Action for Development through Libraries Programme Core Activity (ALP)
Background
The ALP Programme was launched in 1984 at the IFLA Conference I Nairobi, Kenya, and was the subject of intensive discussion between 1987 and 1989. It was further developed and defined during 1990 and 1991 as a special project and is fully operational ever since.
The name of the Programme was originally "Advancement of Librarianship Programme", but was in 2004 changed to "Action for Development through Libraries Programme", however, the acronym still remains as "ALP".
Scope Statement
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. Within the special ALP areas the goals are to assist in continuing education and training; to facilitate the establishment of new library associations and the implementation of IFLA Guidelines on the management of library associations; to promote the function of libraries: services to the general public, information literacy and lifelong learning, and to combat functional illiteracy; to promote the use of ICT and the creation of electronic resources and to increase publishing activities and dissemination of information to the communities, with special attention to marginalized groups.
ALP also has a function as catalyst within IFLA for the organization's activities in Africa, Asia and Oceania, Latin America and the Caribbean. The scope of ALP is wide. Therefore, cooperation with relevant IFLA professional bodies, as well as with regional and international organizations, is essential to carry out the programme. ALP achieves its mission through a carefully planned programme of different activities in close cooperation between the International Focal Point of ALP and IFLA's Regional Offices, IFLA's Regional Division and its three Sections, as well as with other partners. This cooperation includes actions such as fund-raising, scholarships and attachment programmes, conferences, seminars and workshops, pilot projects and publications.
Priorities
Human resources development
Developing library professionals and paraprofessionals by supporting projects for continuing education activities is an important priority. This is done through seminars, workshops and in-service training in the application of new technology, preservation and conservation methods and other fields.
Library association development
The library associations have an important role to play in marketing and advocating for libraries and library services. Supporting the development of library associations and the infrastructure is therefore very important.
Libraries and literacy
ALP promotes the establishment and development of library and information services to the general public, including the promotion of literacy, functional literacy, reading and lifelong learning.
Information technology in developing countries
Supporting the information technology and the integration of it at the different stages of development and libraries with little or no technology is most important to avoid that the gap between North and South becomes even bigger.
Information to the community with a special attention to marginalized groups
The gap between the information rich and information poor is wide. Especially communities in remote rural areas and suburbs are left behind. ALP tries to address this problem by supporting seminars and workshops with the objective to work out models, guidelines, adequate material and establishing networks of specialists within the field.
Announcement
- IFLA ALP Short Course on Information Literacy and IT
for Information Professionals in Asia and Oceania
Wellington, New Zealand
17 November - 12 December 2008
This four-week course organised on behalf of IFLA ALP is now in its sixth year in New Zealand. The overall theme is information literacy, with special reference to needs and developments of countries in Asia and Oceania. The course will cover the basics of information literacy and information literacy training skills needed by information professionals in a variety of settings, as well as current and emerging IT applications in libraries. Classroom participation and hands-on practice will be interspersed with visits to leading libraries and information agencies in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand and home to a wide array of 'cutting-edge' information organisations.
The course will be based primarily at the Victoria University of Wellington Library and taught by leading educators in library and information management, as well as practitioners with considerable experience in the delivery of information literacy programmes. There are also visits to major libraries and information services in the Greater Wellington region.
While the course is purposely small, to allow one-on-one training and closely monitored IT lab work, there are limited vacancies for fee-paying students. A fee of US$2750 covers all tuition, course materials and accommodation in comfortable university housing. Airfares, visas and meals are an additional expense.
The final selection of applicants will be made no later than the beginning of August 2008. There is no application form, but potential participants should send an email message outlining (1) professional education, (2) professional work experience, (3) level of English ability, (4) reasons for wishing to attend the course, (5) self-assessed IT capabilities and (6) source of funding. Please email this information as soon as possible to:
Professor G. E. Gorman or Dr Daniel Dorner
Asia-New Zealand Informatics Associates
Wellington, New Zealand
E-mail: anzia@xtra.co.nz
General Information
Strategic Plan
2008-2009 |
2006-2007 |
2004-2005
Publications
Please note that credit is always to be given to IFLA/ALP in reports, workshop documentation, training courses and conference programmes that have been supported by the Core Programme. The IFLA/ALP logo is to be included and it is available from the ALP Secretariat.
Projects
List of approved projects and planned activities:
List of completed projects and activities:
Conferences and Workshops
Conference Reports and Guidelines
- Report of the SIDA/IFLA/ALP/WALA workshop – held at Valencia Hotels in Abuja, Nigeria, from 14-17 March 2007
- Feedback report of the Strategic Planning workshop on seeking mechanisms towards reading skills enhancement among young children in sub-Saharan Africa – Windhoek, Namibia, 15 October 2007
- Innovative Multicultural Library Services for all, with Special Reference to Literacy, Learning and Linguistic Diversity – IFLA Pre-Conference Evaluation Report to ALP/SIDA/MULTP, Pretoria, South Africa, 15-17 August 2007
- Declaration de Dakar – Ecoles africaines francophones en sciences de l'information documentaire, réunis à Dakar du 12 au 14 août 2007
- Tactile picture books for blind and visually impaired children, Guidelines by Beatrice Christensen Sköld and Annica Norberg [PDF - 2.10MB]
Annual Report
2007 
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001
Grants - Scholarships - Attachments
Useful Addresses
The International Focal Point
IFLA ALP Programme
c/o Uppsala University Library
Box 510, S 751 20
UPPSALA, Sweden
Tel: +46 18 471 3990
Fax: +46 18 471 3994
E-mail: IFLA.ALP@ub.uu.se
Concluding Comments
More details about the activities of IFLA ALP can be obtained by contacting the International Focal Point or your nearest IFLA Regional office (addresses above).
