2017 Development and Access to Information Report launched

NEW YORK, 17 July 2017
Development and Access to Information DA2I.ifla.org

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), in partnership with the Technology and Social Change Group at the University of Washington (TASCHA), has launched the first Development and Access to Information (DA2I) Report.

The DA2I Report shows how essential access to information is for development, and makes the case for coordinated and sustained efforts by all to guarantee it. It demonstrates how meaningful access to information, supported by libraries, contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and monitors the progress countries are making towards fulfilling their commitments under the UN 2030 Agenda.

As the Agenda for Sustainable Development progresses, the need to address the underlying factors holding back development in all our societies becomes more and more pressing. Few are as pernicious as information poverty – the lack of access to, or the ability to use, the information necessary to foster economically and socially inclusive societies. IFLA President Donna Scheeder stressed: “There is no sustainable development without access to information. And there is no meaningful, inclusive access to information without libraries.”

In addition to the regulatory changes and infrastructure investment needed to ensure that everyone has the practical possibility to get online, the report calls for a coordinated drive to ensure that people have the confidence and skills needed to get the best out of the Internet. This will require contributions from all levels of government and across stakeholder groups.

To monitor Member States’ progress, the report presents a set of baseline indicators, drawing on established datasets, as well as providing contributions from international experts showing how access to information is already making a difference. The report focuses this year on four SDGs highlighted at this year’s UN HLPF – agriculture (SDG 2), health (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), and infrastructure and innovation (SDG 9). 

Libraries, as pre-existing, trusted public centres, with both a global perspective and strong understanding of local needs, are essential partners for governments in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. IFLA is working globally to ensure libraries’ key contribution to development is recognised. It has signed agreements with representatives from 73 countries, committing to work with them to build understanding of the UN 2030 Agenda at a national and regional level, and engage in the planning, monitoring and implementation processes of National Development Plans. 

IFLA Secretary General Gerald Leitner remarked: “The library field is unique. A global community of millions of institutions, sharing the same values and objectives. IFLA, as the global voice of libraries, is proud to be able to bring this potential to bear in support of development. I believe that, together, we can deliver. The library field is certainly ready.”

The report can be downloaded from the DA2I official website at DA2I.ifla.org.

The AfLIA Leadership Academy – Call for Applications

African Library & Information Associations & Institutions (AfLIA) is collaborating with the Public Library Association (PLA) to establish the AfLIA Leadership Academy aimed at:

• Building the knowledge, skills and confidence of library leaders to act in innovative and creative ways in meeting community needs;
• Supporting library leaders to foster partnerships between libraries and government agencies, the private sector, NGOs, civil society, and faith-based organizations to work together to improve the lives of community members; and
• Strengthening library leaders’ skills and assisting them find innovative approaches to library services, tangibly improving the value libraries bring to communities.

AfLIA invites applications from librarians working in public and national libraries to participate in the Leadership Academy, which begins in January 2018 and runs for eight months. The Academy aims to support middle managers in African public and national libraries to be true leaders
in their communities. Anticipated outcomes for participants are to:

• Understand the nature and requirements of effective leadership and one’s own leadership style;
• Gain a deep understanding of how to manage change and how to effectively carry out civic engagement;
• Apply the concept of Asset Based Community Development using the assets within their communities to bring about positive change;
• Understand the opportunities offered and challenges posed by partnering with both library and non-library organisations; and 
• Form a network of engaged and transforming library leaders ready to lead in taking their national, African and Global Development agendas forward.

The Leadership Academy includes a five-day workshop in January 2018, followed by eight months of support from Coaches who are recognized leaders in the field. There will be three participants
assigned to each Coach.


Within the eight months, participants will be expected to:

• Attend three webinars run by their Coaches and attended by the three people in their coaching group between February and May 2018.
• Develop and implement a project geared at improving the livelihoods of the community.
• Report on their work at the AfLIA Public Libraries Summit in May 2018.
• Take a two week study visit to US public libraries (participants will pay for their travel costs including visa and travel insurance and AfLIA will pay for the accommodation and meals).
• Take part in the evaluation of the Academy after eight months.
• Continue to network with their colleagues at the Academy for a minimum period of one year.

