Anne Goulding, Yasuyo Inoue and Suzana Sukovic
Introducing IFLA’s LIBTheory Section
For everyone following IFLA’s Congress in Busan online, a session presenting the work of the Library Theory and Research Section offers an opportunity to hear directly from IFLA volunteers and learn more about the organisation. Section Chair Prof. Yasuyo Inoue will talk about the Section’s current work and preparations for the Congress in London, which will mark IFLA’s 150th anniversary.
The anniversary is also an opportune time to consider how well the International Federation of Library Associations reflects the diversity of the library and information sector worldwide. Two Antipodean researchers, Prof. Anne Goulding from New Zealand and Dr Suzana Sukovic from Australia, have been investigating this question, initially by analysing the countries represented among more than 1,300 volunteers elected to IFLA groups. The results confirm a strong dominance of the Global North, and the project now continues to explore opportunities and challenges for representation and inclusion in greater depth. The aim is to contribute evidence that may be useful to IFLA and to library associations more broadly as they consider diversity and participation in the sector.
The lightning talk session titled Volunteers’ Work will invite everyone to consider issues of participation in library groups. Who engages and disengages, and why?
