reached 10.

Some of the other remarkable features of this library are:

A) Furnished with modern technologies and equipment:

 ● The central library is equipped with high-speed internet on optical fibre platform.

● All equipment and facilities of this library have been selected through various processes with expertise and consideration for the needs of users e.g. tables fitted with electrical outlets, ergonomic chairs, information stands, etc.

● The children's section of the library, which is one of the largest in the country, was designed by the librarians of the children's section with an attractive atmosphere for children and young people. A playroom, a training class and a play stage are part of this section, along with the bookstack and the nursery room.

 Due to the Corona virus pandemic and the impossibility of attending or visiting libraries, a "Virtual Tour of Yazd Central Library" has been made available (http://sarasarnama.com/cms/iranpl/view.php?id=MTYzOA==) with the aim of acquainting knowledge and information science specialists, the general public and anyone else who could be interested with the different sections and facilities of this library.

● Setting up a science room with an area of 300 square metres for teenagers, in cooperation with knowledge-based companies, focusing on education, creativity, entertainment and familiarity with science using interactive and experimental equipment. This is a novel and distinctive feature of Yazd Central Library.

 

● Some library spaces will be put into operation in the near future. These include the workshop space, audio book recording studio, amphitheatre, book café, book exchange centre, warehouse and commercial spaces.

 

B) Designing an environment in accordance with the traditional context of Yazd

Yazd is a historical city with a unique cultural, architectural and Islamic context. Since the library is located in the historic district, the architecture and exterior view of the library is modelled on the traditional context and history of Yazd. Likewise, designing space has been done using local and cultural patterns of the city.

 ● Space creation, division of user spaces and partitioning different sections of the library building have been done based on recognised standards and with an emphasis on maximum use of library spaces.

C) Considering the needs of all groups of users

● A variety of audio-visual resources for all people, including the deaf, the blind and other members of the society make this library a comprehensive centre in terms of audio-visual services.

● In dividing the spaces and creating different sections for the library, the principle of easy access for all visitors to the spaces and services of the library has been observed.

● Currently, Yazd Central Library has various dedicated sections including the following: print repository, children, adolescents, publications, science, the blind, the deaf, manuscripts, lithography and lead printing, classrooms, computer-based classroom, study halls, researchers hall, group study room , gallery, VIP study rooms, conference hall, and database management.

● The "special groups" section of the library has been prepared for the benefit of the blind and deaf by using specialised equipment and facilities to actively encourage the attendance of these groups in the library. Consultations have been held with Welfare Organizations and affiliated associations for more activities and expansion of these sections.

After several years of planning and preparation, the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) will be streaming its annual National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday 19 May, read by an astronaut at the International Space Station.

National Simultaneous Storytime has been a major event on the Australian library calendar since it first occurred in 2001. ALIA wanted to mark the occasion with something big, and when an ALIA Member suggest that we hold it in space, the challenge was accepted. ALIA approached the Australian Space Agency and the Office of the Chief Scientist, who loved the idea and provided support for the event.

 

National Simultaneous Storytime also features an Australian picture book, and so ALIA approached publisher Scholastic Australia and highly acclaimed author and illustrator Philip Bunting to commission a book for the occasion. His book Give me some Space! follows a young girl Una, as she expresses her lifelong love for all things astronomical. Una dreams of leaving her boring life on Earth behind to follow her mission to find life in space. As well as being a fun and creative book, it was created in consultation with astronomy specialists to ensure that everything portrayed in the book was scientifically accurate.

 

Once the book was finished, a prototype was created to send to space, with specific physical requirements, such as no sharp surfaces, a specific kind of ink and paper, no rivets or detachable parts, and absolutely no glitter. After thorough cleaning and packaging, the book was placed onto a space shuttle in late 2020 and sent to its destination – the International Space Station.

 

The book’s central themes were intended to instil in children a curiosity in science and technology – a focus that is echoed in a nationwide citizen science experiment that will accompany National Simultaneous Storytime. The experiment, designed to shed some light on the important issue of climate change, will investigate how, as we change the surface of the Earth from trees and fields to concrete and roads, we change the CO2 levels in the atmosphere, and change the temperature on Earth and its atmosphere. Participants will be recording the temperature at their locations around Australia on Wednesday 12 May 2021, and then share the data with ALIA for collating.

 

On the International Space Station, astronauts will run their own customised experiment to show how changes to the surface of Earth can result in different temperatures. A recording of the experiment will be shared with participants who will be able to see the results and better understand their own experiment.

 

Through this opportunity to link our activities with themes of scientific inquiry – particularly for young women – and climate action, ALIA is actively supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, by embedding themes of quality education, gender equality and climate action, through partnership with government and educational organisations.

 

 

Finally, on Wednesday 19 May 2021, ALIA’s National Simultaneous Storytime will occur. A video from the International Space Station will be produced by Story Time From Space, featuring astronaut Shannon Walker as the reader. Registered participants and organisations will receive a link to the online video of the reading prior to the day, and will hold reading events in their libraries at 11am on the day.

 

Last year’s event attracted more than 1.2 million participants from across Australia, and this year is looking to be even bigger. Whilst National Simultaneous Storytime is created for the Australian and New Zealand library community, participants from other countries are welcome to participate – last year we had participants from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 

Registration for the event is free, and more details can be found at https://www.alia.org.au/nss

National Simultaneous Storytime is supported by Scholastic Australia, the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Australian Space Agency.

