Princess of Thailand Opens
IFLA Conference in Bangkok
Surrounded by security guards and photographers, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand presided over the official opening of the 65th annual conference of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions August 23. An author, book collector, and longtime advocate for libraries, Her Royal Highness spoke to the conference theme of “Libraries as Gateways to an Enlightened World,” emphasizing the role of librarians in “fighting against illiteracy.”
IFLA President Christine Deschamps of France greeted the princess and explained, “It is IFLA’s objective to become a truly global organization. Holding this conference in Thailand is one piece of evidence that we are serious in that pursuit.”
Although smaller than its recent predecessors, this year’s conference drew delegates from 115 countries. More than 200 attended from the United States, including Nancy John of the University of Illinois/Chicago, who serves on the federation’s executive board, and Marjorie Bloss of the Center for Research Libraries in Chicago, who briefed U.S. delegates at the August 21 American caucus on the structural changes being proposed to streamline and globalize IFLA.
A complete report on the IFLA conference is scheduled for the October issue of American Libraries.
Posted August 30, 1999.
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