The Zimbabwe Library Association and IFLA have prepared a joint submission for the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review of the country. Drawing on the experiences of the library field, the submission flags important trends and ways in which libraries work to support the fundamental rights to education, work, and access to science in Zimbabwe, and sets out recommendations on how more could be done.

The Universal Periodic Review is an opportunity for UN Member States to track and assess their progress on key human rights commitments and obligations once every 5 years. Since interested stakeholders can submit inputs as part of the review process, this offers libraries a good opportunity to take stock of the ways their work impacts and supports fundamental human rights, and what key trends and developments shape the landscape in which this work takes place.

Zimbabwe

The joint ZimLA-IFLA submission highights the following points:

• A focus on access and equity is a key priority for delivering on the right to education in Zimbabwe. Libraries and library organisations around the country are working to help support equitable access to educational, reading and learning materials, particularly in more remote and rural areas.
• In 2019, Zimbabwe has acceded to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled. We encourage the domestic implementation and interpretation of the Treaty (as well as further implementation of practical measures) to support as wide as possible access to information, knowledge, and education for people with disabilities.
• Over the past years, library organisations and libraries have worked to champion Open Access in Zimbabwe, as part of the fundamental right to access and benefit from scientific progress. They have also promoted the use of open data to support the enforcement of rights, especially for women and girls.
• Supporting informal workers, out-of-school youth, and other vulnerable economically active community members is a key task for delivering on the right to work. There are existing library initiatives in Zimbabwe working to support income-generating projects, which illustrate how community-based learning opportunities can help boost employability or gainful activities.

Joint ZimLA-IFLA submission for the Universal Periodic Review in Zimbabwe: [PDF - English]

To learn more about the work of libraries to protect and promote human rights, you can also take a look the stakeholder UPR submissions to Italy, Croatia, the United States, Australia, Georgia, Myanmar, Belgium, Eswatini, Greece, Ireland, and Uganda.

The IFLA Academic and Research Libraries Section, with generous sponsorship from SAGE, has awarded attendance grants to four information professionals through a competitive application process.

The 2021 award winners are:

• Andrew Ojulong,  Uganda
• Nessel Noé,   Argentina
• Gianina Angela Celine O. Cabanilla,  Philippines
• Andrea Doyle, Brazil

The IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) is an annual event that was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic and this year will be conducted virtually from 17-19 August. Registration fees will be paid from a special fund established by the generosity of SAGE.

IFLA ARL is grateful to SAGE for their generosity. 

Congratulations to all the winners of IFLA ARL 2021 awards!

We are pleased to announce the results of the 2021-2023 Continuing Development and Workplace Learning Standing Committee Officer nominations process. 

We congratulate the Continuing Development and Workplace Learning Standing Committee Officers for 2021-2023 listed below and look forward to working with them:  

Co-Chairs: Ulrike Lang and Alan Brine

Secretary: Almuth Gastinger

Information Coordinator: Edward Junhao Lim

Members and Officers of the 2021-2023 Continuing Development and Workplace Learning Standing Committee will begin their term following the IFLA General Assembly on 25 August, 2021. 

We would like to thank our officers Gill Hallam, Heba Ismail and Ray Pun for their service in CPDWL 2019-2021!

We are pleased to announce the results of the 2021-2023 Continuing Development and Workplace Learning Standing Committee Officer nominations process. 

We congratulate the Continuing Development and Workplace Learning Standing Committee Officers for 2021-2023 listed below and look forward to working with them:  

Co-Chairs: Ulrike Lang and Alan Brine

Secretary: Almuth Gastinger

Information Coordinator: Edward Junhao Lim

Members and Officers of the 2021-2023 Continuing Development and Workplace Learning Standing Committee will begin their term following the IFLA General Assembly on 25 August, 2021. 

We would like to thank our officers Gill Hallam, Heba Ismail and Ray Pun for their service in CPDWL 2019-2021!

