Current IFLA President Glòria Pérez-Salmerón (2017-2019) gave her farewell address in which she expressed her belief in a shared mission and encouraged attendees to do more together. Libraries are equalizers and catalysts, she said, and should look for opportunities to do more and do better. IFLA and its librarians have worked toward the UN Sustainable … Continue reading IFLA: Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Antoine Torrens-Montebello, director of Compiègne City Libraries in France and outgoing chair of NPSIG, and Anya Feltreuter, director of Mjölby (Sweden) Public Library, comoderated the session, which opened with the library-set music video of Tears for Fears’ song “Head Over Heels.” Catharina Isberg, library director at Helsingborg (Sweden) City Library, emphasized the power of love … Continue reading IFLA: Global Library Love
This session, chaired by Ann Okerson, senior advisor on electronic resources at the Center for Research Libraries in Chicago, featured presentations by members of the Offline Internet Consortium: IFLA, Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (BSF), and Arizona State University (ASU). Presenters showcased initiatives and programs that bridge the digital divide by providing resources and access to networked … Continue reading IFLA: Providing Access without Connection
“How can libraries best serve populations during a global economic crisis or make sense of government data?” was the question posed by Jim Church, librarian for economics and international government information at UC Berkeley and chair of IFLA’s Government Information and Official Publications section, which sponsored this program. Thanos Giannakopolous, director of the United Nations … Continue reading IFLA: Libraries, Data, and the Global Financial Crisis
The session was sponsored by the Knowledge Management and Information Technology sections with the Big Data special interest group. Frank Cervone, director of information technology for the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health, kicked off the program by asking, “Is AI real?” AI has been actively embedded in public and personal spaces, … Continue reading IFLA: Artificial Intelligence and Data Mining
According to the session’s moderator, May Chang, chief technology officer for University of Cincinnati (Ohio) Library, urbanization and population growth continue to put pressure on local and federal governments to ensure a sustainable living environment. Supported by technology and data, many cities are deploying smart and connected applications in transportation and mobility, public safety, public … Continue reading IFLA: Smart Cities and Blockchain Development
This year’s theme invites the international community to discuss changes in the library community through 250 sessions, 500 speakers, and 17 local library visits that will give delegates opportunities to learn and network. IFLA President Glòria Pérez-Salmerón and Secretary General Gerald Leitner welcomed colleagues and announced their plans to launch the new IFLA Strategy 2019–2024 during … Continue reading IFLA: Dialogue for Change