 

Several days ago, Ms Chen, who lives in Lin'an District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, returned books borrowed from the Zhejiang Library to the Lin'an District Library near her house, freeing herself from 3 hours of running about if she had to return books to Zhejiang Library. This is one user who benefitted from the Overall Service-Improving Programme, which aimed to enhance the public library system in the province. In this example, the library coordinated the loan and return of books, with books borrowed in one public library allowed to be returned to any public library within Zhejiang Province.

This seems to be a small change but is motivated by the Overall Service-Improving Programme which offers great reform significance. In June 2020, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and other relevant departments jointly launched the Overall Service-Improving Programme Plan for Zhejiang Public Libraries (2020-2022), with a focus on balance — public libraries across the whole Zhejiang Province plan to spend 3 years to solve problems such as uneven library distribution and service inefficiency, bridge the social divide through integrated management, optimise digitalisation, and expand the community outreach of library services. The Plan aims to incorporate technological innovation and build a public library community.

"Appointment with books at the Hehe Book Bar" activity held in Taizhou Library, Zhejiang Province

There are 8 objectives to the Overall Service-Improving Programme:

 

1. Commitment to creating diversified reading spaces with distinctive characteristics and ensuring even distribution in the neighbourhood.
2. Implementing the coordinated loan and return of library items among public libraries in Zhejiang Province.
3. Optimising digital services, narrowing relevant urban-rural gap, establishing a province-wide joint procurement mechanism and a collaborative service platform, upgrading mobile reading services, and promoting digital services for ancient books and local literature.
4. Developing an online book loan and return platform called “credit reading”, which is based on personal credit and there will be no deposits or overdue fees in public libraries across the province. Readers in rural areas can fairly benefit and enjoy the online book selection, borrowing and delivery to home through “credit reading”.
5. Promoting high-quality reading activities in rural areas, for example, the spectacular growth of new media can be used to diversify activity forms and promote the involvement of the masses.
6. Optimising convenience services, especially improving the barrier-free reading facilities of public libraries to enhance the service for the marginalised groups.
7. Regular epidemic prevention and control.
8. Promoting the corporate governance reform of public libraries at and above the county level.

Blind readers listening to audiobooks in the Music Hall of Ouhai District Library, Wenzhou City

 

Change and more change

 

Like many libraries, Singapore Management University (SMU) Libraries closed their physical libraries early in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SMU transitioned courses and to working online in late March 2020. Singapore underwent a ‘circuit breaker’ from 7 April 2020 – 1 June 2020, and all campus facilities were closed. Since then, the physical libraries have progressively reopened. Working from home has been the default mode, with 75% of staff returning to campus as of May 2021. Seating capacity in the Libraries remains reduced due to safe distancing measures.

During similar transitions, academic libraries around the world have experienced a range of significant challenges including implementing health and safety measures, providing access to materials, launching and enhancing digital services, moving teaching and learning activities online, navigating personal trials, and more! Throughout these manoeuvres staff have consistently demonstrated dedication, flexibility, and creativity.

Strategic planning now?!?!

While COVID-19 complicated our already-VUCA environment, at SMU there were simultaneously circumstances that presented an opportune time for strategic planning. There was recent leadership change across the University in 2019, and I joined as University Librarian in end March 2020. SMU developed a new strategic plan (SMU 2025), and the Libraries’ previous strategic plan expired. Colleagues in the Libraries were excited to explore new opportunities, tactics, and alignments.

As the new University Librarian, I viewed strategic planning as a way to show commitment to collaboration and inclusion and hone our focus together. If we did not seize the chance to leverage on fresh leadership, closely align with the SMU strategic plan, and capture colleagues’ enthusiasm, it would be a loss of momentum and opportunity. It was also an occasion to empower colleagues to establish future directions and goals during a time when Covid-19 presented forced changes that they had little, if any, ability to affect. Strategic planning opened the doors for agency and future-looking during a time when the present was extraordinarily unpredictable.

 

Staff investment and innovation

SMU Libraries’ goal was to design, develop and implement an inclusive strategic plan for 2021-2025. The highlights of the process were investment and innovation by the Libraries’ staff.  Throughout the process, all staff participated in activities through which, among other things, they shared their hopes for SMU Libraries, conducted environmental scanning, reflected on the Libraries’ context and community stakeholders’ evolving needs, and examined fundamental elements of the University’s strategic priorities.  Colleagues also engaged in activities that resulted in new Vision and Mission statements, explored segmented stakeholder needs from the perspective of the stakeholder, and identified new potentialities through guided approaches. These activities promoted their investment in the institution and in the outcomes of the strategic planning process; one colleague noted that the experience gave them a “sense of belonging to the organization.”

Additional engagement included an external facilitator, who enthusiastically and effectively conducted two workshops online, the University’s Library Advisory Committee, and the Provost. The SMU Libraries Strategic Plan 2021-2025 was launched at the beginning of 2021.

 

Planning in the face of unpredictability

While strategic planning is not a new activity for libraries, the context of the development of this strategic plan was unique. Planning amidst a pandemic necessitated new thinking. As Peter Drucker’s widespread quote proclaims, “the greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” Colleagues were challenged with viewing the future through a new lens. They shared comments like “the COVID situation presents challenges but it's also an opportunity for libraries to transform….”  