The IFLA Journal editorial committee and editor are pleased to announce the availability of its summer webinar series on how to publish in academic journals.  Conducted in a series of four events focused on various world time zones, these webinars aimed to provide LIS scholars and practitioners with an insider view of the journal editing process with perspectives from the editor, reviewers, and authors.

view the webinars

The kickoff to this series featured presentations from the Asia and Oceania Region and was moderated by the editorial committee’s Dr. Anne Goulding from Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand.  Joining Dr. Goulding was fellow editorial committee member Dr. Amanda Cossham of Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, who spoke about the review process.  Jayshree Mamtora, an IFLA Journal author, spoke from her perspective as a scholar and practitioner a James Cook University in Australia.  The second session, moderated by Dr. Perla Innocenti of the University of Strathclyde, featured editorial committee members Dr. Amany Elsayed from Helwan University in Egypt and Dr. Mahmood Khosrowjerdi of the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. The third session featured editorial committee members Dr. Lihong Zhou from Wuhan University and Dr. Diljit Sing an emeritus professor from the University of Malaya.  The session highlighted the experiences of author Dr. Long Xiao, Dean of Libraries at Shanxi University in China. The final session focused on the Americas and included committee members Dr. Egbert Sanchez-Vanderkast from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and Dr. Debbie Rabina from the Pratt Institute in New York.  Joining the group was Cherry-Ann Smart an information consultant and author from Jamaica.

Overall, the webinars offer a unique view of the academic publishing process and provides practical advice to authors on how to approach the academic publishing process from selecting an appropriate venue for your submission, to communicating with the reviewers, and how to best approach the revision process. 

More than 400 members of the IFLA community were able to join the sessions live, and these are now freely available to others that wish to learn more about how to publish in academic journals within the LIS field.

Steve Witt
IFLA Journal Editor
 

A joint submission by IFLA and the Uganda Library and Information Association to the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review outlines key developments and ways that libraries work to support the fundamental rights to education, health, and work in Uganda, and how more could be done.

Universal Periodic Reviews (UPRs) are UN-led mechanisms that help benchmark the progress of all UN Member States towards delivering on their human rights commitments. As part of this process, stakeholder inputs help identify key trends, achievements and good practices – and IFLA continues to work with our colleagues and experts across the globe to offer insights on human rights developments and practices from a library perspective.

Uganda

Prepared in collaboration with the Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA), a new UPR submission highlights:

 

 

• Key priorities in addressing the impacts of the pandemic on the right to education – particularly through the closures of schools and tertiary educational institutions. Access to learning and educational materials has proven to be a key concern – and, where possible,  libraries have been among the actors working to respond by supporting and expanding such access.

• An inclusive educational environment which further facilitates good learning outcomes is important to help pupils and students catch up after school closures. School library-based interventions can suggest some possible and replicable good practices which can help further boost reading, literacy, class engagement and learning outcomes.

 

 

• The right to information and learning opportunities is an important dimension of the right to health. Interventions in public and community libraries in Uganda illustrate how community-centric models of boosting access to health information and education can be a part of an overarching strategy to deliver on the right to health.

• Defending and delivering on the right to work, addressing economic vulnerabilities – especially among the more at-risk members of society – is key. Public access to the internet and ICTs and upskilling opportunities in libraries in Uganda have shown mechanisms which can be leveraged to further support employment and income generation.

Read the IFLA – ULIA submission for the Universal Periodic Review in Uganda: [PDF- English]

Would you like to find out more about the ways libraries around the world champion human rights? You can take a look at other UPR inputs which highlight the work of libraries in Italy, Croatia, the United States, Australia, Georgia, Myanmar, Belgium, Eswatini, Greece and Ireland.

You can also find out more about the Universal Periodic Review, and how libraries can get involved.

The processes created for monitoring and supporting the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals offer important opportunities for libraries to engage with decision-makers, gain recognition, and shape priorities. In the first of three pieces, we look at Voluntary National Reviews, with almost 44% of reports published referring to libraries – a new record.

The Ministerial Segment of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) starts today in New York and online, with presidents, prime ministers and developments coming together to talk about how to achieve strong, fair and sustainable development in the wake of COVID-19.

A key component this is the presentation of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). These provide an opportunity for governments to present what they are doing to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals nationally, as well as priorities for future action.

As set out in the UN’s own guidance, VNRs should look to engage all stakeholders involved in work around the SDGs, with libraries clearly part of the picture.

For libraries, getting involved in VNRs offers an opportunity to build new contacts in government and civil society alike, to ensure recognition of contributions in official reporting, and even to shape priorities for the future.

2021 has been a record year for reference to libraries in Voluntary National Reviews. Of the 42 reports due, 39 have been published, and 17 refer to libraries in different ways.

This is not only a new high in terms of the number of references (the previous high was 12 in 2018), but also in percentage terms (43.5% compared to 26% in 2018). In every world region with countries undertaking VNRs, there was at least one report with a reference. These references covered at least ten of the seventeen SDGs.

Looking in more depth, there was recognition of the role of libraries in supporting education (SDG4), for example in Angola which makes libraries part of its national development plan for education. Egypt highlights the contrition of its Knowledge Bank Library.

