Report from the IFLA Conference
ALIA organised a lunchtime reception on 19th August after the Opening Ceremony for the African librarians to meet delegates and conference mentors from the Australian Library Community. Dr Alex Byrne attended, welcomed all the guests, and thanked the Australian library community for their cooperation and enthusiasm for the project. Chiku Mchombu from University of Namibia spoke on behalf of the African grantees and thanked the Australian Library Community for the opportunity of attending the conference.
More donations were received at the conference. $250 was spent at one of the children’s bookshops at the exhibition. These books will be distributed to community libraries in Kenya.
Dr Alex Byrne, President of IFLA, acknowledged the initiative by the Australian library community during his Welcome Address. This is an extract of his speech:
“I have been delighted to note a particular example of professional solidarity which has been demonstrated during the preparations for this World Library and Information Congress in Durban. Led by La Trobe University in Australia, a national initiative “Libs for Africa” has raised sufficient funds to support the attendance of sixteen African colleagues at this Congress. The money was raised through simple events – lunches, morning teas, and raffles – and supported by many Australian library workers who will never attend an IFLA Congress but were inspired to show their solidarity for colleagues on another continent. The initiative has been much appreciated by all including, of course, the recipients of the grants, one of whom wrote of the “golden opportunity to meet with colleagues from different parts of the world to share experience, knowledge and thoughts”. On behalf of us all, I applaud the achievement of my Australian colleagues. But we should take this further. Knowing how Australians like to compete, at least in sport, you will not be surprised to hear me challenge our colleagues in North America to exceed the Australian record by assisting Latin American Librarians to attend the Quebec Congress next year, and challenge our European colleagues to help those from the Mediterranean region to go to Milan in 2009”.
Many thanks to Sue Hutley from ALIA and other Australian librarians who assisted at the Conference, and particularly those who assisted with mentoring the grantees.
A full extract of Dr Alex Byrne’s Opening Address to the WLIC can be found at: http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla73/papers/069-Byrne-en.pdf
Programme and proceedings can be found at: http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla73/Programme2007.htm