Towards IFLA's centenary: historical sources and themes

Abstract

This paper is intended as background for members of IFLA’s Special Interest Group (SIG) for Library History (LibHist), and for others who may be contemplating conducting research on IFLA with a view to the celebration of IFLA’s centenary in 2027. Specifically, the SIG anticipates compiling a commemorative volume of contributed chapters which will not only celebrate IFLA’s achievements, but also examine some themes critically. An outline is given of the sources that can be used for the historiography of IFLA, and a list of themes that may be considered for chapters of the proposed commemorative volume is suggested. Unpublished documents about IFLA may be found in IFLA’s own archives, held in the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (Royal Library) in the Hague, in the UNESCO archives in Paris, and elsewhere. IFLA’s own publications are important sources of information about it. The records of IFLA’s variously named sessions, general councils, conferences and congresses are especially important for the earlier years. Much information on IFLA’s activities and achievements can be gleaned from IFLA publications, such as guidelines and standards, policy statements, and reports on the work of IFLA’s various professional units and strategic advisory committees, the IFLA publications series, and report series. A good deal of this material is published on IFLA’s websites, current and archived. There is much published literature about IFLA. A number of historical accounts are cited, among other published articles, books, book chapters, and theses in which IFLA is referred to. The paper concludes with a listing of suggested themes for research on IFLA.