 

The significance of the University’s priorities of digital transformation, sustainable living, and growth in Asia, which are integrated into the Libraries’ strategic plan, were underscored by COVID-19. Other areas were also brought to the forefront, as they were at other libraries, such as the value of physical learning spaces as a service, shifting collections, building digital capabilities, digital everything relating to teaching, learning, and research support, open science opportunities, flexibility in systems and staffing, the importance of collaboration and partnerships, and, again, more! Empathy and awareness around mental health were also accentuated. These recognitions contributed to the Libraries’ strategic directions and goals, such as those addressing user-centred discovery of resources, emerging research trends and technologies as part of research support, advocating and integrating open resources into collections and practices, virtual spaces as active environments, development and well-being of staff, and flexible staffing models for new and emerging environments.

While addressing immediate needs and shifts during COVID-19, SMU Libraries also moved to set its future strategy.  The strategic plan is a result of teamwork and provides shared directions and goals to advance SMU’s Mission and our users’ success in emerging environments, accommodating adjustments as local and global situations evolve. Planning during extreme unpredictability may be risky, but we are continually reminded that change is constant. The risk was worth the benefit of approaching the unknown future with a cohesive strategy as #OneSMULibraries.

References

Cox, C. (2020, June 5). Changed, changed utterly. Inside Higher Ed.
https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2020/06/05/academic-libraries-will-change-significant-ways-result-pandemic-opinion

Ohler, L. A., & Pitts, J. (2021) From peril to promise: The academic library post-COVID-19. College & Research Libraries News, 82(1), 41-44. https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.82.1.41

If you took a look at my background, there were elements that possibly led to my becoming in late 2018, the Head Librarian of the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM); and then in 2019, the Vice-President of the Library Association of Singapore (2019 to 2021); and ultimately, as of 27 March 2021, the President of the Library Association of Singapore, a post that I will hold up to 2023.

When I was first approached by my company to take over as the Head Librarian, my first thoughts were when I am going to get started with my professional qualifications. Mind you, I was pursuing my doctorate during the same period. Never one to say no to a challenge, I took it up, gleefully.

Since I was young, I have always been an avid fan of the library. My mom would bring me to the National Library (at the then historical location at Fort Canning) at least once a week and I would fit as many books as I could into my bag. Trust me, even until today, nothing much has changed! During my school days, apart from the National Library, the National Archives and the school library were my other two best friends where I sought comfort, knowing that the books were and will always be my faithful companions.

When I told my friends that I was going to become a Head Librarian, nobody seemed surprised as my life revolved around books in some way or another throughout the years. My previous experience included handling the marketing, publicity, advertising, events management, and public relations aspects of all the authors that my company distributed, both local and global.

When I decided to pursue my masters, I moved on to sales. After which, I was headhunted by a few companies from various industries ranging from airlines to banks as well as education. No prizes for guessing which industry I ended up with.

At the Singapore Institute of Management, I initially started as a learning and development consultant whereby I helped the human resources development heads to best plan out the training and development needs of their people by providing the best offerings that helped them close the skills gaps.

Seeing an opening in the publications department, I decided to pivot and take over the publications team—I applied and got the job! Being Editor and Publications Head (a position I still hold together with my Head Librarian post), I managed to see things from the other perspective, especially since in my previous role, I was on the other side of the fence looking after public relations and publicity. Plus, I get to maximise what I have learnt in journalism school.

Until today, I still manage the senior quarterly management magazine Today’s Manager as well as the management portal Management360 (http://m360.sim.edu.sg). I was Editor of the management journal Singapore Management Review which is currently on a hiatus.

Now the reason why I am sharing my background is because I see the library shifting to not only being knowledge curators but knowledge creators as well. This is where I am pivoting my library towards and I am looking towards working with my association to do the same too.

Given my background, I will be looking towards not merely developing librarians in terms of library related activities or programmes, but expanding their scopes by looking at the possibility of introducing a range of speakers or facilitators who will help them relook at their own roles and see how else and what else they can contribute to this amazing world.

I have met many librarians locally and globally in my current role. I have found that most of them are just ready to share their knowledge so readily. I am looking to do the same in my capacity not just as Head Librarian at SIM but more importantly, as the President of the Library Association of Singapore.

In 2021 alone, there is an E-book and a joint conference in the works that celebrates the 65th anniversary of both the Library Association of Singapore and the Persatuan Pustakawan Malaysia.

I am excited about what is going on in the library world, and I am even more excited about the prospect of playing an instrumental role in the changes to come. I look forward to being able to get to know more of you and finding various ways to collaborate.

Excelsior!  

Everyone agrees that manuscript is a valuable legacy, written in the past to become a foothold in the present and future. Manuscript has important values as language documents, historical documents and cultural documents. These vital values are the foundation in supporting sustainable cities and communities development. According to the National Library of Indonesia’s Grand Design of Nusantara Manuscripts Management 2020-2029, Indonesia has 121,668 manuscripts scattered throughout the world. Among them, 39,387 are abroad while 82,281 are within the country. The National Library of Indonesia (NLI) acts as the front guard in preserving this cultural heritage.

The Journey of Nusantara Manuscripts Preservation by NLI throughout Indonesia

Figure 1. Manuscripts Preservation at Keraton Kasepuhan Cirebon, West Java

Source: http://preservasi.perpusnas.go.id/

Through the Library Material Preservation Centre, NLI is actively involved in preserving manuscripts throughout Indonesia. The Conservation Team from the Preservation Centre undertakes conservation efforts physically and digitally by transferring media to digital and micro forms. The progress of the manuscript preservation carried out by the Library Material Preservation Centre is captured in the table below:

 

Table 1. Manuscripts Preservation Throughout Indonesia

 

No.

