Crisis memorandum [1978]

Abstract

This 1978 memorandum outlines a strategic plan by the IFLA Secretary General to navigate severe financial challenges while sustaining a period of rapid growth. The document details how a new organizational structure and a surge in global membership have overwhelmed the federation's limited central resources and headquarters staff. To prevent a collapse of professional activities, the memo proposes seeking external funding for key initiatives such as the Universal Availability of Publications (UAP) and regional development. It emphasizes that membership dues alone cannot cover the costs of a modern international professional unit or its specialized research projects. The text concludes with a coordinated action plan involving a task force of senior officers to secure the organization's long-term future through targeted fundraising. Ultimately, the memorandum serves as a pragmatic roadmap to transform a budgetary crisis into an opportunity for more business-like management and global impact.

Annex to A 78-5(1); discussed at the Executive Board meeting in Ankara, 4-5 May 1978.