Public Libraries Section
Strategic Plan
2006-2007
Mission
The IFLA Section of Public Libraries provides an active international
forum for the development and promotion of public libraries, which
serve the whole community in the context of the information society and
ensure access to information at the local level. Our goals, objectives
and strategies are developed within the context of the principles
enshrined in the Public Library Manifesto, the Public Library
Guidelines for Development, the IFLA Professional Priorities, the Three
Pillars of IFLA and the current Presidential theme for 2006-2007.
Goals
1. To promote equal access to all
Professional Priorities: (a) Supporting the
Role of Libraries in Society; (b) Defending the Principle of Freedom of
Information; (d) Providing Unrestricted Access to Information; (i)
Promoting Standards, Guidelines and Best Practices
Presidential theme of partnership
Three Pillars: Society, profession and members
Actions
1.1 Raise awareness of the principles enshrined in the Public Library
Manifesto
1.2 Arrange for the reprint of the current Manifesto in English
1.3 Pursue the revision of the Manifesto with Unesco and publish by
2007 if agreed.
2. To raise the quality of services in public libraries by
defining standards, developing guidelines, and documenting and
disseminating best practices
Professional Priorities: (a) Supporting the
Role of Libraries in Society; (b) Defending the Principle of Freedom of
Information; (f) Promoting Resource Sharing; (h) Developing Library
Professionals (i) Promoting Standards, Guidelines and Best
Practices
Presidential theme of partnership
Three Pillars: Society, profession and members
Actions
2.1 Continue to promote the Public Library Guidelines for Development
involving the International Guidelines Team
2.2 Ensure the 2001 Guidelines are translated into 50 languages and
mount as many as possible on IFLANET by 2007
2.3 Translate the promotional leaflet and poster into Spanish by 2006
2.4 Translate the promotional leaflet and poster into French and
publish in time for the 2008 IFLA World Congress in Quebec
2.5 Promote the guidelines at conferences and seminars through
displays, presentations and giving papers
- Paper to the Consal Conference in Manila, March 2006
- Poster Session at Seoul IFLA World Congress in 2006
2.6 Prepare a revision of the Public Library Guidelines for
Development and publish in e-book format in 2007 and in hard copy by
2009
2.7 Promote guidelines of sister sections in Division 3
2.8 Maintain and expand the Meeting User Needs resource list of best
practices on IFLANET
2.9 Extend the availability by translation of the resource list into
the IFLA languages on IFLANET
3. To promote the importance of training and professional
development for librarians
Professional Priorities: (a) Supporting the
Role of Libraries in Society; (f) Promoting Resource Sharing; (h)
Developing Library Professionals (i) Promoting Standards, Guidelines
and Best Practices; (j) Supporting the Infrastructure of Library
Associations
Three Pillars: Profession and members
Actions
3.1 Develop a programme for creating an understanding for the need
for advocacy in the political process of library
administration
4. To defend the role of the public library in democratising
access to and the use of information technology
Professional Priorities: (a) Supporting the
Role of Libraries in Society; (b) Defending the Principle of Freedom of
Information; (c) Promoting Literacy, Reading and Lifelong Learning (d)
Providing Unrestricted Access to Information (i) Promoting Standards,
Guidelines and Best Practices; (k) Representing Libraries in the
Technological Marketplace
Presidential theme of partnership
Three Pillars: Society, profession and members
Actions
4.1 Support the Public Libraries & Democracy discussion group
4.2 Ensure that a discussion group is held at the Seoul and Durban
World Congresses.
4.3 Comment on and lobby for the situation regarding the World Summit
on the Information Society (WSIS)
5. To promote literacy, reading development and lifelong
learning projects
Professional Priorities: (a) Supporting the
Role of Libraries in Society; (b) Defending the Principle of Freedom of
Information; (c) Promoting Literacy, Reading and Lifelong Learning (d)
Providing Unrestricted Access to Information (f) Promoting Resource
Sharing
Presidential theme of partnership
Three Pillars: Society, profession and members
Actions
5.1 To assist librarians and information workers in Africa with
approaches to providing health care information regarding HIV/AIDS at
the 2007 Conference in Durban
6. To promote networking and cooperation between libraries
and other agencies
Professional Priorities: (a) Supporting the
Role of Libraries in Society; (f) Promoting Resource Sharing; (g)
Preserving Our Intellectual Heritage
Presidential theme of partnership
Three Pillars: Society, profession and members
Actions
6.1 Document and demonstrate how libraries, museums, archives and
other agencies can work together and develop service partnerships
6.2 Produce report for IFLANET
6.3 Present a paper on the report at the Seoul World Congress in
2006.
6.4 Submit proposal for the publication of the final report as an
IFLA Professional Report by 2007
7. To Balance the Needs of Users with the Intellectual
Property Rights of Authors
Professional Priorities: (a) Supporting the
Role of Libraries in Society; (e) Balancing the Intellectual Property
Rights of Authors with the needs of Users
Presidential theme of partnership
Three Pillars: Society, profession and members
Actions
7.1 Monitor Copyrights and Licensing issues related to public
libraries
7.2 Work with CLM to promote public library needs and interests in
legislation
7.3 Maintain contact with the Eblida Working Group on copyright and
comment and re-act as required.
8. To promote the role of Libraries in Society
Professional Priorities: (a) Supporting the
Role of Libraries in Society
Presidential theme of partnership
Three Pillars: Society, profession and members
Actions
8.1 To support librarians and Library Associations in the 2004
Tsunami affected countries with mentoring, twinning and training
initiatives
9. To develop section membership
Professional Priorities: (h) Developing Library
Professionals
Three Pillars: Profession and members
Actions
9.1 Grow membership to 350 from 339
9.2 Maintain a mentoring program for new SC members
10. To market the Public Libraries Section
Professional Priorities: (a) Supporting the
Role of Libraries in Society (d) Providing Unrestricted Access to
Information; (f) Promoting Resource Sharing; (h) Developing Library
Professionals; (i) Promoting Standards, Guidelines and Best
Practices;
Three Pillars: Profession and members
Actions
10.1 Liaise with IFLA HQ to assure the Section's area of IFLANET is
current and well presented.
10.2 Maintain and improve the Section's presence on IFLANET with
minutes of meetings, newsletter updates, strategic plan and other
agreed documents
10.3 Mount the Public Library Guidelines on IFLANET in 10 + languages
(see also 2.1)
10.4 Solicit involvement from IFLA PL members via
website/email/listserve
10.5 Conduct membership campaigns in Standing Committee Member's
countries using the IFLA Membership Toolkit
10.6 Update the Public Libraries Section brochure
10.7 Send welcome letter to each newly elected Section member
10.8 Market the Public Libraries Section at other conferences
10.9 Promote the marketing of libraries using the "@ your library"
campaigns
10.10 Plan mid-year meetings: 2006 Oklahoma, USA and 2007
11. To mount successful programs at IFLA conferences
Professional Priorities: (h) Developing Library
Professionals Presidential theme of partnership
Three Pillars: Society, profession and members
Actions
11.1 Plan programs and partnerships for Seoul, Korea 2006; Durban
South Africa 2007; Quebec, Canada 2008
11.2 To continue to assist with the organisation of the "Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Awards" at IFLA Word
Congresses and to actively encourage suitable libraries to apply for
the awards
12. To manage section finances effectively
Professional Priorities: (j) Supporting the
infrastructure of Library Associations
Three Pillars:> Profession
Actions
12.1 Establish the new financial reporting and control arrangements
12.2 Complete financial accounts as per deadlines
