INTAMEL Presidential Tour of Middle and Far Eastern Libraries – A Draft Outline Report

Abstract

Report detailing George Chandler’s 1970 professional tour of library systems across the Middle and Far East on behalf of the International Association of Metropolitan City Libraries (INTEMEL). George Chandler (1915–1992) was INTEMEL President at the time and during his travels to Egypt, Iran, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Pakistan and Lebanon, Chandler evaluated the infrastructure of national, public, and specialized institutions while fostering international cooperation and book exchanges. The report serves as a high-level survey of global librarianship, emphasising the need for standardised practices and robust governmental support for literacy and research. Ahead of the 1971 IFLA Council meeting in Liverpool, United Kingdom, the British Library Association was invited by IFLA President Herman Liebaers to organize its first "IFLA Pre-Session Seminar for Developing Countries", sponsored by UNESCO. This report helped form the basis for the seminar, which in turn helped widen IFLA's global engagement. "As Chairman of the Executive Committee of the [UK] Library Association which is responsible for international relations I was concerned with meeting members of overseas library associations and exploring possibilities of cooperation both generally and in connection with the 1971 Council in Liverpool of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), whose theme is to be the work of library associations and organisations." [George Chandler].