Newsroom

Partnerships to Counter Theft and Trafficking: IFLA Joins ICOM at launch of new Red List

When any type of cultural property disappears, it is a great loss to humanity. However, around the world, cultural objects are at risk of illicit theft and trafficking. This is a complex issue, and working to counter these threats is not a task that one can take on alone. There is a need for collaboration between cultural institutions, like libraries and museums, and with law enforcement, customs organisations, and other stakeholders. IFLA is dedicated to helping protect the world’s cultural heritage, and we work with many partners to build capacity to counter the threat of trafficking.

Could your city be World Book Capital 2025? Call for applications open

Action at a local level has a key role to play in building an environment where reading and creativity is encouraged and supported, for all. The UNESCO World Book Capital Programme is there to highlight and celebrate great examples of cities and towns doing just this. Could yours be the next one? Nominations are open until 16 April 2023.

IFLA Advocates for Meaningful Engagement with Civil Society, Cultural Institutions and Organisations at UNESCO

The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (UNESCO’s 2005 Convention) convened for their 16th session from 7-10 February in Paris, France.

Call for Articles: UNESCO Memory of the World SCEaR Newsletter Special Issue on Press Freedom and Documentary Heritage

UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day (3 May) acts as a reminder of the importance of respecting commitments to freedom of the press. It calls for reflection on how these freedoms were achieved, evaluation of the current state of press freedom around the world, and remembrance of those journalists who have lost their lives in pursuit of providing access to information.

Key Discussions at the 16th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (UNESCO’s 2005 Convention) will convene for their 16th session from 7-10 February in Paris, France.

Time to deliver: Culture 2030 Goal campaign statement on the follow-up to MONDIACULT 2022

The Culture 2030 Goal campaign, of which IFLA is a member, has urged UNESCO Member States to make good on their commitment to promote an explicit culture goal in future development frameworks, as made in the declaration from MONDIACULT 2022. The campaign's zero-draft for a culture goal provides an excellent starting point. 

Culture in Action: a look ahead at key topics and opportunities for 2023

Global discourse on culture and cultural heritage in 2022 can be characterised by greater recognition of the powerful potential of culture to help solve great challenges, as well as calls for action to ensure its protection in the face of natural and human-caused disaster.

Library Professionals at COP27: Reflections on attending the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference

From 6-20 November 2022, 35,000 delegates from 190 countries, including more than 90 heads of state, came together in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference – COP27.

The 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27): Outcomes and opportunities for libraries

From 6-20 November 2022, 35,000 delegates from 190 countries, including more than 90 heads of state, came together in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference – COP27.

Documentary Heritage Making a Difference

UNESCO’s Memory of the World (MoW) Programme  celebrated its 30th anniversary from 27 October - 5 November 2022. This programme seeks to ensure that the documentary heritage of the world is preserved, protected, and accessible – for people now and in the future.

Interview with the UNESCO Documentary Heritage Unit on the Memory of the World Programme and Libraries

The UNESCO Memory of the World Programme is celebrating its 30th Anniversary in October and November 2022 with the theme, Enlisting documentary heritage to promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies.

IFLA Launches Commemorative Statement at Global Symposium Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme

The UNESCO Memory of the World Programme is celebrating its 30th anniversary from 27 October – 5 November with the theme, Enlisting documentary heritage to promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies.

Strengthening reading cities globally: IFLA participates in UNESCO World Book Capital Network meeting

IFLA attended a meeting of the UNESCO World Book Capital Network in Wroclaw, Poland, on 22-23 September, bringing the perspective of the global library field as the participating cities formally signed the Network charter, and made plans for future actions. 

Global cultural networks propose culture goal for future development frameworks

Today, the Culture2030Goal campaign (also known as #Culture2030Goal) which unites a group of global cultural networks, launched a zero-draft of a potential development goal focused on culture.

Save the Date: IFLA Side Event at MONDIACULT 2022 - Accelerating Education-Culture Linkages through Collaboration

IFLA is excited to bring the perspective of libraries to the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development – MONDIACULT 2022 with an official side event.

IFLA and UNESCO Celebrate 75 Years of Partnership at the 87th World Library and Information Congress (WLIC)

Félicitations! Strasbourg awarded title of World Book Capital 2024

From 23 April 2024, Strasbourg will hold the title of World Book Capital City, as announced today by UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay. IFLA congratulates all those involved in the successful bid, and looks forward to a great mandate that provides inspiration and models for cities and libraries globally. 

From Local Practice to Global Principles: Recording of HLPF Side-Event Available

You can now watch again the side-event organised by the Culture 2030 Goal campaign at the 2022 UN High Level Political Forum, highlighting how cultural actors, institutions and considerations are being integrated into local development strategies, and the lessons this offers for efforts to deliver sustainable development by 2030 and beyond.

Setting a course on culture: Respond to the Culture 2030 Goal survey!

As a founding member of the Culture 2030 Goal campaign, IFLA encourages the global library field to engage with a new survey looking to make a first key step towards defining what an explicit goal for culture in the post-2030 development framework could look like. You have until 21 June to respond.

UNESCO and IFLA: Celebrating 75 Years of Partnership

On 20-22 May 1947, IFLA’s first council meeting following the end of the Second World War was held in Oslo, Norway. It was here that IFLA signed an agreement to cooperate with the newly formed United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)