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.

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 226

A Historian to the Librarians [1977]
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 1977-09-05) Boorstin, Daniel J.
Verbatim transcript of Daniel J. Boorstin's speech at the 1977 IFLA World Congress of Librarians in Brussels, Belgium on 5 September 1977. Boorstin addressed important, recurrent themes such as the book as a triumph of human technology and the Displacive Fallacy, which assumes that each new technology displaces (rather than transforms) the preceding technology. Speaking as a historian, Boorstin also discussed the role of the librarian in the new technological age.
The Nairobi Manifesto 1984
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 1984-08-18) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
"During the Pre-Session Seminar, Nairobi 1984, the participants approved the Nairobi Manifesto 1984. Because it did not appear with the resolutions passed by the participants (see IFLA Journal 10(4): 400-403 (1984)), the [IFLA Journal] Editorial Committee agreed that it should be published along with the report of the Pre-Session." Published in June 1985 IFLA Journal: The Nairobi Manifesto -1984. (1985). IFLA Journal, 11(2), 137-138.
Des livres pour lui : pour nos prisonniers [poster]
(Agence Yves Alexandre, Marseille, 1942) Gus; Agence Yves Alexandre
Produced by the Croix-Rouge française, this poster was used for a WWII prisoner of war book collection campaign IFLA was involved with. Details: Linen-backed, lithographic poster published by the Yves Alexandre Agency and printed by Moullot - Marseille; dimensions: 119x80 cm. Text: "Des livres pour LUI ! Pour nos prisonniers" (Books for HIM! For our prisoners)
Les prisonniers attendent vos livres / Le livre du prisonnier / Envoyez vos dons à la Collecte du livre des prisonniers de guerre [poster]
(Affiches Atar, Genève, 1943) Affolter, Walter; L'Académie des Arts Appliqués (AAA)
Poster used for WWII prisoner of war book collection campaign IFLA was involved with in Switzerland; size: 99 x 65 cm. "In February 1943, a subcommittee was tasked with drawing up plans for a book collection drive in Switzerland. Organized under the banner "The Prisoner's Book" ('Le livre du prisonnier'), it was supported by the press and radio and promoted via a highly successful poster. Free postage was granted for shipments from donors, thanks to the [Comité International de la Croix-Rouge] ICRC's participation in the campaign. Participating organization —notably the YMCA—provided numerous volunteers to handle the work entailed by the drive; launched initially in Geneva, it subsequently expanded to other Swiss cantons. Local committees, which were highly active, retained a great deal of autonomy. Thanks to an effective division of tasks and the fact that appeals were made jointly, the drive succeeded in collecting 1,290,000 books and brochures in Switzerland; of these, approximately 827,000 deemed suitable for use were distributed among the participating organizations." ['Comité consultatif pour la lecture des prisonniers et internés de guerre : rapport sur son activité', page 10]
World Library and Information Congress : 73rd IFLA General Conference and Council [poster]
(s. n., [Durban, 2007], 2007-08) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Official poster of the World Library and Information Congress, 73rd IFLA General Conference and Council, held in Durban, South Africa from 19–23 August 2007. The Congress theme was "Libraries for the future: Progress, Development and Partnerships".
62nd IFLA Council and General Conference, Beijing, China [poster]
(s. n., [Beijing, 1996], 1996-08) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Official poster of the 62nd IFLA General Conference, held in Beijing, China from 25–31 August 1996. The conference theme/subtheme was: "The Challenge of Change: Libraries and Economic Development".
61st IFLA Council and General Conference, İstanbul, Türkiye 1995 / 61. IFLA Konferansı İstanbul, Türkiye 1995
(s. n., [Ankara, 1995], 1995-08) Millî Kütüphane Basımevi – Ankara
Bilingual (English, Türkçe) poster of the 61st IFLA Council and General Conference, held in İstanbul, Türkiye from 20 – 26 August 1995. The conference theme was "Libraries of the Future / Geleceğin Kütüphaneleri".
59th IFLA Council and General Conference, Barcelona, Spain 1993 / 59º Consell i Conferència General de l’ IFLA, Barcelona 1993 [poster]
(s. n., [Barcelona, 1993], 1993-08) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Trilingual (Catalan, Spanish, and English) poster of the 59th IFLA Council and General Conference, held in Barcelona, Spain from 27 – 28 August 1993. The theme of the conference was “The Universal Library: Libraries as Centres for the Global Availability of Information".
58th IFLA Council and General Conference, New Delhi, India [poster]
(s. n., [New Delhi, 1992], 1992-08) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Official poster of the 58th IFLA Council and General Conference, held in New Delhi, India from 30 August – 5 September 1992. The theme of the conference was “Library and Information Policy Perspectives.’
57th IFLA Council and General Conference, Moscow, USSR [poster]
(All-Union Advertising and Information Bureau for Culture, 1991-08) All-Union Advertising and Information Bureau for Culture
Trilingual (English, French, Russian) poster of the 57th IFLA Council and General Conference, held in Moscow, USSR from 18-24 August 1991. The poster was created by the VRIB All-Union Advertising and Information Bureau "Soyuzreklamkultura" [CВРИБ «Союзрекламкультура»] and features a photo of a monument of Ivan Fyodorov, credited with printing the first precisely dated book in Russia.
56th IFLA Council and General Conference, Stockholm, Sweden [poster]
(s. n., [Stockholm, 1990], 1990-08) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Poster of the 56th IFLA Council and General Conference, held in Stockholm, Sweden from 18-24 August 1990. The conference theme was "Libraries: Information for Knowledge".
Fédération Internationale des Associations et Institutions de Bibliothèques 55eme Congres, Août 1989 ; Paris, France / International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions 55th Congress, August 1989; Paris, France [poster]
