A Personal View on 25 Years of INTAMEL history

Abstract

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.