Applicants must meet the following qualifying criteria:

• Must be from an African public or national library service.
• Must have at least three years of experience at managerial level.
• Must be able to read and write in English (because the course is conducted in English).
• Must have documented support from his/her organization.
• Must be an active member of the local library association.
• The institution to which he/she belongs must be a member of AfLIA.

In addition, it will be advantageous to be from an institution that is hosting/has hosted an INELI participant and have demonstrated leadership qualities.

Interested applicants should download and complete the Application Form at http://dl.aflia.net/AfLIA_leadership_form.docx
Send completed applications and all accompanying documents by email with the subject ‘Application for AfLIA Leadership Academy’ to programofficer@aflia.net with a copy to secretariat@aflia.net by August 18, 2017.

Institutional support should be in the form of an endorsement letter from the applicant's library, on the library’s letterhead and signed by the head of the institution or his/her representative,
scanned and included with the completed form.

Call for Proposals: Advances in Library Administration and Organization

Libraries have begun doing more to support entrepreneurship and innovation within their communities. Makerspaces and business incubators have become featured attractions in public and academic libraries and provide a unique way to reach out to a user group that can bolster a community in dynamic ways. ALAO seeks submissions for the “Supporting Entrepreneurship and Innovation” volume that delve beyond examples and case studies to look at how library leaders can develop support for innovation and entrepreneurship within their libraries. Examples include but are not limited to: analyzing case studies from several institutions to identify best practices; ways of designing library spaces to ensure they meet the needs of all constituents; theoretical discussions on how activities/spaces supporting entrepreneurship and innovation reflect the mission of libraries; creative ways to get resources to support efforts in these areas; how these areas can lead to new kinds of collaborations that benefit libraries.

Editors are particularly interested in proposals on the following topics:

• How the historical and cultural role of libraries has changed (or not) to include services that support creativity and innovation.
• How and why the development of makerspaces and incubators (or other innovative programs) supports the larger community in which the library is situated.
• How innovative and entrepreneurial support develops new partnerships, and how those partnerships can be sustained.

If you are interested in contributing to this volume, send an abstract of 300 words or less as well as author details and estimated length of final submission to Samantha Hines at shines@pencol.edu.
Proposal deadline: August 31, 2017. Notification of acceptance: October 31, 2017.

This will be the first volume of ALAO to publish in 2019.
Series Editor: Samantha Hines, Peninsula College
Volume Editor: Janet Crum, Northern Arizona University

Advances in Library Administration and Organization (ALAO) offers long-form research, comprehensive discussions of theoretical developments, and in-depth accounts of evidence-based practice in library administration and organization. The series answers the questions, “How have libraries been managed, and how should they be managed?” It goes beyond a platform for the sharing of research to provide a venue for dialogue across issues. Through this series, practitioners can glean new approaches in challenging times and collaborate on the exploration of scholarly solutions to professional quandaries. ALAO is published by Emerald Publishing
http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/books/series.htm?id=0732-0671

Serbian Library Association annual conference focuses on advocacy and lobbying

Serbian Library Association (SLA) invites colleagues from across the globe to their annual conference "What I talk about when I talk about libraries: Advocacy, Promoting and Lobbying" to be held in Belgrade, Serbia December 13 - 15, 2017.

There will be pre-conference sessions on December 13 and the official conference begins on December 14th with amazing keynote speakers. December 14th is Librarians Day and SLA's 70th birthday, so they are planning a grand celebration!

SLA is currently accepting full papers, short presentations (Pecha Kucha) and poster presentations with topics related to advocacy, such as:

• Visibility of libraries in the media and community
• Skills and knowledge we need for advocacy
• The role of libraries in the United Nations Agenda UN 2030 and society development
• How do the different types of libraries support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
• Library statistics for the effective storytelling and performance
• Budget and financing: do we have an alternative?
• The role of library associations in advocating, lobbying and promotion
• Partnerships and networking
• Methods of communication with decision-makers
• Campaigns, activism and social media
• Multimedia and innovative tools
• Library users as advocates
• Communication strategy, public relations and marketing
• Training programs, workshops and forums

Deadline for proposals is September 15. Visit the conference website for more information.