IFLA Repository
The IFLA Repository was established to collect and disseminate works by the global IFLA community. Here you can explore IFLA Standards, key publications, core documents and much more. Items in the repository are integrated with our main website, IFLA.org, as “Resources” and displayed in a separate Resources page of the website, as well as in relevant unit or topic pages.
If you have questions about this site, please contact repository@ifla.org.
Recent Submissions
Leveraging Publisher Metadata for Universal Bibliographic Control
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2025-07-01) Niininen, Satu
This paper investigates the integration of publisher metadata into bibliographic control to enhance the coverage of online publications in Finland's national bibliography. As the volume and diversity of online publications expands, traditional cataloging methods face significant challenges in achieving representative coverage of the national output. In response to these challenges, the National Library of Finland has implemented an automatic workflow for converting ONIX metadata into finalised bibliographic records.
The paper outlines the technical infrastructure and implementation process of the conversion workflow, while also discussing quality control measures to ensure the reliability of the national bibliography. Central to the discussion is the balance between the quality and quantity of metadata in relation to the Universal Bibliographic Control (UBC) core principle of metadata authoritativeness.
The establishment of a strategic partnership between libraries, publishers, and vendors is instrumental in fostering a metadata ecosystem that prioritizes data integrity, thereby supporting national bibliographies in their role of providing reliable access to information. Ultimately, the necessity for continuous adaptation in bibliographic practices is highlighted as a method to effectively meet the demands of the evolving digital publishing landscape.
Keywords: National Bibliographies, Universal Bibliographic Control, UBC, online publications, metadata
Open Books Hong Kong: Multilingualism and Bibliodiversity
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2025-07-01) Meunier, Benjamin; Lam, Jenny
Open Books Hong Kong (OBHK) is an innovative pilot project aimed at transforming the dissemination of academic monographs in Chinese. This initiative provides free access to high-quality research books from three university presses. By making 36 titles available for free online, OBHK ensures that anyone with an internet connection can access these valuable resources.
The project emphasizes multilingualism and bibliodiversity, showcasing monographs primarily in Chinese, which is under-represented in Open Access (OA) research books. This approach not only democratizes access to knowledge but also promotes the diversity of scholarly communication, ensuring that research from different linguistic backgrounds is accessible globally.
Challenges and Sustainability
OA publishing in Hong Kong and China faces several challenges, including the need for robust infrastructure, and the difficulty of developing a long-term sustainable plan. The lack of OA outlets for Chinese monographs does a disservice to outstanding researchers who publish in Chinese. OBHK addresses this gap by publishing all titles with a Creative Commons license, granting the right to share content with attribution to the author. Despite the modest scale of the initial pilot, the ambition is to establish a sustainable approach to exposing the research of Hong Kong universities.
Since its launch in July 2024, OBHK has garnered over 430,000 views from 170,000 visitors. The initiative has expanded its collection to include 36 monographs showcasing the high-calibre research published by Hong Kong’s university presses. The most popular book, "People’s West Lake," was viewed over 27,000 times.
Open Books Hong Kong exemplifies the potential of Open Access to democratize knowledge and foster global academic collaboration. By prioritizing multilingualism and bibliodiversity, OBHK serves as a model for other regions and contributes to the broader goals of the IFLA Open Science and Scholarship Advisory Committee.
Manifestul IFLA-UNESCO pentru biblioteca școlară 2025
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2025-06-27) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA); Raluca Gheorghiu; Alba Iulia Sports High School
Manifestul IFLA-UNESCO pentru Bibliotecile școlare 2025 este o ediție actualizată a fostului Manifest IFLA/UNESCO pentru Bibliotecile școlare: Biblioteca școlară în sprijinul predării și învățării pentru toți (1999). Noua ediție reflectă numeroasele schimbări survenite în tehnologie, societate și educație și reprezintă un instrument important și util pentru susținerea bibliotecilor școlare în favoarea unei educații de calitate și incluzive. Textul este rezultatul unei colaborări între IFLA, IASL și comunitatea globală a bibliotecilor școlare. A fost lansat în limba engleză, în comun, de comitetul Secției pentru Biblioteci școlare din cadrul IFLA și de IASL – Asociația Internațională a Bibliotecarilor Școlari, pe 12 septembrie 2021, fiind aprobat ulterior de Consiliul de conducere al IFLA pe 17 aprilie 2023. A primit și aprobarea în cadrul celei de-a 13-a sesiuni a Consiliului Interguvernamental al Programului UNESCO „Informația pentru Toți” (IFAP), în aprilie 2025.
Manifeste IFLA-UNESCO pour la bibliothèque scolaire 2025 poster
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2025-06-27) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA); Ceire Hopley
Le Manifeste IFLA-UNESCO sur les bibliothèques scolaires 2025 est une édition actualisée de l'ancien Manifeste IFLA/Unesco sur les bibliothèques scolaires : La bibliothèque scolaire dans l'enseignement et l'apprentissage pour tous (1999). La nouvelle édition reflète les nombreux changements intervenus dans la technologie, la société et l'éducation, et représente un outil important et utile pour la défense par les bibliothèques scolaires d'une éducation de qualité et inclusive. Le texte est le résultat d'un travail de collaboration entre l'IFLA, l'IASL et la communauté mondiale des bibliothèques scolaires. Il a été publié en anglais conjointement par le Comité permanent de la Section des bibliothèques scolaires de l'IFLA et l'IASL - International Association of School Librarianship le 12 septembre 2021, et approuvé par le Conseil d'administration de l'IFLA le 17 avril 2023. Elle a également été approuvée lors de la 13e session du Conseil intergouvernemental du Programme Information pour tous (PIPT) de l'UNESCO en avril 2025.
IFLA Statutes and Rules of Procedure [2024]
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2024-06-25) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
IFLA’s Statutes and Rules of Procedure are the documents which establish how IFLA is structured, and how decisions are taken. The Statutes are the top-level document, agreed by IFLA’s membership as a whole. They include provisions around IFLA’s name, purpose, membership, and decision-making bodies. IFLA is established under Dutch law, and so the Dutch version of the Statutes prevails. The Statutes were last amended by the General Assembly on 20 June 2024 and entered into force on 25 June 2024. The Rules of Procedure are determined by IFLA’s Governing Board, and provide further details on membership, how meetings work, and IFLA’s professional and regional structures.