1927 - 2002

A brief history of IFLA 1927 - 2002

IFLA was founded in Edinburgh, UK in 1927 and held its first conference as International Federation of Library Associations in 1929 in Rome, Florence and Venice in Italy.

The 1935 meeting of IFLA was held in Madrid and Barcelona. It attracted 65 delegates from 26 countries. The congress was a watershed in international librarianship as it endorsed common regulations for international interlibrary loans.

In 1938, at the eleventh meeting held in Brussels, President Godet noted with sadness the destruction of libraries during the Spanish Civil War and the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. He proclaimed that all must be touched by such destruction and ready to assist reconstruction.

IFLA's first post World War II meeting was held in Oslo in 1947. President Munthe proposed an agreement for mutual recognition between IFLA and the recently established United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation - UNESCO. IFLA and UNESCO agreed to "further by all possible means the greatest freedom in the distribution and exchange across national frontiers of publications, other materials of libraries, information about publications, etc."

The publication of the UNESCO Public Library Manifesto in 1949 proclaimed the public library as an instrument for democracy. In 1994 the third version was published. It rapidly became recognized as an important statement of the fundamental principles of the public library service. In 2000 it was followed by the IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto.

In 1976 IFLA changed its name to include libraries as institutional members: the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions - IFLA.

The 1980s saw a growing number of Core Programmes, later extended and designated 'Core Activities', which underline nowadays IFLA's continuing attention to the advancement of librarianship in the developing world, copyright matters, freedom of access to information, preservation and conservation, interlending, and the standardization of bibliographical activities.

1993 was the birth year of IFLANET, which has since grown to become a major tool for the operation of the Federation.

In 2000 and 2001 new Statutes and Rules of Procedure were approved. These brought about a renewed IFLA with a new structure (Governing Board).

The first general postal ballot in IFLA's history was held in 2001. A number of Board members was elected, as well as the President for the period 2003-2005.

Kay Raseroka, will be IFLA's first President from Africa, and even the first from a non-American and non-European country.

At the age of 75

IFLA

• believes that the services libraries deliver help to guarantee the access to information and knowledge which people need for their well-being
• promotes the principle of freedom of information
• works to close the gap between the information poor and information rich
• advocates the need for proper funding of libraries worldwide
• represents libraries and their users worldwide.
• improves the quality of library services by promoting standards of good practice
• distributes grants enabling developing world professionals to gain experience
• facilitates practical workshops around the world
• holds a major annual conference and exhibition.

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. In an era in which international co-operation is needed more than ever, IFLA has realized an internationalism that is alive and kicking. The network - established and steadily grown during a period of 75 years - is working thanks to the commitment of many professionals.