In Norway and Paraguay, the importance of school libraries in helping to improve literacy and reading was made clear, with Norway in particular committing to invest more. Clearly, the need for closures has affected possibilities here (as in Uruguay), but of course work has continued.  

Closely linked to this is the recognised contribution that libraries can make to combatting exclusion (SDG 1, 5, 9, 10, 11, 17). Denmark stresses in particular how libraries can engage with older people, while the Marshall Islands gives the example of a library extension aimed to support single mothers and children by providing a safe learning environment.

Cuba too talks about the role of libraries in broader efforts to fight poverty, including through ensuring high quality local services, while Azerbaijan cites libraries as a place where people of all backgrounds can access the internet.

Norway, more generally, sets out the role of libraries in allowing the country to ‘continuously strengthen and secure access to libraries to enable all citizens to empower themselves through free access to information, cultural integration and social inclusion’’

Indonesia, meanwhile, in its report sees rural school library services as a part of efforts to promote greater equality between cities and the countryside, while Mexico establishes libraries – and in particular its new library law – as contributing to work to build a fairer economy for all.

‘The civic role of libraries is also a common theme (SDG11, SDG16). Zimbabwe’s report underlines the work of the Zimbabwe Library Association in promoting open data, in particular around the situation of girls, in order to help them understand and assert their rights. Spain’s report talks in particular about the Library Laboratories project, which aims to strengthen the role of libraries as spaces for meeting, experimenting, and creating together.

Cuba refers more broadly to the importance of access to information, while Thailand stresses that libraries represent a key public space.

Libraries also contribute, of course, to cultural goals, in particular preservation of, and access to heritage (SDG11). Spain underlines the work of regional authorities to digitise heritage (as well as noting how increasing book funds has provided a boost to the book sector in general), while Germany cites the number of objects in the German Digital Library as an objective.

Nicaragua, meanwhile, explains how libraries are supporting work to ensure better water and environmental management (SDG6, SDG15), as well as supporting wider learning and research.  

Finally, there is the work that libraries are doing to promote and encourage engagement in the SDGs more broadly, with Qatar National Library helping to prepare their VNR, and Denmark planning to work to enable libraries to become anchors for the SDGs, including through an SDG certification scheme and training for librarians about the dissemination of the Goals.

 

Looking across the examples, it is welcome to see such a broad range of references, focusing not only on education, but on all of the different pillars of development. This underlines the argument long made by IFLA that libraries contribute across the board, and so should be integrated into holistic development policies, rather than confined to any one sector.

Overall, there are plenty of examples that libraries can draw on in their advocacy around the SDGs. In addition to examples of national governments recognising our role in delivery, there may also be ideas and inspiration that could be taken up elsewhere.

In our next story, we’ll be turning our focus from national to the local and regional governments which so often have a decisive role in taking decisions about library funding and staffing.

See our full analysis of libraries in Voluntary National Reviews and Voluntary Local Reviews 2016-2020.

On 23 June 2021, IFLA Division IV – Support of the Profession and SET held the third webinar in the “Webinar Series for Library and Information Science Students”. June’s theme was “LIS Degree Requirement: Internships, Practicums, or Field Experiences”.

This webinar was special because we had IFLA President-elect Barbara Lison as a keynote speaker. She gave a talk “Librarian - a profession with many challenges”.

We also had a guest speaker Asst. Prof. Kathleen Lourdes B. Obille from the School of Library and Information Studies of the University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines.

Four LIS students from the Philippines, Croatia, India and Pakistan shared their experience with internships and practicums in their LIS programs.

The recording is available on the IFLA Section on Education and Training YouTube Channel. You can also see this booklet with abstracts to learn more about this webinar.

We are going to continue this fall in October. So stay tuned!

IFLA has submitted comments on the South Africa Copyright Amendment Bill. In these, we have highlighted the importance of a balanced copyright framework which includes flexibilities in regard to exceptions and limitations to copyright to allow libraries, archives, museums, education and research institutions to fulfil their missions in the digital age. 

With no significant updates to copyright laws since 1975 and extended discussions among all stakeholders around the Bill, IFLA has highlighted its regrets at witnessing the sending back of the bill to Parliament, delaying, even more, the development of exceptions and limitations to copyright that will benefit all citizens, including library users.

Echoing the submission of the Committee of Higher Education Libraries of South Africa (CHELSA), IFLA has reiterated that libraries rely on exceptions and limitations to function well and to ensure the relevance of our services in the digital era.

Providing access to information and educational resources, the making of copies for preservation purposes, and services and guidance to users are vital if we are to ensure equality among citizens and open cultural, educational and professional perspectives for children, teenagers and adults. The prevalence of misinfomration today only accentuates this need.

