Sjoerd Koopman
IFLA Coordinator of Professional Activities
Report to 2005 CDNL meeting
Core Activities
2004
The following is a summary compilation of the Annual Reports of IFLA's Core Activities for your information. Unabridged versions, containing far more details and source material can be found on IFLANET www.ifla.org, for each Core Activity separately at the locations indicated below.
IFLA/ALP - Action for development through Libraries Programme
Background
According to a decision of IFLA Governing Board ALP has now a new name – Action for development through Libraries Programme – which means that the acronym can be kept. The new name is more action oriented and describes what the programme aims to do.
The mission of ALP is to further the library profession, library institutions and library and information services in the developing countries of Africa, Asia and Oceania, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The goals are to support the development of library associations; to assist in human resources development; to promote libraries and functional literacy, reading and lifelong learning; to promote new technology and to support dissemination of information and publishing activities to the community with special attention to indigenous communities.
Staff and finance
IFLA, Uppsala University and 17 Nordic library associations and institutions fund the International Focal Point (IFP) for ALP at Uppsala University Library. Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) funds are also used for the secretariat. To this should be added contributions in kind from Uppsala University Library.
The ALP IFP is staffed by: Birgitta Sandell, Director of the Programme, and Gunilla Natvig, Administrative Officer (part-time, 80%).
Professional activities
The sponsors in 2004 were Sida, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swedish Library Association and IFLA. In addition, those responsible for projects in the regions contributed with their own resources and raised considerable funds from external sources.
Following is a summary overview of activities in 2004; the complete annual report can be found at www.ifla.org/VI/1/alp.htm
ALP Meetings and Seminars
With funding from Sida the following meetings and seminars were carried out.
A workshop on Managing Digital Libraries was held in February 2004 in Gaborone, Botswana. The workshop was conducted by Dr Dale Peters, The Digital Imaging South Africa (DISA) project. Twenty candidates were selected to represent ten African countries. Candidates were required to demonstrate their interest and their personal commitment by submitting a proposal outlining a digital library project for their own institution.
A workshop on Networking of library and information educators in the Eastern Central and Southern Africa Region was held in July 2004 in Uganda in connection with the SCECSAL conference. There were 35 participants, all involved in LIS Education and training at varying levels. The objectives were to establish a network of LIS schools, assess the curricula of existing LIS schools, determine the training needs of LIS educators to enhance teaching, learning and research and to exploit the collective expertise of LIS education institutions.
An International symposium on the research and utilisation of Chinese local chronicles was held in October 2004 in Beijing . This project focused on resource sharing and preserving the local heritage. Professionals from libraries and museums in Singapore, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia and China participated. Theory and practice of digitisation of local documents were covered as well as collecting and management, the use of modern technology and the role of local documents in the social development. With money from Sida ALP paid for the travels of ten delegates from abroad to participate in the meeting.
Empowering Library Associations. This workshop held in October 2004 was organized by the Nepal Library Association and Tribhuvan University Library in co-operation with Professor Russell Bowden. Representatives of library associations in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka plus around 25 Nepalese librarians attended. The objectives were to strengthen the quality, management and efficiency of services provided by library associations and to assist library associations to encourage the adoption of internationally recognized standards of service and provision for library and information services.
The workshop on Information Skills for Learning held in November 2004 in Sri Lanka was organized by NILIS (The National Institute of Library & Information Sciences) and Professor Russell Bowden. Educators, librarians and university academics from ten countries in South Asia and South East Asia participated. This international workshop was aimed at promoting the new 21 st century role of the school/teacher librarian, which emphasises the inculcation of information literacy skills among school children.
Creation of a federation of library associations in Central America. The first meeting of Central American Library Associations was held in San Salvador in March 2004. The main objective was to strengthen the relation among the associations in the area. Altogether 26 representatives from Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and El Salvador participated in the meeting.
Scholarships
A number of scholarships were realised:
IFLA had allocated a sum of 30.000 EUR for a travel grant to enable librarians from developing countries to attend its annual Congress, Buenos Aires, August 2004. The sponsorship covered registration, travel, accommodation and a daily allowance. ALP selected 16 candidates for support. Sida made funds available to cover registration fees for 37 participants from the Mercosur countries
In Service Training, Attachments, for Middle or Senior Staff
Three persons were selected for attachments in 2004 at institutions in Asia (Swedish Library Association funds).
Scholarships in Information Technology
Four scholarships were awarded in 2004 to attend the four-week course on Information Technology and Information Services at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (Sida funds). The scholarships and attachments have been considered very successful. Apart from the enhancement of professional skills, the projects have developed platforms for networking of professionals, both at individual and institutional levels.