Year

Province

Number of Titles

1

2006

West Nusa Tenggara 

74

2

2007

Riau Islands

21

3

2007

Aceh

4

4

2007

Bengkulu

5

5

2008

West Nusa Tenggara

7

6

2008

Riau Islands

3

7

2008

East Java

5

8

2008

South Sulawesi 

13

9

2009

West Sumatera

30

10

2009

West Java

56

11

2010

Central Java

14

12

2012

Central Maluku

56

13

2013

South East Sulawesi 

16

14

2013

Bali

210

15

2013

West Java

55

16

2013

North Sumatera 

30

17

2014

West Java

41

18

2015

West Java

47

19

2015

Jambi

13

20

2015

Central Java

99

21

2015

South Kalimantan

171

22

2015

Jambi

65

23

2016

West Sumatera

125

24

2017

Riau

138

25

2018

Bali

230

26

2018

East Jawa 

250

Source: 

Hendrawati, T. 2018. Digitalisasi Manuskrip Nusantara Sebagai Pelestari Intelektual Leluhur Bangsa. Media Pustakawan. Vol. 25 No. 4. 

 

After preservation, a copy of the Nusantara Manuscript, which has been converted into digital format, will be stored in NLI and another copy will be kept by the owner.

Khastara Website: 1 Digital Data of Nusantara Manuscripts

NLI has a vision of "1 Digital Data of Nusantara Manuscripts". This vision is the basis for digitising the Nusantara Manuscripts and providing the maximum access for the public to utilise those cultural documents. With this vision, NLI has created a website called Khastara (Khasanah Pustaka Nusantara). Khastara provides the most complete digital content in Indonesia, namely 9,789 collections and 64,133 copies in all categories. The content in the categories can be broken down further as follows: 1,459 manuscripts (9,887 ex), 227 rare books (848 ex), 1,548 maps (1,551 ex), 119 microfilms (11,653 ex), 5,712 pictures & paintings (5,887 ex), 107 rare magazines & newspapers (30,052 ex), and 617 other sources (4,255 ex).

Figure 2. Khastara Website

https://khastara.perpusnas.go.id/

This portal displays detailed collection information for free and supports the PDF Flip format for easy reading. Users only need a Google account to log in immediately. To date, the total number of visitors who have accessed the portal is 755,613. These visitors come from various backgrounds such as students and researchers who are doing research and manuscript activists who intend to introduce the richness of Indonesian manuscripts to the young generation.

 

The Essence of Preservation of Nusantara Manuscripts in the Future

 

In order to support the 11th goal of SDGs in the Library Sector (Sustainable Cities and Communities), NLI builds synergies with various parties. For instance, it organised a webinar entitled "1 Digital Data of Nusantara Manuscripts" in March 2021which provided much inspiration. Among the participants, A.A.G.N Ari Dwipayana (Coordinator of Presidential Staff and Head of Puri Kauhan Ubud Foundation) introduced a new family-based approach in preserving manuscripts that are still scattered in the community. He also said that the preservation of manuscripts did not end with digitisation but the process continued with script transfer, language translation, publication, discussion and scientification. This is to ensure that the Nusantara Manuscripts can be utilised and can contribute significantly in supporting sustainable cities and to the development of communities in the future. The Head of NLI, Mr Syarif Bando, said that in the future, there must be a commitment to make sure that the library is not only a guardian institution for civilisation. Through historical evidence stored in libraries, Indonesia must be able to create new theories that can become evidence of the nation's progress.

Hello Friends,

 

            We are excited to share with you the latest issue of the IFLA Asia & Oceania Regional Newsletter that has undergone a complete makeover. We hope you would like it.

 

           It is heartening that many of you have responded enthusiastically to our call for articles. Please keep it coming, and we really appreciate all your contributions. Let us join our hands together to make our newsletters more diverse and vibrant.

 

            Over the past couple of months, we were all busy nominating candidates to serve as the Regional Council Chair and our new 20 Committee Members. Upon their elections in April – June 2021, we will work together to deliver the objectives of the new Asia & Oceania Regional Division Committee which will replace the Regional Standing Committee for Asia & Oceania Section.

 

           Do join us too for the IFLA virtual congress IFLA WLIC 2021 from 17 to 19 August 2021. Registrations for this event will open in May 2021 and interested members can sign up for the WLIC newsletter which can be found at https://www.ifla.org/node/93794 to stay informed of the latest developments.

 

            Enjoy reading and stay safe!

 

Sincerely,

Ms Soh Lin Li

Manager for IFLA Regional Office for Asia and Oceania

 

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

During the last couple of months, the work of Asia and Oceania Section mainly focused on the advocacy of UN SDGs, IFLA elections for 2021 as well as WLIC 2021.