Around the world, IFLA supports a balanced copyright framework that includes exceptions and limitations, arguing this will enable the development of an ecosystem allowing better possibilities to research and to foster innovative industries.

Therefore, IFLA has called for the retention of the exceptions and limitations in sections 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D, 19D and 19C of the 2017 Bill as they will support the work of libraries.

Section 12A encompasses a general exception for fair use of copyrighted works. This marks a very positive step torward achieving a balanced copyright system. Sections 12B, 12C and 12D address the lack of exceptions and limitations for quotation, broadcasting, news reporting, translations and for an educative and academic environment.

Sections 19D and 19C introduce exceptions and limitations for Libraries, Museums, Archives and Galleries for preservation purposes, and cover the Marrakesh Treaty developed within WIPO in 2013.

IFLA has long stood for exceptions and limitations to copyright and will continue to do so, because possibliities to quote, report the news, and preserve works for the future, there is a significantly poorer possibility to share and receive resources and information, to safeguard heritage for all citizens.

Without exceptions and limitations, the ability of libraires to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to resources and information.  

IFLA's response to the consultation [PDF]

Culture, art and heritage play a vital part in the lives of individuals and societies, contributing to key policy objectives such as promoting wellbeing and supporting employment.

However, their role can and should be far wider than this, helping to achieve progress across the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda.

To realise this potential, a key step can be the formation of partnerships, both those bringing together players from the cultural sector and beyond, and those uniting the whole range of stakeholders who can contribute to the impact of cultural institutions, sites and activities on development.

A side event co-organised by IFLA at the 2021 High-Level Political Forum on 7 July provided the opportunity to bring together perspectives on how to make a success of such partnerships.

The session, of which a recording is now available, offered some important lessons, both for policy-makers and for others involved in ensuring culture contributes fully to realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

First of all, culture relates to every single one of the SDGs. Contributors highlighted experiences and case studies relating to everything from helping people escape poverty (SDG 1) to engaging in democratic governance (SDG 16), with the emphasis on partnerships in the session itself closely aligned to SDG 17.

Secondly, the importance of including culture in development strategies stems from the fact that it provides a foundation of community and society, a point highlighted in particular by the President of the Korean National UNESCO Commission.

Culture can both bring people together as well as creating divisions, underlining the importance of integrating it into planning. Beyond this, it can help explain – and influence – how our societies work, contributing to the work of the researchers and scientists looking to boost the effectiveness of policy interventions.

Third, the importance of taking an innovative approach, ready to explore new ways in which to contribute to society. Arts could, as underlined by Doris Summer of Cultural Agents in particular, be a catalyst if used effectively, helping open up new perspectives and ways of doing things. Similarly, many cultural projects benefit from an entrepreneurial approach, with a readiness to take risks and make new connections.

Fourth, there is the key role of governments in facilitating these partnerships. As the mayors of Mannheim, Germany, and Izmir, Turkey underlined, local governments in particular can play a key role in providing the space and support for initiatives that bring together culture with wider policy actions. As highlighted by IFLA, they could also make sure to integrate cultural actors in policy design from the start.

Governments should, also, be ready to engage a variety of partners in their work with heritage and beyond, bringing in different sources of ideas and energy to deliver. Libraries were no exception, with strong potential to provide a platform for a variety of different stakeholders to provide services and support to communities.

Finally, the impact of COVID could not be avoided. At a time that, as Katey Warran of University College London underlined, demand for cultural participation had risen sharply, the means of providing this had been weakened, with performers in particular hard hit by the pandemic.

As underlined by Jordi Pascual, representing the UCLG Culture Committee and the #Culture2030Goal campaign, ensuring the sustainability of the cultural sector was crucial for enabling it to support new, more inclusive, more holistic development models in future.

We are very grateful to all of the speakers for their contributions: Mayor Tunc Soyer, Izmir, Turkey; Mayor Peter Kurz, Mannheim, Germany (and Global Parliament of Mayors); Hyung Koo Han, Secretary General, Korean National Commission for UNESCO; Jordi Pascual, Coordinator, UCLG Culture Committee and Culture 2030 Goal Campaign; Pamela Jerome, Treasurer General, ICOMOS; Patricia O'Donnell, President, OurWorldHeritage Foundation; Stephen Stenning, British Council; Julianne Polanco, Co-Chair, Climate Heritage Network; Doris Sommer, Founder and Faculty, Cultural Agents; Katey Warran, Research Fellow, UCL. Special thanks go to Ege Yildirim, who moderated the session.