Other projects
IFLA ALP stand at the SCECSAL 2004 Exhibition
SCECSAL XVI Conference
IBBY World Congress, September 2004 in South
Journal of librarianship and information science in Africa/Revue de bibliothéconomie et science de l’information en Afrique
Attention to indigenous communities through library service in the Latin American region – Training programme for library personnel
Book-lending points at local fairs and markets in Latin America
Minor Field Studies (MFS).
Publications
ALP Project Report Series (ISSN 1023-8212)
The following issue was published in 2004:
23. Acceso a los servicios bibliotecarios y de información en los pueblos indígenas de América Latina. Memorias del seminario en San Salvador. Editado por César Castro y Manuel Cornejo. Lima, 2004. 221 pp. ISBN 992-608-17-4
IFLA/CLM - Copyright and other Legal Matters
CLM was established to advise IFLA and its constituent groups with respect to copyright and intellectual property, economic barriers to the acquisition and use of library materials, trade agreements affecting library services, disputed claims of ownership of library materials, authenticity of electronic texts, subscriptions and license agreements, and other legal matters of international significance to libraries and librarianship.
The membership of the Committee is to be representative of all regions of the world; and IFLA’s term limits are designed to enable broad participation in CLM over time. In response to a call for nominations from the IFLA Governing Board early in the year, 32 people were nominated from 28 countries. At its March meeting, the Governing Board approved the appointment of 22 members, including six who were appointed to the second and final term. The Governing Board also named 5 members of the CLM Advisory Board, including Vinyet Panyella of Spain, to serve as CLM’s liaison to the Governing Board. In addition, the Chair of CLM asked seven individuals to serve as resource persons for CLM.
The newly-constituted committee held two formal business meetings during the IFLA World Congress in Buenos Aires. In addition to discussing the programs planned for the Buenos Aires Congress and future Congresses, CLM devoted considerable time to reports from CLM members about the most critical intellectual property issues affecting libraries in their respective countries, addressed copyright issues relating to the blind and other print-disabled readers, reviewed a draft statement of principles that should guide future developments of intellectual property laws prepared by James Boyle (see below), agreed that CLM/IFLA should make a special effort to spur the establishment of copyright committees within all of IFLA’s national association members, and received an update on various recent copyright developments within the European Union.
CLM was pleased to welcome to its second meeting in Buenos Aires two special guests: Ana Cabanellas (ARGENTINA), President of the International Publishers Association; and Geidy Lung (VENEZUELA), copyright specialist now posted to WIPO headquarters in Geneva. CLM members discussed with Ms. Cabanellas various ways in which librarians could promote copyright awareness - a better understanding of what users may and may not do with copyrighted works; and with Ms. Lung, ways in which IFLA could play a more effective role as an accredited NGO within WIPO.
Among the most hotly debated issues was the role and impact on libraries of public lending right (PLR) regimes as they exist in various countries. Some members argued that PLR has a negative impact on libraries, particularly in those countries where the funds used to pay authors may be taken from the libraries’ own budgets; other members argued that in some countries PLR has enabled libraries and authors to establish mutually beneficial relationships that have served to promote greater use of public libraries. This topic was also the subject of a resolution introduced at IFLA’s Council II meeting, the day following CLM II. By act of Council, the resolution was referred to IFLA’s Governing Board which, in turn, directed the Chair of CLM to review the issue in light of IFLA’s own core values and professional priorities, and to prepare for the Governing Board a response based on consultations with members of CLM, the Chairs of the Public Libraries Standing Committee and Division 8, and others as deemed appropriate. In response, the Chair of CLM asked CLM member Barbara Stratton (UK) to prepare a draft response by February 1, 2005 for consideration by the Governing Board at its March 2005 meeting The Hague.
In compliance with IFLA’s new procedures for the organization of annual Congresses, CLM directly sponsored just one program in Buenos Aires. Speakers included James Boyle (USA), who made a very forceful defense of the public domain in his presentation, “The second enclosure movement and the role of libraries in protecting public domain”; Luis Villarroel (CHILE), who gave an excellent overview of “Exceptions and limitations to copyright for libraries in Latin America”; and Paul Whitney (CANADA), outgoing member of CLM, who presented a compelling case study, “Very different perspectives: how the Canadian courts and legislators view digital copyright.” In addition, CLM was glad to participate in a very informative and important half-day session, co-sponsored by the Sections on Libraries for the Blind and Libraries for the Disadvantaged, on access to copyrighted materials for print-disabled users.
