International_Federation_of_Library_Associations_and_Institutions

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession, and its annual conferences provides a venue for librarians to learn from one another. The IFLA forum promotes international cooperation, research and development in all fields related to library activities.

Founded in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1927, IFLA has grown to over 1,700 Members in 155 countries around the world. IFLA was registered in the Netherlands in 1971; and today, the IFLA is headquartered in the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, which is the National Library of the Netherlands in The Hague.

IFLA MIssion

The IFLA activities are designed to further an expressly articulated list of objectives:

To represent librarianship in matters of international interest
To promote the continuing education of library personnel
To develop, maintain and promote guidelines for library services

Core Values

IFLA's objectives are informed by the following core values:

The endorsement of the principles of freedom of expression embodied in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The belief 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
The conviction that delivery of high quality library and information services helps guarantee that access
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.

Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE)

One of the core activities of IFLA is the Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression , which monitors the state of intellectual freedom within the library community world-wide, supports IFLA policy development and co-operation with other international human rights organisations, and responds to violations of free access to information and freedom of expression.

IFLA/FAIFE is a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, a global network of non-governmental organisations that monitors freedom of expression worldwide.

It is also a member of the Tunisia Monitoring Group, a coalition of 16 free expression organisations that lobbies the Tunisian government to improve its human rights record.