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IFLA World Congress Draws 4,500 to BerlinSome 4,500 library and information professionals from 131 countries gathered in Berlin, Germany, August 1–9 for the World Library and Information Congress, the newly renamed annual conference of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).Among the featured speakers was Jean-Marie Arnoult, inspector general of libraries in France, who recently returned from a UNESCO mission to assess the damage to libraries and other cultural institutions in Iraq. Arnoult said that what he had seen in Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra was “a shock.” The contents of libraries and archives were systematically burned, he said, “and nothing was done to protect them.” He recommended that UNESCO set up an international committee to coordinate recovery efforts. Arnoult‘s report is available on the IFLA website. Kay Raseroka of Botswana, who at the close of the conference succeeded Christine Deschamps of France as IFLA president, noted that developments in the United States—particularly passage of the USA Patriot Act—have alarmed librarians in developing nations who look to the U.S. as an example of democratic principles. American IFLA delegates numbered over 400 (second highest after Germany), but many felt that opposition to the war in Iraq was taking a political toll on American leadership in the international library arena. In a preconference mail ballot, IFLA voting members defeated all four American candidates for 10 vacancies on the governing board. Winston Tabb of Johns Hopkins University came in last in the IFLA presidential election, with Alex Byrne of Australia elected with nearly twice the votes (495 to Tabb's 257). Claudia Lux of Germany came in second with 384 votes. In addition to over 200 programs, committee meetings, and working sessions, IFLA 2003 offered attendees many tastes of the host country, including a cultural evening and reception at the Berlin State Library. A full report on the conference is scheduled for the October issue of American Libraries. Posted August 11, 2003; revised September 10, 2003. |
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