On 26 February, we had our online mid-term meeting attended by 18 committee members. Alongside, the RSCAO Asia-Pacific webinar on ‘Libraries and the SDGs’ hosted by the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) was a great success with guest speakers from the USA, Singapore, India, Fiji and New Zealand and over 270 registrants from a wide range of countries across the region. The webinar showcased grass-roots SDG stories from libraries regardless of their locality, size and resource availability and provided practical examples on how libraries can contribute to the attainment of the UN SDGs. The brief report is available at https://www.ifla.org/node/93733?og=67. The webinar recording is also viewable at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op-tgwDJgkI

IFLA Elections 2021 began in early March. As a result of the IFLA restructuring, the Asia and Oceania Section has been upgraded to one of the six Regional Divisions. The new Asia & Oceania Regional Division Committee will replace RSCAO and consist of 20 members from the Asia-Oceania region. As IFLA Members or Affiliates, you are encouraged to nominate suitable candidates to serve as the Regional Council Chair or as members of the Asia & Oceania Regional Division. Details on the elections are available at https://www.ifla.org/elections-2021

For the first time, the IFLA WLIC will be held online during 17-19 August 2021.The virtual conference will be the most inclusive and accessible event in IFLA’s history, bringing to participants new experience and formats. RSCAO Program Sub-committee is engaged in planning the Asia and Oceania session. Registration will open in May. Stay tuned! https://www.ifla.org/wlic2021

Last but not least, we would like to thank our members and friends for the kind support and hope that people with different expertise will join the new Regional Division and bring the libraries in Asia and Oceania to a new level.

Best regards,

Tina

RSCAO Chair

​

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.

Bestowed annually by the IFLA Governing Board, IFLA Honours and Awards are a great opportunity to acknowledge a colleague whose efforts you admire and respect. You can speak confidentially with others to initiate and support a nomination.

The Honours and Awards were recently reviewed and updated by the IFLA Governing Board so please read the new requirements carefully. The process is confidential and the nominee should not be aware of their nomination.

The Call for Nominations is out now. Don’t delay!

FAQs

Who can make a nomination? 
All authorised representatives of IFLA Members and Personal Affiliates. Section Standing Committee members may nominate someone for a Scroll of Appreciation.

When will the presentations be made? 
Presentations are made during IFLA’s General Assembly.

How do I make a nomination?
Please download the relevant nomination form found at the bottom of this page, complete it with nominator signatures and referee reports and send it to ifla@ifla.org

DEADLINE EXTENDED: 24 May 2021
late submissions shall not be considered

Honorary Fellow

Honorary Fellow is IFLA's highest award, and is conferred on the basis of merit on a person who has delivered long and distinguished service to IFLA and the global library field. It may not necessarily be awarded every year. A nomination for Honorary Fellow is required to be supported by at least four nominators from different countries who are current IFLA Members or Personal Affiliates. Nominations must include evidence to support any claims against the criteria. A nomination must be accompanied by at least three written referee reports. Referees should not also be nominators, and at least one referee should be an IFLA Member or Personal Affiliate. Referees should address the nominee's suitability for the award, in relation to the criteria and may provide further information relevant to the award if desired.

In making its decision, the Executive Committee will examine only the evidence provided by the nominators and the three referee reports submitted with this nomination. The evidence and referee reports you provide should be based on the following required criteria:

1. Exemplary personal and professional contribution to IFLA
2. Leadership and influence amongst colleagues and peers
3. Exemplary contribution to the global library field
4. Efforts in fostering IFLA values, for example, diversity, inclusion and equality

IFLA Medal

IFLA Medal is conferred on a person who has given distinguished service to IFLA or who has made a substantial contribution to the global library field.

A nomination for the IFLA Medal is required to have at least three nominators from different countries who are current IFLA Members or Personal Affiliates. A nomination must include evidence to support any claims of the nominee's distinguished service or contribution to IFLA or to the global library field. Each nomination shall be accompanied by at least two written referee reports. Referees should not also be nominators, and at least one referee should be an IFLA Member or Personal Affiliate.

In making its decision, the Executive Committee will examine only the evidence provided by the nominators and the two referee reports submitted with this nomination. The evidence and referee reports you provide should be based on the following required criteria

1. Distinguished personal and professional contribution to IFLA and /or distinguished personal and professional contribution to the global library field
2. Efforts in fostering IFLA values, for example, diversity, inclusion and equality

IFLA Scroll of Appreciation

IFLA Scroll of Appreciation is awarded to an individual who has given distinguished service to IFLA as a volunteer engaged in a committee or group.

The IFLA Scroll of Appreciation is peer nominated. A nomination for the IFLA Scroll of Appreciation is required to have at least two nominators from different countries who are current IFLA Members, Personal Affiliates or current members of a Section Standing Committee. Each nomination shall be accompanied by at least one written referee report. The referee should not also be a nominator. A nomination must include evidence to support any claims of the nominee's distinguished service or contribution to IFLA or to the global library field.

In making its decision, the Executive Committee will examine only the evidence provided by the nominators and the referee report(s) submitted with this nomination. The evidence and referee report(s) you provide should be based on the following required criteria

1. Distinguished personal and professional contribution to IFLA’s committee(s) and/or group(s);
2. Efforts in fostering IFLA values, for example, diversity, inclusion and equality

The IFLA Certificate of Appreciation is awarded annually to the IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) National Committee for that year.

 

The Executive Committee of the Governing Board considers all nominations in committee and in confidence. The Executive Committee and the Secretary General shall not enter into correspondence on individual nominations. Only successful nominations will be published.

Wherever possible, honours and awards shall be announced and conferred at the General Assembly.

NOMINATION FORMS:

• IFLA Honorary Fellow [DOC] | [PDF]
• IFLA Medal [DOC] | [PDF]
• IFLA Scroll of Appreciation [DOC] | [PDF]

Nominations for awards to be conferred in 2021 are invited, in confidence, on the relevant form which should be returned by email to: ifla@ifla.org.

Join us at this year’s WLIC from wherever you live!

Bringing librarians and information specialists together for the world's most international conference has been the aim of IFLA's World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) since 1928. In 2021, WLIC will be held across three days - Tuesday, 17 August to Thursday, 19 August, spanning three time zones.

