International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

Author:  Faizan Irfan

Mphil scholar (Punjab University)

Lecturer Library Science (Govt. Associate College, Safdrabad)

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international organization representing library and information service users’ concerns. It is the library and information profession’s global voice.

IFLA was founded in 1927 in Edinburgh, Scotland at an international conference. now it has more than 1,500 Members in over 150 countries around the world. IFLA was registered in the Netherlands in 1971 and the Royal Library, the national library of the Netherlands, located in The Hague, generously provides the facilities for headquarters.

Aims of International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

IFLA is a non-profit organization that is autonomous, international, and non-governmental. Its aims are to:

1. Encourage the provision and delivery of high-quality library and information services.
2. Increase public awareness of the importance of good libraries and information services.
3. Represent IFAL’s members’ interests all throughout the world.

Membership of IFLA

Association Members and Institutional Members are the two basic types of voting members in IFLA. Within the broad field of library and information science, associations of library and information professionals, library and information services, and educational and research organizations are all eligible to join as Association Members. Individual library and information services, as well as all types of library and information-related organizations, are eligible for Institutional Membership. As International Association Members, international organizations in our field of interest are welcome to join.

Core Values of IFLA 

In pursuing these aims IFLA embraces the following core values:

1. The endorsement of the principles of freedom of access to information, ideas, and works of imagination and freedom of expression is embodied in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2. The belief is that people, communities, and organizations need universal and equitable access to information, ideas, and works of imagination for their social, educational, cultural, democratic, and economic well-being.
3. The conviction that delivery of high-quality library and information services helps guarantee that access.
4. The commitment to enable all Members of the Federation to engage in, and benefit from, its activities without regard to citizenship, disability, ethnic origin, gender, geographical location, language, political philosophy, race or religion

Regional Offices of International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

IFLA has a Regional Office in each of the IFLA Regions: Africa, Asia and Oceania, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Language Centers

IFLA maintains four Language Centers whose mission is to improve communication among the respective language communities as well as within the IFLA entities. These languages are

1. Arabic
2. Chinese
3. French (in Africa)
4. Russian

References

Retrieved from: http://origin-www.ifla.org/about