IFLA History

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.ifla.org/handle/20.500.14598/3650

Publications and archival material related to IFLA’s long history, covering: its founding in 1927, relations with other international bodies, plus reports on trends, past congresses, governance, membership, strategic planning, news, reports, and various activities. Most material created before 2000.

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 193

21st IFLA Council session, 10 and 16 September 1955, Brussels, Belgium [group photograph]
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2025-11-06) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA); International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Group photograph featuring delegates at the 21st Session of the IFLA Council, which took place on 10 and 16 September 1955 at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. [Actes du Comité international des bibliothèques, v. XX, p.3.] List of names: McColvin, 2. Munthe, 3. Bourgeois, 4. Sevensma, 5. Bryant, 6. Hofmann, 7. Mairold, 8. Porfirio, 9. Ottervik, 10. Brummel, 11. Stummvoll, 12. Francis, 13. Breycha-Vauthier, 14. Palindih, 15. Hemlin, 16. Borée, 17. Schmid-Schädelin, 18. Dimartinelli, 19. Studer, 20. Becerra, 21. Cunningham, 22. Daniels, 23. Kannila, 24. Foncin, 25. Rojnić, 26. Wormann, 27. Barberi, 28. Tell, 30. Lethève, 31. van der Wolk, 32. Neuvonen, 33. Kalan, 34. Birkenmajer, 35. Piquard, 36. Nivanka, 37. Luther, 38. Tveteraas, 39. Kessen, 43. Brun, 44. Veinstein, 45. Walkate, 46. Altermatt, 48. van Riemsdijk, 49. Frauendorfer, 50. Hemlin, 51. Gelderblom, 52. Hahn, 53. Hunt, 54. Kirkegaard, 55. Lamb, 56. Egger, 57. Rates and 58. Welsford. "The twenty-first session of the FIAB Council was held in Brussels at the Université Libre on 10 and 16 September 1955. One hundred and five delegates, representing 37 member associations, 23 countries and 5 international organisations, as well as 3 observers, took part in its work." [Actes du Comité international des bibliothèques, v. XX, p.3.]
8th IFLA Council session, 19–20 and 30 May 1935, Madrid-Barcelona, Spain [group photograph]
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 1935-05) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA); International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Group photograph featuring delegates at the Opening Session of the 8th Meeting of the International Committee on Libraries at the Palace Hotel, Madrid. Assis, de gauche à droite : Mlle J. CAPDEVIELLE, I. COLLIJN, M. GODET, P. S. LEICHT, A. ESDAILE, T. HERNANDO, W. W. BISHOP, T. P. SEVENSMA, A. C. BREYCHA-VAUTHIER, Mme T.-Y. FENG-CHEN. Debout , de gauche à droite : H. SERÍS, J. MUSZKOWSKI, C. HUIDOBRO, F. RUIZ - EGEA, J. LASSO DE LA VEGA, Mme P. LAMARQUE, F. ROCHER, J. BABELON, W. MUNTHE, H. A. KRÜSS, M. E. LORD, H. LEMAÎTRE, H. THOMAS, J. EMLER, C. H. MILAM, Mlle L. N. MALCLÈS, H. UHLENDAHL, Mgr E. TISSERANT, W. LEENDERTZ, MUNINDRA DEB, Miss R. WALSH, J. SATO, C.P. WONG, L. O. Th . TUDEER, Miss M. DARRACH, L. DE GREGORI, J. RUBIÓ, Mrs. E. CUNNINGHAM, G. PASSIGLI, A. BOSELLI. "The eighth session of the International Committee on Libraries was held on the occasion of the II International Congress of Libraries and Bibliography. The sessions were held in Madrid at the Palace Hotel, on 19 and 20 May, and in Barcelona at the Generalitat Palace, on 30 May. Sixty-five delegates representing twenty-six different nations, the Secretariat of the League of Nations and the International Institute for Intellectual Co-operation took part in the work of this session." [Actes du Comité international des bibliothèques, v. VII, p.3.]
12th IFLA Council session, 11–12 July 1939, The Hague, Netherlands [group photograph]
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 1939-07) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Group photograph featuring delegates at the 12th Session of the IFLA Council, which took place from 10–12 July 1939 in The Hague and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Reproduced in the 'Actes du Comité international des bibliothèques, v. XI'. De gauche à droite : J. M. Vinke, (du Palais de la Paix), A. C. Breycha -Vauthier, L. de Gregori, J. Rais, W. Schuster, W. Munthe, G. Abb. Mll . Lindstedt, E. Damiani, H. W. Craver, J. ter Meulen, J. P. Danton, T. P. Sevensma, J. Sato, I. G. A. Collijn, M. Godet , H.M. Cashmore, H. A. Krüss, F. Prinzhorn, Mme Fallot, L. Brummel, J. Porcher, Mile Salvan, A. Vincent , A. Esdaile, Th . Dössing, C. Dumreicher, H. Vendel, C. Bonhomme, Mme Duprat, H. L. White, W. Leendertz, R. P. van Lantschoot, H. Uhlendahl. "La douzième session du Comité international des Bibliothèques s'est tenue au Palais de la Paix à La Haye les 10 et 11 juillet 1939 et au Musée Municipal d'Amsterdam le 12 juillet, sous la présidence de M. Marcel Godet, directeur de la Bibliothèque nationale suisse. Quarante - six délégués représentant quinze nations, en plus du Secré- tariat de la Société des Nations, de l'Institut international de Coopération intellectuelle et de la Fédération internationale de Documentation, ont pris part à ses travaux." [Actes du Comité international des bibliothèques, v. XI, p.3.]
IFLA Archives: Inventory of the Geneva Collection (1927–1965)
([s.n.], 1989-06) Saby, Frédéric; [s.n.]; International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
English translation of Frédéric Saby’s unpublished 1989 typescript guide to IFLA's earliest archival material originally, which was originally kept at the League of Nations Library in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1988, the material was sent from Geneva in "12 archive cases" to IFLA Headquarters. In June 1989, Saby created a 14-class structure (with sub-structures) for the archival material and a topographical list corresponding to each of the 80+ archival storage boxes.