Previous annual reports have mentioned the necessity for IFLA’s becoming more engaged with WIPO. One means of accomplishing this objective has been the appointment of a resident librarian who can not only monitor WIPO’s copyright activities but also attend appropriate WIPO meetings in Geneva. With support from the Swiss library community, CLM is fortunate to have engaged Jarka Looks, Vice-Director and Head of the library at the Swiss Institute for Comparative Law, to fulfill this function. But in 2004 IFLA had the opportunity to increase its engagement with WIPO in significant additional ways, as IFLA was invited to participate in a broad-based convocation of NGO’s in Geneva in September, convened to develop a plan for affecting WIPO’s future agenda. One important outcome of this meeting and the conference that followed was the creation of the Geneva Declaration on the Future of the World Intellectual Property Organization, which IFLA helped write and enthusiastically endorsed. The Declaration was released in Geneva in September 2004, timed to coincide with the opening of WIPO’s Assemblies of member states. Simultaneously with the publication of the Declaration, IFLA published The IFLA Position on the Geneva Declaration of the Future of WIPO, which had been drafted by CLM member Denise Nicholson (SOUTH AFRICA). Publication of this position paper gave IFLA an opportunity to highlight concerns of particular interest to IFLA and librarians, such as the growing imbalance in intellectual property laws between owners and users, technological protection measures, and the increasing use of Free Trade Agreements, rather than copyright laws, to control access to intellectual property. At year’s end, CLM was preparing for a follow-up meeting in Geneva, co-sponsored by IFLA, in February 2005. This meeting will focus on the creation of a concrete action agenda that IFLA and other NGO’s will urge WIPO and its member states to pursue to make real the belief embodied in our core values “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.”
More at www.ifla.org/III/clm/ copyr.htm
IFLA/FAIFE - Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression
FAIFE is an initiative within IFLA to defend and promote the basic human rights defined in Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The FAIFE Committee and Office further free access to information and freedom of expression in all aspects, directly or indirectly, related to library and information services.
FAIFE monitors the state of intellectual freedom within the library and information community worldwide, supports IFLA policy development and cooperation with other international human rights organisations, and responds to violations of free access to information and freedom of expression.
Organisation of IFLA/FAIFE
IFLA/FAIFE is one of the IFLA Core Activities organised with a Chair, Advisory Board and Committee. The IFLA/FAIFE office is based at the Royal Danish School of Library and Information Science in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Office
The Office is responsible for the daily operation of FAIFE. Besides working with administrative issues, economy, fundraising and strategic development and action plans, the office operates within the three FAIFE key areas of attention: Education, Advocacy and Intervention. The development of the IFLA/FAIFE World Report Series, the FAIFE programme at IFLA congresses, submission of articles, papers and special reports are examples of activities connected to the educational aspects of FAIFE’s work.
Evaluation of FAIFE
In the context of an evaluation of FAIFE, a peer review was conducted by Ms Trudy Huskamp Peterson of the International Council of Archives (ICA), senior member of ICA’s Commission for Programme Evaluation and Mr Christobal Pasadas member of the GB and PC. T here are eight specific recommendations in the Peer Review Report, which need to be taken forward either by FAIFE or by IFLA as a whole.
Finances
In 2004 FAIFE received grants from the following donors: The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA); the Dutch Library Umbrella (FOBID) – part of a five year agreement, the German Library Umbrella (BID); the American Library Association (ALA), and the Danish Library Umbrella and IFLA.
Other activities
Theme Report 2004
FAIFE launched its 2004 Theme Report entitled Libraries for Lifelong Literacy at the press conference in Buenos Aires. The report supports the presidential theme of 2003-2005 that highlights the important role of libraries in addressing literacy and lifelong learning issues. With focus on Latin and Central America, Asia and Africa the report discuss the role and specific challenges facing libraries in these regions: education, lifelong learning, implementation of ICTs, indigenous knowledge and oral traditions, and the basic right to access to information.
Buenos Aires programme
FAIFE had two professional programmes during the IFLA Congress in Buenos Aires.: a joint programme with Library History Section: Experiences of years of dictatorship and the effects on libraries: How can libraries continue to promote intellectual freedom in the aftermath of crisis? and the programme entitled, Libraries for lifelong literacy: “Informacy” as a way of supporting unrestricted access to information in developing countries discussed how libraries can ensure that their staff and users are equipped to deal with the challenages of developing information literacy.
IFLA Policy implementation and follow up
The Glasgow Declaration on Libraries, Information Services and Intellectual Freedom is now available in 11 languages and the IFLA Internet Manifesto in 17 languages.
The Internet Manifesto is being followed up by the IFLA/UNESCO Internet Guidelines Project sponsored by The Information for All Programme.
The Internet and freedom of access to information
At the end of October 2004, Stuart Hamilton finalised his PhD project entitled, To what extent can libraries provide free equal and unhampered access to Internet accessible information resources on a global scale? Being co-financed by the Royal School of Library and Information Science in Copenhagen and IFLA/FAIFE, this PhD project is an example of IFLA’s close cooperation with the higher education sector.
More details of the annual report can be found at www.ifla.org/faife/index.htm
IFLA/PAC - Preservation and Conservation
The Core Activity on Preservation and Conservation has one major goal: to ensure that significant library and archive materials, published and unpublished, in all formats will be preserved in accessible form for as long as possible. The primary role of the PAC programme is to raise awareness: to make information and heritage professionals, governments and the public conscious of the fundamental position occupied by preservation in the management of an institution.