(Minium Design, 1989-08) Minium Design
Bilingual (French-English) poster of the 55th IFLA Council and General Conference, held in Paris, France from 19 – 26 August 1989. The theme of the conference was 'Les Bibliothèques et l’information dans l’économie hier, aujourd’hui et demain'.
IFLA, 44. kongres, Vysoké Tatry 1978 ČSSR [plakát]
([s.n.], 1978) Trembáč, Michal
Official poster of the 44th IFLA Council Meeting, held in Štrbské Pleso, Czechoslovakia [Slovakia] from 24 August to 2 September 1978. Offset print; total height/length: 41.1 cm, width: 28.5 cm. Created by Michal Trembáč (1929-2015).
IFLA in 70 Scatti: Culture, tradizioni e biblioteche a confronto / IFLA in 70 images: Comparing cultures, traditions and libraries
(AIB Sezione Campania, Roma, 2010-04-07) Bonani, Vittoria; Leone, Wilma; Vitale, Anna Maria; Bonani, Vittoria; Guerrini, Mauro; Costa, Anne Maree; Guerrini, Mauro; Vitale, Anna Maria
"Seventy photographs documenting IFLA WLIC 2009 in Milan, Italy. The five-day encounter, full of meetings, discussions and the sharing of information between librarians coming from all continents, is once again testimony of how through the universal interest for books and libraries, differences are dissolved and a multicultural collaboration is formed. The photographs are the result of passion and labours of love, and I want to express the joy of the many colleagues from all over the world that came together for this encounter. The photos being close-ups of groups, have been put in order of sequence to portray the aspects, structure and services of the event, but above all, to also portray the diversity of the African and the Asian participants whose colours have made an everlasting impression on my mind." Vittoria Bonani, President AIB – Campania Division
IFLA, 50th anniversary 1927-1977 : list of congress participants, September 3-10, 1977, Brussels, Belgium
(s. n., [Bruxelles, 1977], 1977-08-02) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Provisional list of participants at the 1977 World Congress of Librarians, held in Brussels, Belgium, from 3-10 September 1977, under the theme of "Libraries for All: One World of Information, Culture and Learning". The congress marked IFLA's 50th Anniversary and attracted over 1600 delegates. It brought together librarians and information professionals from around the world to discuss the role of libraries in global information sharing, culture, and education.
IFLA, 50th anniversary 1927-1977 : program, September 3-10, 1977, Brussels, Belgium
(s. n., [Bruxelles, 1977], 1977-09) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Official programme for the 1977 World Congress of Librarians, held in Brussels, Belgium, from 3-10 September 1977, under the theme of "Libraries for All: One World of Information, Culture and Learning". The congress marked IFLA's 50th Anniversary and brought together over 1600 delegates librarians and information professionals from around the world to discuss the role of libraries in global information sharing, culture, and education.
Researching IFLA History: sources and resources
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2026-04-28) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
This document serves as a guide for researchers exploring the history of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). The emphasis is on primary source material from the IFLA Archives, key publications, and online resources—with direct (digital) access or details on physical location. Much of the archival material referenced is available in the IFLA Repository. Revised April 2026.
Some aspects of European librarianship; or, three eggs juggled out of Europe's library hat
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 1974) Wijnstroom, Margreet
In this 1974 address, IFLA Secretary General Margreet Wijnstroom examines the distinct landscape of European librarianship with a focus on international cooperation. She identifies three "peculiarities" of the continent: the controversial public lending right, the efficiency of centralized library supply agencies, and the growing movement toward democratization within the profession. Wijnstroom highlights how various nations, particularly in Scandinavia and the Netherlands, compensate authors for library loans while navigating complex copyright and moral rights issues. She also contrasts the collaborative infrastructure found in North West Europe with the more individualistic approach elsewhere. Finally, the text explores the shift toward inclusive library associations and staff participation in management, arguing that professional unity and shared responsibility are essential for modernizing the field.
What is IFLA? [1971]
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 1971-01) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Six-page promotional brochure on IFLA as of 1971, covering its members, work, finances, new aims, and financial consequences.
A Personal View on 25 Years of INTAMEL history
(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2008-06) Relly, Christian
Visually rich presentation that traces the historical trajectory of the International Association of Metropolitan City Libraries (INTAMEL) from its conceptual origins in 1966 to 2008. INTAMEL became a subsection of the IFLA "Public Library Committee" in 1970, then a "Round Table of the division of libraries serving the general public" in 1976, and finally the "IFLA Metropolitan Libraries Section (MetLib)" in 2004. This presentation outlines the INTAMEL’s core mission to foster the global exchange of professional expertise and comparative librarianship. It highlights significant milestones such as the 1972 Declaration of Rome, which advocated for the essential role of public libraries in urban development and called for stronger governmental support. The records also track decades of annual conferences held across the globe, including visits to major cities like Tokyo, Paris, and Berlin during the Cold War era. Later sections detail specific conference themes ranging from library architecture and automation to specialized services for marginalized communities.

Browse

Recent Submissions