IFLA's Governing Board have optimised WLIC 2021 through exceptionally lower registration fees, widening inclusivity and encouraging broad attendance to its first virtual conference. Be a part of this extraordinary opportunity to join with colleagues and connect, shape and learn together.

Notably, IFLA Members and Affiliates will benefit from these lower rates - Library associations will be able to offer their members the reduced IFLA member rate and IFLA's institutional members will be able to register and enhance the learning of greater numbers of staff.  With this measure, IFLA acknowledges the librarians around the world who are contributing to the profession and supporting their national associations. If you are not part of your national association, now is the ideal time to join and take advantage of this timely membership benefit.

Have you always wanted to attend WLIC? This year you can, more easily than ever. To increase participation and bring our profession together, IFLA will invite those with the financial means to sponsor an extra registration for a fellow librarian elsewhere in the world. Students and retirees will benefit from a reduced rate, and even the non-member rates are low.

We’re still ironing out the details for our registration groups (including the final rates), so sign up for the IFLA WLIC Newsletter to stay informed about this and other WLIC 2021 news. Registration opens at the end of May!

Kind regards,

Gerald Leitner
Secretary General
The Hague, Netherlands
12 May 2021

Meet us at the intersection of health literacy outreach and health communication in our upcoming webinar, 'Health Communication for the Complex World' with health scientist, science communicator, and podcaster Anna W. I. Au. Learn to use clear health communication strategies to improve your health literacy outreach efforts!

Friday, May 28, 1600-1700 BST (GMT+1)

See session details on our Events page.

Register today!

At a side-event to the United Nations Science, Technology and Innovation Forum 2021 on 5 May, speakers shared their insights on where work is needed to ensure that openness acts as a driver of sustainable development.

This year’s UN Science, Technology and Innovation Forum took place on 3-5 May, focusing on the theme of ‘science, technology and innovation for a sustainable and resilient COVID-19 recovery, and effective pathways of inclusive action towards the Sustainable Development Goals’.

Bringing together stakeholders from across government, academia, business and civil society, it provided a space to discuss progress in realising the potential of science, technology and innovation in achieving the UN's 2030 Agenda.

In a side-event organised by IFLA, along with the UN Library and the Library of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (whose Director, Wouter Schallier, acted as moderator), speakers focused in particular on the promise of open access and science, and the steps needed to fulfil this.

In his introduction, Thanos Giannakopoulos, Director of the UN Library underlined that while at least in some countries and disciplines, large shares of research publications are already open access, this is not the case everywhere.

Moreover, as has been clear, the availability of accurate information is not necessarily a cure, in itself, for the prevalence of misleading information.

Omo Oaiya, Chief Strategy Officer of the West and Central Africa Research and Education Network, highlighted the importance of good internet connectivity to allow for more equitable participation in open science.

He also highlighted the need to develop open science in a way that respected local, national and regional preferences and ways of doing things, in order to ensure a strong sense of ownership.

Ellen Tise, Director of Libraries at Stellenbosch University, focused on the need to reflect further on business models in publishing which risked excluding developing countries, either though high subscription prices, or high article processing charges.

She noted that a key goal was to find a way of sustaining local journals and repositories, for example in Africa, which were best placed to promote local research and innovation.

Jonathan Hernandez-Perez, Researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, echoed this emphasis on promoting models of open access publishing that promote a diversity of contributions, drawing on long-standing work on information diversity.

In particular, action was needed to avoid dominance by one language leading to the devaluing of research in other languages, for example through lower impact factors.

Dilara Begum, Chair of the Department of Library and Information Studies at East-West University, Dhaka, focused on the importance of accompanying the availability of materials with a drive to build information literacy skills.

The need to build such competences had been made clear by the pandemic, and in particular by the emergence of the ‘infodemic’. In addressing this, libraries could play an essential role.

Juan Miguel Diez-Jimenez, UN Information Centre for the Caribbean, presented the Verified initiative, which provided set of resources both to encourage people to double-check what they read, as well as to provide responses to common misconceptions.

The initiative has had a major impact, thanks to its attractive presentation, translation into different languages, and responsiveness to developments. He encouraged libraries around the world to draw on the available resources as part of their own work.

Finally, Thanos Giannakopoulos presented about the work of the United Nations to develop its own repository as an easily used tool for accessing information about the organisation’s work, supporting both research and better information.

The complexity of the task at hand represented a major challenge, requiring careful thought about design and use of the latest technologies, offering valuable lessons about how to facilitate access to quality information.

 

Overall, there was agreement both on how important open access is as a driver of progress on the SDGs, but also strong awareness that realising its potential will require action and investment in a range of areas.

From enhancing connectivity to consideration of business models and their side effects, and from information literacy skills to the development of platforms and tools to support discovery, many elements need to be in place. Active and well resourced libraries can play a major role in making progress.

With less than ten years to go to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, it is high time to fill these gaps, and so ensure that openness can fulfil its potential as a driver of inclusive growth and resilience.

Watch the session on IFLA's YouTube channel.

From targeted digital skills coaching to providing an adapted and welcoming space for all - an IFLA-led workshop at the WSIS Forum 2021 examined good practices and key issues in leveraging public access to connect the more vulnerable or underserved user groups.

The World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS) is an annual event bringing together diverse stakeholders to collaborate, exchange good practices, and create knowledge to leverage ICT for development.

