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IFLA Annual Conference

The 75th General Conference and Assembly of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) World Library and Information Congress was held this year in Milan, Italy, between 23–27 August. The theme of the conference was ‘Libraries Create Futures: Building on Cultural Heritage’. Milan was a wonderful location in which to celebrate this theme and many of the city’s famous museums and galleries remained open in the evenings for conference delegates to experience Milan’s cultural heritage.

The event attracted 3 700 delegates and the Milan Convention Centre was bustling with activity throughout five days of presentations and meetings. The IFLA Conference serves two purposes:

  • it brings together library and information professionals from around the world to share information and discuss issues and new developments
  • it serves as an annual meeting point for the many professional groups which form the basis of IFLA’s activities throughout the year.

The day before the conference commenced, the IFLA Governing Board, its eight divisions and 42 sections met to develop programs for the coming year and ideas for the 2010 conference. Many of IFLA’s sections also held satellite meetings prior to the conference.

The IFLA General Conference always commences with an opening ceremony, during which the host city can show something of its history and culture and the IFLA President can report on progress of IFLA initiatives. In Milan, the outgoing president, Claudia Lux, Director General, Foundation Central and Regional Library, Berlin, spoke about IFLA’s achievements over the past two years. Her presidential theme, ‘Libraries on the Agenda!’, has concentrated on improving advocacy for libraries through a wide range of activities, such as training librarians for advocacy roles and developing IFLA’s own international advocacy role.

Many of the sessions at this year’s conference had a digital theme and the Italian Government, in collaboration with IFLA, hosted a one-day ‘Digital Libraries Workshop’ to examine the challenges and opportunities for libraries in the digital environment. The workshop looked at what users want from libraries and the ways in which libraries are meeting changing user expectations.

Some of the highlights of the conference were:

  • IFLA President–elect for 2009–2011, Ellen Tise, Senior Director of Library and Information Services, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, held a lively open session to develop ideas for her presidential theme ‘Libraries Driving Access to Knowledge’
  • IFLA announced the receipt of a US$1.5 m grant over three years from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to assist IFLA with its advocacy work
  • Several new IFLA special interest groups held first-time sessions at the conference, including ‘National Organisations and International Relations’, ‘Environmental Sustainability and Libraries’ and ‘Indigenous Matters’
  • Nine new major IFLA publications were launched during the conference, including National Bibliographies in the Digital Age and Strategies for Regenerating the Library and Information Profession
  • IFLA delegates attended a cultural evening in the Piazza del Duomo, including a concert in the famous Duomo di Milano, entry to the Palazzo Reale gallery and the first ever public viewing of Leonardo da Vinci’s De Divina Proportione.

Conference proceedings are available through the IFLA website. The next IFLA General Conference will be held in Goteborg, Sweden, 10–15 August 2010. The theme will be ‘Open Access to Knowledge: Promoting Sustainable Progress’.

Jasmine Cameron
Assistant Director-General, Executive and Public Programs Division