Archives de l'IFLA: Inventaire du Fonds de Genève 1927-1965
([s.n.], 1989-06) Saby, Frédéric
Unpublished typescript guide (in French) to IFLA's earliest archival material originally kept in the League of Nations Library in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1988, the material was sent from Geneva in "12 archive cases" to IFLA Headquarters. In June 1989, Saby created this 14-class structure for the archival material and a topographical list corresponding to each of the 80+ archival storage boxes.
Minutes of Meeting: IFLA Executive Board, 1963–1970
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 1970) IFLA Governing Board
This collection of documents brings together the meeting minutes of IFLA's Executive Board, held between 1963 and 1970. The minutes record discussions on the internal organization of the Federation, elections of officers, cooperation with UNESCO, and studies on the library profession and the role of libraries in society. This collection provides a valuable source for research on the history of IFLA and the development of international library policies in the second half of the twentieth century.
Annual Reports (2000-2019): IFLA Preservation and Conservation (PAC) Centres
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2019) IFLA Preservation and Conservation (PAC) Centres
The PAC Reports cover the work carried out under IFLA’s Preservation and Conservation Programme from 2000 to 2019. They document the activities of the global network of PAC Centres, recording efforts to protect and care for library and documentary heritage in different regions of the world. Over nearly two decades, the reports present case studies, project outcomes, and professional exchanges that illustrate the challenges and achievements of preservation practice. Together, they offer an account of the evolution of priorities in the field, from traditional conservation techniques to the integration of digital preservation, and highlight the role of international cooperation in safeguarding cultural memory.
International Preservation News (2005-2013)
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2013) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
International Preservation News was the newsletter of the IFLA Programme on Preservation and Conservation (PAC). Published between 1987 and 2013, it provided an international forum for sharing information, experiences, and best practices in the field of preservation and conservation of library and archival collections. The newsletter reported on projects, training initiatives, and regional activities across the world, highlighting both technical developments and broader cultural heritage issues. It reflected the shift from analog to digital preservation and the growing importance of international collaboration among libraries, archives, and museums.
International Preservation News (1996-2004)
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2004) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
International Preservation News was the newsletter of the IFLA Programme on Preservation and Conservation (PAC). Published between 1987 and 2013, it provided an international forum for sharing information, experiences, and best practices in the field of preservation and conservation of library and archival collections. The newsletter reported on projects, training initiatives, and regional activities across the world, highlighting both technical developments and broader cultural heritage issues. It reflected the shift from analog to digital preservation and the growing importance of international collaboration among libraries, archives, and museums.
International Preservation News (1987-1995)
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 1995) IFLA Preservation and Conservation (PAC) Programme
International Preservation News was the newsletter of the IFLA Programme on Preservation and Conservation (PAC). Published between 1987 and 2013, it provided an international forum for sharing information, experiences, and best practices in the field of preservation and conservation of library and archival collections. The newsletter reported on projects, training initiatives, and regional activities across the world, highlighting both technical developments and broader cultural heritage issues. It reflected the shift from analog to digital preservation and the growing importance of international collaboration among libraries, archives, and museums.
The work and scope of the International Library Federation [1933]
([s.n.], 1933-10) Collijn, Isak
Transcript of speech by Isak Collijn (IFLA President, 1927-1931) given at the American Library Association Annual Conference at Chicago, Illinois, 16-21 October 1933. From Isak Collijn Collection, Uppsala University Library Manuscript (typewritten duplicate).
Annual Report: IFLANET 1996
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 1997-01-21) IFLANET Administration; IFLA Core Programme on Universal Dataflow and Telecommunications (UDT)
Produced by the the IFLA Core Programme on Universal Dataflow and Telecommunications (UDT), this report includes statistics and usage data on IFLA's early web presence, primarily IFLA.org and its mailing list service.
IFLA journal : index to vols. 1-10, 1975-1984
(K.G. Saur, 1987) Bourdon, Françoise
10-year index of articles appearing in IFLA Journal, 1975-1984. Compiled by Françoise Bourdon, Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF). "General Principles of Indexing: The main emphasis is on the indexing of articles. Each article is to be found under an entry author-title, secondary entries on co-authors, and an entry on subject matter; The News Section is only indexed on subject. Only those items are indexed which have a close link to IFLA activities."
