Post on 31-Mar-2015
transcript
“Libraries Driving Access to Knowledge”
Danish Library Association Annual Meeting, Aalborg, Denmark, 11-13 March 2009
Ellen TiseIFLA President-elect
Senior Director: Library and Information ServicesStellenbosch University
IFLA’s global voice
My Aalborg/Denmark/IFLA-story
What: What: International NGO based in The Hague Active since 1927
How: How: Member based; is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users.
Figures: Figures: nearly 1700 Members in 147 countries
Purpose: Purpose: -Promote high standards of provision and delivery of library and information services
-Encourage widespread understanding of the value of good library & information services
-Represent the interests of our members throughout the world 6
IFLA’s global voice
IFLA’s global voice
IFLA Core Values
We believe that people, communities and organizations need for their physical, mental, democratic and economic well-
being, free access to information, ideas and works of imagination
IFLA Advocacy FrameworkIFLA Advocacy FrameworkComprehensive and effective: to complement the strategic priorities and take advantage of all of IFLA’s activities• Using global reach, existing networks and strategic
partners in support of libraries•To help libraries sustain themselves
• To empower national associations to stand up for libraries•To make policy makers and funding agencies aware of
the benefits libraries bring to their communities c8
IFLA’s global voice
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IFLA’s global voice
Statistics/Advocacy Tools Programme
Professional Development
Community Advocacy
Political Advocacy
IFLA Advocacy Framework
Sustaining libraries and IFLA for the future
PartnershipPartnership•UNESCO •Ecosoc •NGO’s: ICA, ICOM, ICOMOS, CCAAA•WIPO•IPA•LIBER •EBLIDA•eIFL•Frankfurter Buchmesse•CDNL •Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation •SIDA•WSIS and ICT 4D Organisations
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IFLA’s global voice
IFLA projects in 2008IFLA projects in 2008•FAIFE workshops on Internet Manifesto held in: Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, Paraguay, Colombia, Abu Dhabi, Jamaica and Philippines
•ALP held training workshops all over the world: on literacy, information literacy and professional development
•CLM continued to lobby on behalf of libraries at WIPO and took up advising role in developing countries on copyright law in the digital age
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IFLA’s global voice
Advocacy Priorities for 2009Advocacy Priorities for 2009•Develop new partnerships
•Strong advocacy on behalf of copyright exceptions and limitations for libraries at WIPO
•Maintain and expand involvement with Internet Governance Forum
•Develop research-driven evidence base to aid advocacy work
•Develop advocacy resources in association with MLAS
•Audit existing IFLA advocacy activities and incorporate advocacy framework into sections and core programmes
•Utilise new IFLA website and IFLA World Report 2009 in advocacy activities
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IFLA’s global voice
IFLA’s global voice
Libraries Driving Access to Knowledge
“With a library you are free, not confined by temporary political climates. It is the most democratic of institutions because no one – but no one at all – can tell you what to read and when and how.”Doris Lessing
IFLA’s global voice
Paul Cézanne
What is knowledge ...?
• Access to information, and knowledge generation are essential in a development process
• Knowledge can be a liberator from poverty and deprivation
• Springboard for breaking-through in the quest for innovation and change
• Access to information imperative for a society seeking new knowledge
Role of the Library
• Universally accepted that the library will serve as the vehicle for the acquisition of knowledge
• For this reason, libraries crowned knowledge institutions as they provide the public spaces for information sharing and learning
• Space that is accessible to all groups of society, regardless of gender, age, cultural or ethnic affiliation, economic or employment status, literacy or technical skills, etc.
Role of the Library
Key actor in providing unhindered access to essential resources for economic and cultural advance
Contribute effectively to the development and maintenance of intellectual freedom, safeguarding democratic values and universal civil rights
Encourage social inclusion by serving all those in their communities
IFLA’s global voice
So how do, and can libraries drive access to knowledge?
IFLA’s global voice
Libraries must be user oriented
1. Bring the libraries and their resources to the users
2. Empower users through information literacy, social networking
3. Librarians are enablers – not gate-keepers4. Facilitate participation in society by all citizens
IFLA’s global voice
Libraries must be user oriented
- bring the libraries and their resources to the users- empower users through information literacy,
social networking- librarians are enablers – not gate-keepers- facilitate participation in society by all citizens
IFLA’s global voice
Libraries and librarians must become active in advocacy
- actively promote libraries- include the perspective of the users- communicate effectively with stakeholders- drive library policy - promote and support open access for all - become innovative information agents
IFLA’s global voice
The Library as place/space
- libraries as “WOW” environments- libraries as community knowledge space- libraries as gate-openers to information
IFLA’s global voice
The role of libraries in social inclusion/knowledge as a gateway to inclusion
- information for ALL- integrated services to immigrants- create content in format appealing to young
people- libraries as a safe and trusted public space- enabling multicultural communities to have their
voices heard
Libraries must create partnerships
- partnership with user groups, such as health workers, teachers, environmentalists, etc.
- partnership with commercial partners- partner to promote the broader library agenda- convergence with other cultural/knowledge
institutions
James Baldwin
IFLA’s global voice
The End
Thank you!