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.

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IFLA
IFLA

Recent Submissions

Open-Source Generative Artificial Intelligence: Library Activity to Crystallize Digital Sovereignty
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2026-08-30) Palma Peña, Juan Miguel
At the global level, the specialized literature indicates that open access to data and information fosters and is the backbone of Open Generative Artificial Intelligence (OpenGenAI), which has general principles of transparency, reusability, and extensibility, elements linked to information sovereignty. The issue of this study is that OpenGenAI poses several challenges regarding the information products it uses and that it produces said technology, so it is essential to understand how said actions manage authorship, ownership, licensing, and reproducibility of those products. The hypothesis of this research posits that OpenGenAI is an informational and librarian activity that will promote the formal management and responsible, democratic, and sovereign use of open data, and reduce unfavorable effects, such as lack of attribution of authorship, hallucinations, disinformation, among others. The aim of this research is to study the elements and principles of OpenGenAI, monitor its development and implementation globally, and define a set of challenges for said technology to benefit society. The methodology for this research is carried out with a literature review, as well as qualitative methods. Four levels of research are applied, and for the exploratory analysis, several resources by governments, research organizations, and universities are consulted to monitor the development and implementation of OpenGenAI. The search and retrieval of information are based on eight defined categories. A general conclusion is that when OpenGenAI is managed by governments, research organizations, universities, and libraries will contribute to reducing unfavorable actions, managing inequalities in access, and ensuring that societies use responsibly and democratically the informational products produced by said technology.
20 Years of Collaboration, Hundreds of Years of History: How the Lower Silesian Digital Library Transforms Access to Knowledge
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2026-08-30) Leśniewski, Jędrzej; Pinkawa, Piotr
The Lower Silesian Digital Library (www.dbc.wroc.pl) shows how a digital library can become a practical tool for social change. By providing open, free, and remote access to academic, educational, and regional resources, it supports users for whom traditional access to culture and knowledge may be limited, including residents of smaller towns, older adults, people with special needs, and international users. For nearly 20 years, the project has developed as a consortium of 22 regional institutions coordinated by Wrocław University of Science and Technology. As consortium leader, the University supports shared infrastructure, common standards, and long-term cooperation. This model enables institutions with greater experience and technological capacity to support smaller centres through knowledge transfer, shared solutions, and assistance in making collections accessible. As a result, materials that might otherwise remain local or difficult to reach enter the digital sphere. The poster will show how sustained cooperation among libraries, universities, and cultural institutions can strengthen education, digital competences, knowledge integration, and regional identity. It is a story of a digital library that expands access, supports equal opportunities, and contributes to social change.
Sustaining Reading Culture in the Digital Age: 500 years of written Estonian – Estonia’s Year of the Book 2025
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2026-08-28) Riisalu, Katre; Visas, Krista
In the digital age, sustaining reading culture is a growing challenge, especially in small-language communities. Estonia – a small but highly digital country of 1.3 million people with over 500 years of written culture – addressed this through the nationwide Year of the Book 2025, coordinated largely by libraries. The initiative brought together public, school, and research libraries with cultural and educational partners to strengthen reading culture and reinforce libraries as community anchors. Activities combined traditional and digital approaches, including nationwide campaigns, exhibitions, school collaboration, and 900 author meetings. Beyond institutional efforts, the programme sparked strong grassroots engagement. Book clubs multiplied rapidly, and communities created small informal Little Free Libraries – take-a-book, leave-a-book book-sharing points – bringing books into everyday public spaces. While libraries shared one national vision, local communities had the freedom to create initiatives that reflected their own identity and needs. During the Year of the Book, Estonia's libraries welcomed 5.1 million visits and recorded 9.5 million loans, while the programme itself generated 6,000 literary events involving more than 400,000 participants. More than 2,000 book club meetings demonstrated that reading had become an increasingly shared social experience. The project shows that coordinated national action, combined with local initiative, can strengthen reading culture even in a highly digital society. Rather than resisting digital change, libraries transformed reading into a shared community experience and offer a scalable model for other countries seeking to sustain language, literacy, and community through library networks.
Edutainment as a Driver of Transformation in Children’s Libraries
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2026-08-28) Muhsin, Khadija
In alignment with the IFLA 2026 theme, "Libraries Driving Transformation", Mohammed Bin Rashid Library presents an innovative model that reshapes children’s relationship with reading through the concept of edutainment. Recognizing that play is the natural language of children, the Children’s Library has been redesigned into a vibrant, interactive environment where reading seamlessly integrates with play, technology, and creativity. A dedicated edutainment zone has been established at the heart of the library, combining interactive storytelling, digital tools, Pepper robot, iPads, interactive screens, and immersive play areas to deliver a multi-sensory learning experience. This transformation has shifted children’s perception of reading from a traditional activity into an enjoyable, self-directed experience. By linking books with play-based experiences, the library fosters curiosity, nurtures imagination, and instils a lifelong love of learning. The initiative has demonstrated measurable impact by increasing children’s engagement, participation in programs, and motivation toward reading. It has also attracted diverse user groups, including families and users with diverse needs. This project illustrates how reimagining library spaces and services can drive transformation not only in physical environments but also in behaviours and mindsets. It presents a scalable, globally applicable model for libraries aiming to strengthen their role, promote inclusivity, and create sustainable impact in a rapidly evolving world.
The ULtimate Library Hop: Discover, Connect, and Explore with UPD Libraries
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2026-08-28) Cabrera, Rochelle Maica R.; Bonifacio, Chelsea Anne
This poster illustrates the ULtimate Library Hop, a strategic marketing initiative of the University Library (UL), University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, developed by the Strategic Communication, Research and Marketing (StratComm) Section to promote all 30 UP Diliman libraries through an interactive, gamifi ed exploration experience. The initiative aimed to increase awareness, engagement, and utilization of library spaces, collections, and services by encouraging participants to visit multiple libraries and actively interact with their resources and offerings. The initiative combined gamification, coordinated promotional campaigns, and onsite engagement activities to create an immersive user experience. Participant engagement was evaluated through documentation, feedback mechanisms, and observational insights to assess the initiative’s effectiveness. The poster shows how experiential and game-based participation fostered curiosity, enhanced users’ familiarity with library services, and encouraged exploration beyond their home academic units. Findings suggest that gamifi ed marketing initiatives can effectively increase user engagement, strengthen the visibility of academic libraries, and promote greater appreciation of the diverse resources and services available across the UP Diliman libraries.