Travaux Préparatoires [IFLA] : Congrès De Prague 1926, D'Atlantic City et. Philadelphie, 1926, D'Édimbourg 1927
(Almqvist & Wiksells Boktryckeri-A,B., Upsala, 1931) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
IFLA's founding documents, including: 'Proposition tendant au fonctionnement d'un comité directeur international et permanent, élu par les diverses associations des bibliothécaires' et 'Résolution concernant le comité directeur international et permanent des bibliothécaires' [July 1926] ; 'Proposals concerning headquarters of the Provisional International Library Committee presented at ALA's 50th anniversary conference' [October 1926] ; 'Edinburgh Resolution: a proposal for the establishment of an International Library & Bibliographical Committee' [September 1927]. Extract from: Actes du Comité International des Bibliothèques, Travaux Préparatoires Congrès De Prague 1926, D’Atlantic City et Philadelphie, 1926, D’Édimbourg 1927, 1ere Session Rome 31 Mars, 1928, 2e Session Rome-Florence-Venise, Juin 1929. (1931) Upsala: Almqvist & Wiksells Boktryckeri-A,B., 4-15.
IFLA/IALL Working Party on Copyright and Libraries: Discussion Paper [1973]
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 1973-08-30) Wijnstroom, Margreet; IFLA/IALL Working Group on Copyright
"On August 30, 1973, an open session was held at Grenoble, France, under the auspices of IFLA and IALL in conjunction with F.I.D., with the purpose of identifying those copyright problems currently affecting libraries and information centers throughout the world. It was the sense of the meeting that the library profession must develop a copyright position generally acceptable to its members..." [IFLA/IALL Working Document on Copyright, 1974]
IFLA/IALL Working Document on Copyright and Libraries [1974]
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 1974-05-23) IFLA/IALL Working Group on Copyright; Marke, Julius J.; International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA); International Association of Law Libraries (IALL)
"The International Association of Law Libraries (IALL) and IFLA decided to join hands in establishing a Working Group on Copyright which would try to reach an international library point of view with regard to copyright problems as they concern libraries. [Chair of the Working Group] Prof. Julius J. Marke drafted...[this]...working document for the meeting of the Group during the [1974 IFLA] General Council meeting in Washington. He expounds in this discussion paper some specific issues of the copyright protection and ends with conclusions and recommendations. His paper...presents basic premises to be considered in identifying copyright problems currently affecting libraries and information centres and his draft recommendations." [IFLA Journal, 1(1), 47-55.]
IFLA Children's Libraries Section (formerly Sub-section on Library Work with Children) 1971-77
(SAGE, 1977-12) Ray, Colin; Widmann, M. L'Abbate
This article reviews the activities and developments of the IFLA Children’s Libraries Section [later Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section] from 1971 to 1977. The article reflects on the transition from the Sub-section on Library Work with Children to a full Section within IFLA, emphasizing continuity in leadership and initiatives.
From Chicago to Brussels: The Public Libraries in IFLA, 1932-1977
(SAGE, 1977-12) Swigchem, P. J. van (Pier J.)
This article outlines the historical development and evolution of public libraries within IFLA from 1932 to 1977, and the significant strides made by the section during this time period. Highlighted are public libraries journey from relative marginalization to a recognized and essential component of the global library community. The author, P.J. van Swigchem, was Director of the Public Library The Hague, Netherlands and Chair of the Section of Public Libraries.
comité des experts bibliothécaires à l'institut internationale de coopération intellectuelle, Paris – 11-13 févier 1929 [photograph]
([s.n.], 1929-02) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
"On February 13th [1929] some of the members of the [IFLA] Executive Committee met at Paris on the occasion of a reunion of the librarian experts in the International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation. An invitation to this meeting had been sent out by M. Lemaître, president of the French Association of Librarians. At the meeting MM. Collijn, Fago, Godet, Henriot, Krüss and Sevensma assisted. Mr. Fago gave some information about the Congress, and the list of sections was discussed. The number of sections was definitely augmented to sixteen." [Actes du comité international des bibliothèques, v. 1, p.35]
Section of Libraries for the Blind: Looking ahead – a first ten years – papers and publications, 1977-1986
(NLB Enterprises, Ltd., [National Library for the Blind], 1987-08) IFLA Libraries for the Blind Section; Leach, Allan
This publication outlines the work and achievements of the IFLA Libraries for the Blind Section [later Libraries Serving Persons with Print Disabilities Section] from 1977 to 1986 and provides a comprehensive overview of the Section's efforts and outputs. An annotated bibliography of conference papers and reports is included, organised chronologically and alphabetically by authors. Each paper includes an abstract, except for interim reports on projects. Significant topics include: international coordination, copyright issues, and cataloging standards for materials for the blind.

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