Watch the video on IFLA’s YouTube channel.

The 2021 European Dialogue on Internet Governance took place last week, bringing together stakeholders to discuss, collaborate and facilitate good practices around the policies and processes which shape the digital ecosystem today. IFLA summarises some key messages and takeaway lessons for libraries worldwide.

Since 2008, the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) platform has been bringing together members of public, private and tech sectors, civil society and academia - to discuss and collaborate on questions around the digital ecosystem in the region (and the world).

Since the internet and ICT are increasingly central to a lot of the work that libraries do, such platforms offer a unique opportunity to contribute libraries’ insights to the ongoing internet governance dialogues, and keep track of relevant trends and developments.

Under the overarching theme of “Into Europe's Digital Decade”, the 2021 EuroDIG facilitated discussions around digital literacy and inclusion, human rights online, content and media, innovation, security - and more. IFLA engaged with, participated and listened in on various sessions – from digitalisation and sustainability to online learning and education – to share a library perspective and flag developments which may be of relevance.

Library practices and internet governance: a fundamental link

Some of this year’s sessions highlighted issues closely related to the practical everyday experiences of libraries around the world. How to make digital educational materials more accessible and discoverable? How to leverage online educational and learning platforms to support wellbeing and social interaction?

Other discussions offer insights on how libraries’ longstanding values and principles – from intellectual freedom to privacy and beyond - manifest online. What role does privacy literacy play in mitigating the data security and privacy challenges evolving with the rapid shift to digital? How can quality information and awareness-raising help mitigate public technology consumption patterns, and usher in a greener digital transformation?

A new IFLA blog outlines these EuroDIG 2021 discussions, key trends - and their links to library work and experiences.

Media literacy in focus

Maia Simonishvili of the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia led a session exploring the ways media literacy can help mitigate the spread of mis- and dis-information. Drawing on the dialogue among stakeholders from different backgrounds – from cybersecurity to the media sector – Maia highlights a few takeaway messages for libraries interested in championing media literacy (full session details are available at the EuroDIG Wiki):

* Discover the truth yourself! The young generation needs a new set of skills and literacies to discover the truth by themselves, to be able to make good decisions.

For libraries, this means that the younger generation in particular is an important target group for media literacy outreach and initiatives.

* The philosophical part of this question is that we often see news – and other sources of information – from our own points of view. As such, it is crucial to be aware of how people experience and make meaning of the media they interact with.

* Critical thinking needs to be implemented in educational institutions. However, in some cases implementing it in educational contexts might be more challenging if it clashes with cultural norms or political circumstances. The new way of media literacy requires new methods – and in some cases, local, context-specific recommendations, and new knowledge to develop new standards.

What does this mean for libraries? It highlights the immense role that local context plays in the implementation and impact of media literacy initiatives. Libraries can draw on their deep understanding of the local context and needs, to make sure that their media literacy learning opportunities have as deep an impact as possible within their own community.

*Media literacy learning needs to start at an early age, and playful and creative ICT-based learning tools can be a powerful way to teach children critical thinking and social awareness. Many children are interested in creating computer games themselves, which can be a helpful medium to share their needs and solutions.

This means that it can be worthwhile for libraries to further explore ways to deliver media literacy learning opportunities through playful ICT mediums. Here, libraries’ familiarity with offering digital skills learning opportunities and supporting digital creativity – as well as delivering virtual programming during the pandemic – can offer useful experience to draw on!

*Media literacy is one of the focal points for preventing or mitigating future pandemics. It can help inform the new generations about threats and prevention methods on time - to defend their health and future, even if their parents are not always ready for it. 

You can read more about the key updates and takeaway messages for libraries in a dedicated blog, revisit session recordings and draft EuroDIG messages - and check the Get Into IGF Guide to find out more about how libraries can get involved!

The 2021 European Dialogue on Internet Governance took place last week, bringing together stakeholders to discuss, collaborate and facilitate good practices around the policies and processes which shape the digital ecosystem today. IFLA summarises some key messages and takeaway lessons for libraries worldwide.

Since 2008, the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) platform has been bringing together members of public, private and tech sectors, civil society and academia - to discuss and collaborate on questions around the digital ecosystem in the region (and the world).

Since the internet and ICT are increasingly central to a lot of the work that libraries do, such platforms offer a unique opportunity to contribute libraries’ insights to the ongoing internet governance dialogues, and keep track of relevant trends and developments.

Under the overarching theme of “Into Europe's Digital Decade”, the 2021 EuroDIG facilitated discussions around digital literacy and inclusion, human rights online, content and media, innovation, security - and more. IFLA engaged with, participated and listened in on various sessions – from digitalisation and sustainability to online learning and education – to share a library perspective and flag developments which may be of relevance.