Using its Regional Centres, PAC aims to have a presence worldwide. It is assisted at national, regional and international levels by cooperation with other professional organizations, institutions and NGOs as well as with IFLA's professional groups, among which the Preservation and Conservation Section.
The rapidly evolving digital technologies are presenting new challenges which will be included in the activities of the programme. PAC's major strategies include training, production and dissemination of information, research and participation in the development of new standards.
Structure
Focal Point (International Centre) has been hosted by the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris since 1992 and six new Regional Centres were created in 2004, which doubles the number of PAC Regional Centres. They are located in Washington (Library of Congress), Caracas (Biblioteca Nacional de Venezuela), Rio de Janeiro (National Library of Brazil), Santiago (National Library of Chile), Port of Spain (National Library of Trinidad and Tobago), Tokyo (National Diet Library), Beijing (National Library of China), Cape Town (University Library of Cape Town, South Africa), Porto Novo (National Library of Benin), Canberra (National Library of Australia), and Moscow (Library of Foreign Literature). The International Centre in Paris (Bibliothèque nationale de France) acts as the Regional Centre for Western Europe and the Middle East.
The International Centre and the Regional Centres are linked by a network, the main working rules of which are defined in an "agreement" between IFLA and each Centre. Each Centre is independent and acts according to the preoccupations identified in its geographical area. Its main duty is to agree with the objectives of the PAC Core Activity and to maintain cooperation with other Centres through specific activities (publications, seminars, conferences, etc.).
Publications
IPN (International Preservation News) = PAC Newsletter
IPI (International Preservation Issues)
IPI 5 “Care, Handling and Storage of Photographs” updated by Mark Roosa (Washington) and published by PAC Paris in 2004 English, French (translation Corine Koch) and Spanish version (translation Amparo de Torres) - Print run : 1 000
Various articles and conference papers.
Training
Two important training activities took place in 2004
A workshop on disaster mitigation in Trinidad and Tobago , May 20-24. This workshop is the second of a series of workshop organised by IFLA PAC in the framework of the International Committee of the Blue Shield. More than eighty English speaking participants from the Caribbean attended. The workshop presented case studies on the various disasters that had struck the region recently and gave clues to preventive measures susceptible to mitigate the consequences of such disasters.
Training course on preservation issues and management in Paris . This international training course is the third one organised by the Bibliothèque nationale de France with the collaboration of IFLA PAC and the Archives de France. Fifteen foreign French speaking participants from thirteen countries (Belgium, Brazil, Chad, Ethiopia, India, Lebanon, Poland, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, Turkey, Vietnam, New Caledonia) attended.
Surveys
Newspapers: A survey on Holdings of African Newspapers kept in Archives and Libraries in Africa In cooperation with the IFLA Newspapers Section was completed by the end of February 2004. A case for funding support from potential private and public sponsors will be prepared.
Disaster plans : A survey on disaster preparedness was launched by PAC and questionnaires were sent to 177 national libraries. Results were presented at the WLIC in Buenos Aires, August 2004.
Cooperation
Throughout the report period, IFLA/PAC has been collaborating in international cooperative enterprises. Examples are the International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS), UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme and committees and workgroups of the International Council on Archives.
The full Annual Report is available at www.ifla.org/ VI/4/pac.htm
IFLA/UNIMARC
The purpose of the UNIMARC Core Activity is to coordinate activities aimed at the development, maintenance and promotion of the Universal MARC format (UNIMARC), originally created by IFLA to facilitate the international exchange of bibliographic data. Maintenance and update of UNIMARC, now a set of four formats - Bibliographic, Authorities, Classification and Holdings- is the responsibility of the Permanent UNIMARC Committee.
The 15 th meeting of the Permanent UNIMARC Committee (PUC) took place in Lisbon, March 2004.
UNIMARC/Bibliographic Format, UNIMARC/Authorities and UNIMARC/Holdings were discussed .
UNIMARC Core Activity Actions
The UNIMARC Core Activity Office (National Library, Lisbon) undertook the organization of a session for IFLA 2004 in Buenos Aires under the theme “The holdings record as a bibliographic control tool”.
UNIMARC XML Scheme
The contract between the UNIMARC Core Activity Office and Bookmarc was successfully accomplished and a UNIMARC XHL scheme is available at http://www.bookmarc.pt/unimarc
More information on IFLA UNIMARC Core Activity can be found on http://www.ifla.org/VI/8/up.htm
Address : IFLA, P.O.Box 95312, 2509 CH The Hague, Netherlands
Telephone and fax details : +31 70 3140 884 / + 31 70 3834 827
Web address : www.ifla.org