From August 21 to 25, the World Library and Information Congress took place in the city of Rotterdam. Representatives from the global library and information sector gathered to explore the latest developments and prospects for professional growth.
The World Congress is organized in different countries by The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions under the auspices of the United Nations. Satellite meetings were held from August 18 to August 26 at the Rotterdam Erasmus Library, discussing various aspects of library development.
Maya Simonishvili, a member of the National Library of the Parliament of Georgia, participated in these events as a representative of the Committee of the European Region of the Federation. During the congress, meetings were conducted with representatives from libraries in the European region and other countries. Educational sessions covered topics such as the preparation of the library Internet manifesto, soon to be available in Georgian. Discussions also included matters related to the sustainable development of libraries, collection development, and professional training.
Before the congress officially commenced, a meeting of European libraries and library organizations addressed issues such as the development of library methods to counter populism, the significance of statistics and questionnaires in libraries, and updates on the European Union's activities related to libraries. On August 20, a report meeting of the IFLA European Regional Committee showcased two years of work, including reports on the National Library's activities within the UN Sustainable Development Conferences. The grand opening ceremony of the conference occurred on August 21, featuring the main session by the Committee of the European Region on the topic "European Libraries as a Platform for Democracy." Topics presented included educational and publishing opportunities and perspectives in Georgia, human rights in libraries, social networks in library development, and Newsguard as a service to combat disinformation.
Maya Simonishvili stated, "On the same day, we participated in several more sessions, including discussions on healing the toxic environment in libraries, issues of open access, and a sustainable development session where the role of libraries in overcoming natural crises was examined. We attended the opening of the world exhibition of library resources, gaining insights into library resources and innovations. On August 22, we engaged in the National Library Conference, where the National Library of Georgia was recognized as an active participant. The conference highlighted the prospects of using artificial intelligence in libraries. Additionally, we took part in the "Committee on Freedom of Expression and Information" meeting, where I was elected as a member. The conversation centered around access to knowledge and freedom of information in libraries and publishing houses by region. Statistical data from a survey of libraries in different countries was presented, and future cooperation plans were discussed to enhance information access in various regions. On the same day, we contributed to the preparation of a guide for libraries and a new internet manifesto, incorporating our views on the need to elevate the qualifications of librarians. The manifesto is set to be prepared and published in November, followed by translation into Georgian."
Within the congress framework, discussions on e-book resources and digital library news took place. The unique experiences of Australia, Britain, and South Korea in creating virtual reality libraries were presented. A meeting with the leadership of the Library Federation provided insights into work done in different countries and plans for future innovations to safeguard the role of libraries in national development. Notably, the European Union's policy underscores the protection of libraries and significant improvement of regional standards in the democratization process. Session topics covered library development amid migration, library readiness for integration, the importance of visual capabilities in science and education, and the Dutch public libraries' experience in promoting reader network development and cooperation. Engaging discussions also addressed issues of management development, including meetings with representatives of the IFLA management board, revealing the results of new board elections, question-and-answer sessions, and participation of library representatives in questionnaires and forecasts.
The detailed information about the WLIC 2023 will be available in our quarterly magazine "Georgian Library"