Library practices and internet governance: a fundamental link

Some of this year’s sessions highlighted issues closely related to the practical everyday experiences of libraries around the world. How to make digital educational materials more accessible and discoverable? How to leverage online educational and learning platforms to support wellbeing and social interaction?

Other discussions offer insights on how libraries’ longstanding values and principles – from intellectual freedom to privacy and beyond - manifest online. What role does privacy literacy play in mitigating the data security and privacy challenges evolving with the rapid shift to digital? How can quality information and awareness-raising help mitigate public technology consumption patterns, and usher in a greener digital transformation?

A new IFLA blog outlines these EuroDIG 2021 discussions, key trends - and their links to library work and experiences.

Media literacy in focus

Maia Simonishvili of the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia led a session exploring the ways media literacy can help mitigate the spread of mis- and dis-information. Drawing on the dialogue among stakeholders from different backgrounds – from cybersecurity to the media sector – Maia highlights a few takeaway messages for libraries interested in championing media literacy (full session details are available at the EuroDIG Wiki):

* Discover the truth yourself! The young generation needs a new set of skills and literacies to discover the truth by themselves, to be able to make good decisions.

For libraries, this means that the younger generation in particular is an important target group for media literacy outreach and initiatives.

* The philosophical part of this question is that we often see news – and other sources of information – from our own points of view. As such, it is crucial to be aware of how people experience and make meaning of the media they interact with.

* Critical thinking needs to be implemented in educational institutions. However, in some cases implementing it in educational contexts might be more challenging if it clashes with cultural norms or political circumstances. The new way of media literacy requires new methods – and in some cases, local, context-specific recommendations, and new knowledge to develop new standards.

What does this mean for libraries? It highlights the immense role that local context plays in the implementation and impact of media literacy initiatives. Libraries can draw on their deep understanding of the local context and needs, to make sure that their media literacy learning opportunities have as deep an impact as possible within their own community.

*Media literacy learning needs to start at an early age, and playful and creative ICT-based learning tools can be a powerful way to teach children critical thinking and social awareness. Many children are interested in creating computer games themselves, which can be a helpful medium to share their needs and solutions.

This means that it can be worthwhile for libraries to further explore ways to deliver media literacy learning opportunities through playful ICT mediums. Here, libraries’ familiarity with offering digital skills learning opportunities and supporting digital creativity – as well as delivering virtual programming during the pandemic – can offer useful experience to draw on!

*Media literacy is one of the focal points for preventing or mitigating future pandemics. It can help inform the new generations about threats and prevention methods on time - to defend their health and future, even if their parents are not always ready for it. 

You can read more about the key updates and takeaway messages for libraries in a dedicated blog, revisit session recordings and draft EuroDIG messages - and check the Get Into IGF Guide to find out more about how libraries can get involved!

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Closely aligned to the IFLA Key Initiative 1.3 "Work with library associations and libraries to identify key legal and funding challenges to their work, and advocate for action", the IFLA Government Information and Official Publications Section (IFLA GIOPS) embarked on a project to create a global manifesto of sorts to demonstrate the importance of the government information landscape, and the need for librarians’ expertise to help users discover, evaluate, and use government-produced information.

In 2013 at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress, Singapore, IFLA GIOPS sponsored  a session on economic development and governments that attracted over 150 attendees. The success of the programme served as a contrast to the widespread perception that the future of government information professionals was in jeopardy.

Driven by a renewed sense of purpose, IFLA GIOPS has built up the evidence base around the importance of government information professionals. Their latest contribution is a recently published Professional Report, “The Government Information Landscape and Libraries”.

Putting together such a publication takes both time and effort, but this has not lessened their conviction: it has strengthened it.

The current era is characterized by a prevalence of mis- and dis-information, and governments can, at times, make the situation worse. Such a landscape requires citizens to understand how to discover, evaluate, and think critically about what governments publish. However, the expertise needed to navigate complex government information systems requires a specialised knowledge set that is all too often undervalued or overlooked.

 

In order to prove the contrary, the government information professionals who authored this report, from countries worldwide, describe the rich complexity of the government information landscape, helping make the case for librarians to receive specialized training.

James Church, corresponding member of the IFLA GIOPS Standing Committee explains why this GIOPS report should be reviewed by all librarians:

Despite the widely acknowledged truth that governments lie and mislead just like the rest of us, they also publish information indispensable to an informed public. While this information may not always make for fascinating reading, when citizens need to know about laws, policies, rules, and numbers (among other things) government information matters, more than almost anything. We invite you to look at our report and see the value of government information librarians.”