As part of the Forum programme this year, IFLA organised a workshop on the role of public access to the internet and ICT in helping connect those most at risk of staying offline. Libraries have long worked to leverage public access to support equitable digital inclusion and access to information – and the session drew on these experiences to highlight good practices, key challenges and possible solutions.

Below are some of the key takeaways from the session:

A birds-eye view: public access in policy

Research by the Alliance for Affordable Internet, represented by Teddy Woodhouse, suggests that the availability of public access, and government support for public access solutions, show a consistent correlation with overall affordability of connectivity in a country.

Their publications highlight that public access is part of a comprehensive connectivity strategy. It can help generate demand for connectivity, build digital skills, and underpin a comprehensive network of connectivity points (especially for reliable, high-capacity connectivity) which users can draw on. Practical public access interventions from different countries illustrated how this can be leveraged to connect different underserved user groups.

Connecting older users – public access solutions on a wide scale

In a recent survey among public library users in Lithuania, more than 40% of older respondents living in rural areas said they do not have as many opportunities to go online outside of the library. To help connect such users, the work of public libraries with the “Connected Lithuania” project shows how public access solutions can be implemented and scaled up all across the country, as underlined by Simona Žilienė of the Lithuanian Library Association.

The project, co-funded by the EU and the Republic of Lithuania, focuses on building up users’ digital skills - particularly those from more vulnerable groups, like seniors or unemployed community members. Most public libraries have joined in since 2018, and at present around 100 000 adults have taken part and benefitted from digital skills learning opportunities in libraries. The project also saw the creation of the “community digital leaders” network, connecting more than 2 000 facilitators, many of whom are librarians.

Digital skills learning tailored for seniors

In Singapore, the National Library Board, represented by Grace Sim, has developed a multifaceted approach to supporting seniors in their digital journeys. It brings together three components – access to ICT, learning services, and spaces for peer learning and exchange.

The learning opportunities for seniors follow two strands – digital skills for life, and digital skills for work – and, in fact, libraries see a lot of interest from older users in advanced and emerging tech like AI or cloud computing. For example, 4-hour deep dive sessions about such emerging technologies for seniors attract 40-50 participants per event!

The experiences of libraries in Singapore emphasised the unique value of learning communities for senior users. There, they can learn with their peers, “demystify” tech, and explore it in a comfortable setting at their own pace – which can be particularly important for any seniors who might see digital skills learning as more intimidating or daunting.

Public access in more remote areas – towards equity and wellbeing

In Argentina, the Library of the National Congress of Argentina, represented by Isela Mo Amavet, has for many years worked with two initiatives offering remote public access: Bibliomóvil, a mobile bus, and the Sanitary Train. Both projects leverage ICT to help bring educational, cultural, and wellbeing services and events to more remote areas and locations outside of the bustling cities.

For example, the Bibliobus makes it possible to hold film screenings so that residents of more remote areas can enjoy same experiences as those who can more easily drop by a movie theater. Importantly, when preparing a visit, library professionals closely collaborate with local stakeholders to develop services and events which best meet local needs. This also illustrates the capacity of public access solutions to be tailored to local context, demand and needs.

Meaningful access to information and overcoming the gender divides – BSW’s IdeasBox4Women

Looking at another key underserved user group, BSF-Librarians Without Borders, represented by Muy-Cheng Peich, shared their experiences with working to broaden and facilitate access to knowledge and information for women.

Several years ago, BSF launched a study to better understand the gender skew in the use of their IdeasBox multimedia centers. This helped identify a range of barriers that impeded women and girls’ participation – psychological, logistical, social. BSF developed a range of interventions – from training facilitators to organising workshops that help meet women’s information needs – to address these challenges.

These experiences emphasised how important it is to identify underlying reasons for exclusion in a given context, and to tailor solutions in a way which is sensitive to and follows the lead of local knowledge, context, and culture.

Key takeaways:

• From taking responsibility for logistical arrangements to developing tailored learning opportunities, public access facilities can be customised to meet the needs of underserved and vulnerable user groups.
• The social element of public access can be an important benefit! Peer learning and positive role models can encourage and support users from more vulnerable groups, who may otherwise be more hesitant to engage.
• Understanding the underlying barriers and tailoring solutions to local needs, following the lead and knowledge of local actors, helps contextualise public access solutions and initiatives. And partnerships can be a powerful tool to maximise impact!

You can find the recording of this session, as well as other WSIS Forum workshops and content, on the WSIS Forum 2021 Digital Agenda.

Beginning of 2021, the European Union has launched a consultation on the availability of non-printed works in accessible formats for people with disabilities in the single market.

Therefore, in collaboration with the Library Services to People with Special Needs section, IFLA gathered and shared evidence about the degree to which people with disabilities are able to use accessible-format works in the EU.

This survey comes almost 10 years after the Treaty of Marrakesh was signed by members of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), mandating exceptions and limitations to copyright for the benefit of people with print-disabilities, and four years after legislation was passed within the EU to implement its provisions. Both the Treaty, and the European legislation, leave open the possibility to extend the definition of beneficiaries to people with other disabilities.

In its response, IFLA has highlighted that while some works are accessible, disparities between countries mean that not all European citizens have the same opportunities.

For works such as audiobooks, printed works (for people with other than visual disabilities), sound recordings, audiovisual works, images, sculptural and architectural works, video games, software, IFLA has found these works were either not available at all, or only available with limitations in accessible formats. When these accessible-formats did exist, they were generally difficult or very difficult to obtain.

