IFLA Revises Jerusalem Program in
Wake of Arab “Rival” Conference
As the August 13–18 conference in Jerusalem of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions approaches, the August 12–17 scheduling of what Secretary-General Ross Shimmon termed a “rival conference” of the Arab Federation of Libraries and Information has affected IFLA program plans. Shimmon revealed to American Libraries that IFLA’s conference programming unit has “experienced some difficulty in attracting speakers from the Arab world.” As a result, he said, “A number of proposed satellite meetings which would have been held elsewhere in the region have had to be abandoned.”
The conference program on IFLA’s Web site revealed only one Arab-interest session—a presentation on academic freedom in the Arab world by UNESCO Freedom of Expression Chair Said Zeedani.
AFLI’s action is the culmination of several years of disgruntlement over the Jerusalem site, although Shimmon emphasized that not one IFLA member has formally asked the Executive Board or Council to reconsider the venue. “We have consistently pointed out that we would welcome an invitation from an Arab state to host our conference in the future,” he added.
Posted May 22, 2000.
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