 

Read more about the IFLA Strategy 2019-2024

How is your library or library association engaging with the IFLA Strategy? Let us know! Post on your social media, using the hashtag #IFLAStrategy and #WeAreIFLA or send an email to Despina Gerasimidou, IFLA’s Strategic Development Officer at despina.gerasimidou@ifla.org.

 

      

El grupo de interés especial Evidence for Global and Disaster Health (E4GHD) de la Federación Internacional de Asociaciones de Bibliotecarios y Bibliotecas (IFLA) se complace en invitarlo a este seminario web en nuestra serie del 2021.

La Biblioteca Global de la Organización Mundial de la Salud: ¡La salud importa! - Glòria Pérez-Salmerón en conversación con los Bibliotecarios de la OMS.

 

Para más información, incluido el horario del seminario web donde se encuentra y cómo registrarse, consulte: https://www.ifla.org/node/93998

WLIC Programme now available 

It's out! 3 days of discussion starters, 3 time zones full of thought provoking ideas, 160 sessions and hundreds of speakers. The IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2021 programme is now on the conference website. Which sessions will help you address topics and issues in the workplace? Explore how global perspectives can address local challenges. 

From artificial intelligence and citizen science to health information as a human right; from inspiring marketing ideas to the power of networking; IFLA's Congress allows you to look further and explore new aspects of the profession. IFLA WLIC opens up your world!

So take a look at our programme, which will automatically display according to your timezone. Is there a clash, or is a session too late or early for you? Don’t worry – delegates get 12 months’ access to recorded sessions! 

Early Bird Registrations closing soon 

There are only four days to go to the close of IFLA's early bird registration rates on 9 July. IFLA is offering its lowest ever registration rates, starting at EUR 40 for IFLA student affiliates and EUR 65 for IFLA members and other affiliates. If you've ever wanted to experience the most international event in the library field, join the thousand other librarians who have already registered. So don’t hesitate – save money and get the best deal. Register before 9 July. 

Kind regards,

Gerald Leitner
Secretary General
The Hague, Netherlands
6 July 2021

From 28 June to 1 July, IFLA participated in the 41st session of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR41) at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). 

The session took the shape of a hybrid session with many delegations joining remotely, both governments and observers such as IFLA. As previously agreed by WIPO Members, given the fact that so many could not be present, the meeting focused on advancing discussions around issues on the agenda, rather than taking firm decisions. 

A busy agenda

Over the four days, items covered included new potential rights for broadcasting organisations, exceptions and limitations for libraries, archives, museums and educational and research institutions, and other matters which includes copyright in the digital environment, resale right, rights of theatre directors and a proposal for study on public lending right (PLR). 

On broadcasting, IFLA recalled the importance of including adequate exceptions and limitations to ensure that any new rights would not stand unreasonably in the way of public interest activities. 

Broadcast material had been essential for much education during the pandemic, and of course represents a key part of the historic record. Any steps that make it more difficult to draw on it yos support learning or to carry out preservation risk causing harm without any particular benefit to rightholders. 

IFLA called for the introduction of provisions at least mirroring those already included in WIPO’s Rome Convention, allowing preservation and access for education and research. Many Member States echoed this call, underlining also the need for greater transparency in work to prepare new drafts of a suggested Treaty on the topic. 

Limitations and exceptions at the time of COVID

Concerning the main agenda item on exceptions and limitations, IFLA highlighted the lack or inadequacy of copyright laws for heritage preservation in particular. Too many countries still have no provisions on preservation, while even those who do have often not adapted their laws to the digital age, including by offering remote access to preserved works. 

Furthermore, libraries face uncertainty in working across borders to form preservation networks, in order to help combat the risk of degradation and loss of collections, in particular in the face of climate change.

As a first step, IFLA has therefore called for the development of model laws or provisions on the subject, as well as for progress towards an international instrument, in order to enable all cultures to safeguard their heritage.

Looking beyond preservation, IFLA and others also highlighted the degree to which COVID had made clear the need for laws which allow libraries to provide access to information digitally, for example through lending, access to copies of works, storytimes and beyond. This need was recognised by a number of Member States, recognising the unnecessary disruption caused by the pandemic. 

Partner organisations working on education and research reiterated these points, calling alongside IFLA for an effort to provide clarity on which flexibilities exist under international law. 

In parallel, representatives of performers and others argued that the impacts of COVID on the wider creative sector should be considered.