IFLA also mentioned that the COVID19 pandemic had had a significant negative impact on people with disabilities. Libraries often have had to close their doors, making it impossible for people with disabilities to access works. In addition, we fear that the economic impact of the crisis could reduce or cut funding for accessibility.

We have also pointed out that libraries have difficulty finding born-accessible works as production is considerably limited. As a result, they are working to create accessible formats, notably by circumventing - where legally permitted at the national level - technological protection measures. 

We hope that this consultation will start meaningful work in the European Union to expand the range of people who can benefit from Marrakesh Treaty provisions, and so move closer to the equal access to information envisaged in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

IFLA’s response to the EU Consultation on availability of works.

 

The recording of IFLA’s virtual event, Libraries Inspire Engagement in Cultural Heritage, is available now!

This event, presented by the Cultural Heritage Programme Advisory Committee, invited four speakers from different types of memory institutions to share their experiences, both working with their institutions’ collections themselves, as well as with their visitors, with community groups, and with the larger public to help people experience, appreciate, learn from, and share cultural heritage

The stories shared during this programme were diverse and inspirational. We hope these stories encourage viewers to explore ways to bring their institutions' collections to life and help their communities engage with their cultural heritage in meaningful ways.

Watch the recording here.

 

Visit our webpage to learn more about cultural heritage at IFLA.

ბიბლიოთეკართა გადამზადების კურსის დაჯილდოების ცერემონია
21 ახალი ფოტო

სიღნაღის ბიბლიოთეკები და "ინტერნეტი ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკას"
საპილოტე პროექტი "ინტერნეტი ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკას" გულისხმობს კახეთის რეგიონში რეგისტრირებული სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკების კომპიუტერული ტექნიკითა და ინტერნეტით უზრუნველყოფას. პროექტი ხორციელდება საქართველოს პრეზიდენტის გიორგი მარგველაშვილის ფინანსური მხარდაჭერით. საპილოტე პროექტის დასრულების შემდეგ იგეგმება კომპიუტერული ტექნიკით საქართველოს ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკის უზრუნველყოფა.

საპილოტე პროექტი "ინტერნეტი ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკას" გულისხმობს კახეთის რეგიონში რეგისტრირებული სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკების კომპიუტერული ტექნიკითა და ინტერნეტით უზრუნველყოფას.
პროექტი ხორციელდება საქართველოს პრეზიდენტის გიორგი მარგველაშვილის ფინანსური მხარდაჭერით.
საპილოტე პროექტის დასრულების შემდეგ იგეგმება კომპიუტერული ტექნიკით საქართველოს ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკის უზრუნველყოფა.


ყვარლის რაიონი "ინტერნეტი ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკას"
საპილოტე პროექტი "ინტერნეტი ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკას" გულისხმობს კახეთის რეგიონში რეგისტრირებული სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკების კომპიუტერული ტექნიკითა და ინტერნეტით უზრუნველყოფას. პროექტი ხორციელდება საქართველოს პრეზიდენტის გიორგი მარგველაშვილის ფინანსური მხარდაჭერით. საპილოტე პროექტის დასრულების შემდეგ იგეგმება კომპიუტერული ტექნიკით საქართველოს ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკის უზრუნველყოფა.

საპილოტე პროექტი "ინტერნეტი ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკას" გულისხმობს კახეთის რეგიონში რეგისტრირებული სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკების კომპიუტერული ტექნიკითა და ინტერნეტით უზრუნველყოფას.
პროექტი ხორციელდება საქართველოს პრეზიდენტის გიორგი მარგველაშვილის ფინანსური მხარდაჭერით.
საპილოტე პროექტის დასრულების შემდეგ იგეგმება კომპიუტერული ტექნიკით საქართველოს ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკის უზრუნველყოფა.


ყვარლის რაიონი "ინტერნეტი ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკას"
საპილოტე პროექტი "ინტერნეტი ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკას" გულისხმობს კახეთის რეგიონში რეგისტრირებული სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკების კომპიუტერული ტექნიკითა და ინტერნეტით უზრუნველყოფას. პროექტი ხორციელდება საქართველოს პრეზიდენტის გიორგი მარგველაშვილის ფინანსური მხარდაჭერით. საპილოტე პროექტის დასრულების შემდეგ იგეგმება კომპიუტერული ტექნიკით საქართველოს ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკის უზრუნველყოფა.

საპილოტე პროექტი "ინტერნეტი ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკას" გულისხმობს კახეთის რეგიონში რეგისტრირებული სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკების კომპიუტერული ტექნიკითა და ინტერნეტით უზრუნველყოფას.
პროექტი ხორციელდება საქართველოს პრეზიდენტის გიორგი მარგველაშვილის ფინანსური მხარდაჭერით.
საპილოტე პროექტის დასრულების შემდეგ იგეგმება კომპიუტერული ტექნიკით საქართველოს ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკის უზრუნველყოფა.


ყვარლის რაიონი "ინტერნეტი ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკას"
საპილოტე პროექტი "ინტერნეტი ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკას" გულისხმობს კახეთის რეგიონში რეგისტრირებული სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკების კომპიუტერული ტექნიკითა და ინტერნეტით უზრუნველყოფას. პროექტი ხორციელდება საქართველოს პრეზიდენტის გიორგი მარგველაშვილის ფინანსური მხარდაჭერით. საპილოტე პროექტის დასრულების შემდეგ იგეგმება კომპიუტერული ტექნიკით საქართველოს ყველა სოფლის ბიბლიოთეკის უზრუნველყოფა.