Co-operation of the Frankfurt Book Fair and IFLA: Spotlight on librarians—joint events planned

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Frankfurt, Berlin, The Hague, 20.4.2009 –

The Frankfurt Book Fair and the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) have signed an agreement to strengthen their co-operation. Juergen Boos, Director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, states: “We have gained an important partner in IFLA, who will help us to be even more attuned to the needs of librarians and information providers. This is a trendsetting partnership for the Frankfurt Book Fair.” IFLA President Prof. Claudia Lux adds: “Along with the annual IFLA Congress, the Frankfurt Book Fair is the most important meeting place for librarians.” At the signing of the agreement in Berlin’s Central Library, Juergen Boos and Claudia Lux spontaneously exchanged their favourite books to mark the future co-operation between the two international organisations. The IFLA President chose “The Emperor of China” by Tilman Rammstedt, which is appropriate given this year’s Guest of Honour China. Juergen Boos’ choice of initiatory gift was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Tender is the Night”.

The annual IFLA World Library and Information Congress in August and the Frankfurt Book Fair in October offer major business platforms for librarians on the one hand, and for the publishing industry on the other. The Frankfurt Book Fair and IFLA have agreed to combine their expertise in order to expand the interaction between these two worlds. Librarians make up a large proportion of the more than 180,000 trade visitors at the Frankfurt Book Fair and are quite in demand as business partners for the over 7,300 exhibitors.

Many exhibitors in Frankfurt are particularly interested in libraries as customers and partners. In a telephone survey conducted after the 2008 Frankfurt Book Fair, these exhibitors expressed that their main interest lies in topics such as copyright, legal advice, digitisation and long-term archiving. Moreover, their specific focus is on public libraries, libraries for education, international dialogue, and society.

IFLA and the Frankfurt Book Fair wish to have a much stronger co-operation in relation to content, opening the door to synergetic means of promotion, and increasing the visibility of both IFLA and the Frankfurt Book Fair for customers/members of the two partners at their respective events.

With immediate effect, the Frankfurt Book Fair and IFLA intend to increase the exchange of information. Also on the agenda are reciprocal promotions, as well as collaborative events. A kick-off event is planned for the IFLA Congress in Milan ("Libraries create futures: Building on cultural heritage", 23 – 27 August). Around 3,000 librarians are expected to participate in the conference programme, covering topics such as the role of libraries in the information age, archiving, and digitisation. The next big step will be a conference scheduled on the evening before the opening of the Frankfurt Book Fair on the topic of reading culture in the age of digitisation. Partners are the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), the International Publishers Association (IPA) and the European Writers’ Council (EWF).

An official toast to celebrate the new co-operation will take place at the opening of the International Library Centre (ILC) the next day, on 14 October. The ILC at the Frankfurt Book Fair is the central meeting place for agents, librarians, publishers, and information providers – in 2009, IFLA will be present for the first time.

IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, founded in 1927, is the global voice of the library and information profession. Its goal is to promote the development of all high-quality library and information services worldwide. It is a politically neutral, non-governmental organisation with approx. 1,600 members from more than 150 countries.

The Frankfurt Book Fair is the biggest book fair in the world – with more than 7,000 exhibitors from over 100 countries. It also organises the participation of German publishers at more than 25 international book fairs and is associated with the Cape Town Book Fair in South Africa and the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. It maintains the most visited website worldwide for the publishing industry at www.book-fair.com. The Frankfurt Book Fair is a subsidiary of the German Publishers & Booksellers Association.

Contact for the media IFLA:

Sjoerd Koopman, Professional Programmes Director Ingeborg Verheul, Communication and Services Director

Contact for the media Frankfurt Book Fair:

Press & Corporate Communications, Frankfurt Book Fair
Thomas Minkus, Press Officer phone: +49 (0) 69 2102-138 press@book-fair.com

Nina Klein, Director Press Office phone: +49 (0) 69 2102-165 klein@book-fair.com

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