Promoting a holistic approach to supporting creators

Regarding the item on a proposed study on public lending right (PLR) in developing countries, IFLA reiterated its support for a fair remuneration of authors. However, IFLA also noted concerns about the impact that the Public Lending Right will have in developing countries, given the risk of limiting the funding of libraries.

We recalled that libraries are resource tools for many communities and help to create and open up educational and professional opportunities for children, young people and adults, by developing literacy programmes, providing access to information and education, research and combating misinformation. Libraries are important allies for the development of societies and communities.

Within this framework, IFLA suggested reframing the study to take a more holistic approach, considering the cost-effectiveness of different means of supporting authors and creators such as direct subsidies, tax benefits or reversion rights. Such an approach would also allow for the costs of such initiatives to be fully considered.

While some Member States welcomed the proposal for the study, others noted the number of items already on the agenda, as well as the need for balance in such work. 

Requirements recognised, but action delayed

The session provided a welcome opportunity to hear the ongoing support from many Member States for work to give libraries, as well as archives, museums, educators and researchers a copyright framework that allows them to complete their missions. 

Yet work is still needed to convince all Member States to support their libraries. In part, this will need to come from combating the impression too often given that enabling libraries to carry out their missions risks coming at the expense of creators themselves. 

While there are certainly concerns about the impact of new business models and wider trends on the different industries built around copyright and the writers and other creators who underpin them, IFLA argues that it is not by holding back, or trying to extract more fees from libraries that we will find effective solutions. 

Indeed, through their work to support literacy, ensure preservation, and develop the readers and researchers of the future, libraries represent a support, not a cost. to the creative sector. 

With no decisions possible at this meeting, and no further sessions of the Committee planned this year, we will need to wait until 2022 in order to be able to advance work formally on these issues, as well as to hold an information session on the impact of COVID on those working with copyright. This should cover both creators and other rightholders, and those depending on limitations and exceptions to copyright. 

IFLA will continue to work with its members, as well as governments at WIPO and beyond, in order to promote appropriate and balanced legal frameworks.

Read IFLA's Statements:

• IFLA Statement on Broadcasting [PDF, MS Word]
• IFLA Statement on Exceptions and Limitations to Copyright [PDF, MS Word]
• IFLA Statement on Public Lending Right [PDF, MS Word]

For the sixth time, Systematic and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) presents the Public Library of the Year Award, honouring new, innovative public libraries. The jury has narrowed 32 libraries down to five nominees in the quest for this year’s winner.

This year, the five finalists come from very different parts of the world:

• Marrickville Library
  Australia
• Deichman Bjørvika - Oslo Public Library
  Norway
• Het Predikheren
  Belgium
• Ningbo New Library
  China
• Forum Groningen
  The Netherlands

The winner will be announced during IFLA's annual congress, held online this year from 17 - 19 August and the award is presented by IFLA President, Christine Mackenzie.

For additional information, see the Sytsematic website.

Dear Colleague

The ILFA Section Library Services to  People with Special Needs has been working on Guidelines for Library Services to Displaced Populations.   These Guidelines cover library service to refugees, immigrants, migrants, and asylum seekers.    These Guidelines are now ready for global review.

A Google Drive link can be found here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qtI3kg4GSx_sL8fwZ0OMfztqZxrIMC-X/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs

Please leave comments on the google drive document or send to Despina Gerasimidou at despina.gerasimidou@ifla.org

The deadline for comments is July 20.

 

The July 2021 issue of the IFLAPARL Section's newsletter is now available online.

This edition includes the following: 

•  Message from the Chair 
• IFLAPARL Standing Committee Members (Results of the 2021 Election)
•  How to join the Section 
• 87th WORLD LIBRARY AND INFORMATION CONGRESS
• IFLAPARL Planning Virtual Conference September/October 2021
• Call to Participate in the 2021 IFLAPARL pandemic survey
• News from the Documentation and Information Center – Brazil
• Latin America and Caribbean Parliamentary Libraries: experiences, challenges and practical work during the Covid-19 pandemic" Webinar held April 29, 2021
• The Knesset Research & Information Center (RIC) during the Covid-19 Pandemic – Challenges Opportunities and Successes
• ECPRD seminar – ‘Parliamentary research and libraries: A year of hope and transition’
• The World e-Parliament Conference 2021 – report
• National Assembly Library – Republic of Korea
• Uruguayan Parliament Library
• A personal message from Hamburg, Germany
• Canadian Library of Parliament
• New Books & Articles

The Minutes of the June 25, 2021 Open Standing Committee Meeting of the Library and Research Services for Parliaments Section have been posted.