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Building peace in the minds of men and women

IFAP Chair highlights the role of libraries in enhancing public access to information and knowledge

05 June 2019

During the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) President’s Meeting 2019, held in Buenos Aires on 23 May 2019, the IFAP Chair Ms Dorothy Gordon, participated in a panel on "Improving Decision-Making and Accountability: Libraries as Pillars of Democracy and Good Governance".

The Annual Meeting of the President of the IFLA brings together people dedicated to providing access to information as a means of improving lives. This year’s event, organized at the Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, focused on the role of libraries and access in supporting the delivery of the SDGs, and included a first presentation of IFLA’s Development and Access to Information Report 2019. The IFLA President Glòria Pérez-Salmerón noted that the Report is “a source of evidence, of inspiration, for anyone responsible for – or simply interested in – promoting richer, fairer and more sustainable societies.”

IFLA and IFAP have a long-standing relationship in working together on several strategic priority areas such as information for development, information literacy and information preservation. Ms Gordon contributed substantially towards the preparation and publication of this Report. In Chapter 7 “Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions depend on A2I”, Ms Gordon stressed that the public must develop information literacy skills to become more aware of the consequences of the choices they make online and know how to protect their privacy in the cyberspace. The transboundary nature of the Internet makes effective regulation challenging and thus, the public should learn how to protect themselves from newly emerging threats such as online radicalism and data exploitation. Ms Gordon noted that libraries could play a significant role in assisting the public develop skills to protect themselves while benefitting from the resources and opportunities online through information literacy programmes.

Elaborating on the points made in the chapter, Ms Gordon added: “people need to understand the societal impact of the technology choices they make. We need to increase our communication around the key issues that IFAP works to address.” Moving forward, she said “active partnerships with strong institutions such as IFLA can stimulate greater engagement at the community level and help us to promote information literacy and build truly inclusive knowledge societies.” UNESCO’s Regional Adviser for Communication and Information, Mr. Guilherme Canela, who also joined the panel, highlighted the impressive change in the access to information landscape in Latin America in the last 20 years. The region increased the number of Freedom of Information laws from one to four. Mr. Canela underlined: “libraries have a key role in this new phase of access to information policies. We have laws and now what? Records management is a huge component in the implementation of Freedom of Information laws and librarians must be part of this process.”

As an international body representing the interests of library and information services, IFLA organized a meeting on the theme of Motors of Change: Libraries and Sustainable Development, during which the participants discussed how libraries are related to, and could contribute to development work. The meeting provided an opportunity to devise strategies for libraries to position themselves as key partners for governments across the world in achieving the SDGs. Presentations and panel discussions at the meeting covered topics on libraries’ potential for contributing to democracy and grassroots social transformations.

At the closing ceremony, Ms Pérez-Salmerón commented that “there is more information than ever before, and more possibility to use it. But this does not guarantee that we realize this potential. With libraries, though, we can.”

About IFAP

The Information for All Programme (IFAP) was established in 2001 to provide a platform for international cooperation in the area of access to information and knowledge for the participation of all in the knowledge societies. IFAP is a unique UNESCO intergovernmental programme that focuses on ensuring that all people have access to information they can use to improve their lives.  The IFAP Bureau consists of eight Member States nominated by the governing Council. It meets twice a year to appraise, select and approve projects as well as to hold thematic debates on issues of importance for the Programme.