IFLA’s Rules of Procedure complement our Statutes, providing further detail about how our Federation works. In advance of the upcoming elections period, the Governing Board has approved a number of changes designed to offer clarity, consistency and enhancements.

The amended rules – already available to download as a whole – touch on the following areas:

  • Enhancing communications by IFLA’s Regional Divisions: the role of Information Coordinator has been created for Regional Division Committees, ensuring that there is someone with the position and responsibility to deliver on the potential to communicate effectively with IFLA members and beyond at a regional level.
  • Reducing barriers to nomination for Regional Division Committees: recognising that in countries with no or only few members, the requirement of three nominations to become an eligible candidate risks becoming a barrier, in the coming elections only one nomination should be needed. In parallel, those people co-opted to our Professional Unit Standing Committees to support regional diversity will be able to serve out full terms, rather than already facing election after less than two years.
  • Confirming officer status for Information Coordinators and Convenors: the changes reflect reality around clarifying that Information Coordinators and Special Interest Group (SIG) Convenors are counted as officers, with the relevant rights in elections.
  • Limiting the cumulation of roles: in order to allow our volunteers to focus their work in supporting IFLA’s goals, as well as to maximise the number of positions available, the new rules clarify that there are limits on the number and type of different volunteer roles that any one individual can take up.
  • Confirming the role of Special Interest Group Convenors: Special Interest Groups (SIGs) offer a great way of exploring new issues with a group of interested and expert individuals. To help them do this, the new rules confirm that Special Interest Group Convenors will no longer be expected also to be members of Section Standing Committees, but rather to be able to focus on their SIG, with an observer role on sponsoring sections.  

Take a look at the full Rules of Procedure for more information!