Category Archives: General

The Value of Public Libraries in Barcelona

Barcelona Province Municipal Libraries Network is pleased to introduce The value of public libraries in society: the case of the Municipal Library Network showing the ability of libraries to generate benefits both individuals and the communities where they are located. For its development has received the support of a team of over 30 professionals.

The Management of Library Services (GSB) works to know the ability of libraries Municipal Library Network of Barcelona Provincial create value for citizens and to provide them with tools to enhance their value social and economic development.

Spanish Version

Catalan Version

Cooking for Copyright Day

FAIR (the campaign for Freedom of Access to Information and Resources) has announced Cooking for Copyright Day on Friday 31 July, using classic Aussie recipes for lamingtons, pavlovas, canteen biscuits and soldier cake tins to drive the copyright reform agenda.

The campaign focuses on the fact that in Australia copyright in published works lasts 70 years after the death of the creator, but for unpublished works, copyright lasts forever. This means old diaries, letters, photographs, even recipes are locked away.

National and State Libraries Australasia, the Australian War Memorial, University Libraries, Public Libraries, Archives and Historical Societies are all participating in the FAIR Cooking for Copyright campaign, developed by the Australian Library and Information Association in partnership with the Australian Libraries Copyright Committee.

Sue McKerracher, spokesperson for FAIR, and CEO of the Australian Library and Information Association, said, ‘We’d like the same copyright terms for unpublished works as for published works. Then our libraries, museums and historical societies could put these treasures on the web for family historians, researchers, and everyone else who is fascinated by our social history.’

FAIR has delved into library and museum collections across Australia and posted more than 20 handwritten recipes to its website – effectively contravening the current copyright law. It’s asking Australians to cook one of these recipes – or choose an old favourite – and post a photo to Facebook or tweet with the #cookingforcopyright hashtag.

Sue McKerracher again, ‘We will put all the images together, create a buzz on social media, and deliver them to the Attorney General, who has the unenviable task of unravelling the current copyright regime.’

Five libraries nominated for the award as the world’s best public library

Five libraries are competing to win “Systematic – Public Library of the Year Award 2015”. The award was established by the Danish Agency for Culture and was sponsored this year by the IT company Systematic with a US $5,000 donation.

Libraries from New Zealand, Sweden, Australia, Kenya and Spain, respectively, are in the running for the honour and US $5,000 prize money at stake, when the Danish Agency for Culture and Systematic unveils the world’s best public library 2015. This will take place at the annual meeting of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in Cape Town, South Africa on 16 August 2015.
The award is a part of the Model Programme for Public Libraries project of the Danish Agency for Culture and Realdania.

The purpose of the programme is to develop the library of the future, taking into account, among other things, digital development, user demands, local culture, and the desire to accommodate diverse population groups with an open and functional architecture.

The library must be a newly-built or refurbished in buildings that have not previously been used as a library. The opening of the new library must have taken place between 1 January 2013 and 15 June 2015.

The five nominated libraries:

Devonport Library, New Zealand

The nomination of the Devonport Library is based on its strong historical and cultural roots relating to the lifestyle of the Maori people. The building is shaped with respect for its surroundings. Wood as the main material reflects the locality of the library and contributes to the creation of a very sustainable construction. The library has had an extended and rigorous consultation process, involving a broad cross-section of the community.
Architects: Athfield Architects

Kista Public Library, Sweden

The nomination of the Kista Library is based on its significant position, located in a multicultural setting. The interior is created through different conceptual ideas that create an intensive, spatial diversity, based on the particular use of the space. The library focuses on hiring staff with a wide range of expertise and language skills, a rich programme of digitisation from the traditional to the creative, and a high involvement with interactive social media.
Architects: Wester + elsner Architects

Library at the Dock, Australia

The nomination of the Library at the Dock is based on its diverse range of learning opportunities from user-driven activities to formal learning. These are incorporated throughout the library’s highly flexible layout and are supported by technology. The building fits well into the environment, reflecting the industrial heritage of the area and blending into the high-rise development and open spaces around it. Furthermore, the construction has taken sustainable solutions into consideration.
Architects: Clare Design

Narok Library, Kenya

The nomination of the Narok Library is based on its ambitious cultural project. The library has computers and internet connectivity, which is of huge value to the community helps to create digital citizens, opening the area up to the outside world. The library is working closely with the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture to give technical advice on livestock farming. The form of the building creates a fine outdoor space for activities and meeting places.
Architects: George W. Mwangi, Narok County Works Office

Sant Gervasi – Joan Maragall, Spain

The nomination of the Sant Gervasi – Joan Maragall Library is based on its high architectural value. The shape of the building is integrated beautifully into the townscape, creating new urban spaces between the existing city and the new library. Because the building has been arranged as a construction of smaller cubes and most of the building has been placed below street level, the library’s design is at an admirably human scale.
Architects: BCQ arquitectura barcelona
Read more about the nominated libraries and the library of the future at the Model Programme’s homepage

5 Years Working Together

The ALIA Australian Public Library Alliance has published a comprehensive report covering its achievements, as the peak body for public libraries in Australia, for the five years from 2010 to 2015.

The report provides an outstanding example of local government collaborating nationally, and shows how public library services in every state and territory have worked together on co-funded ventures to achieve the very best outcomes for councils and library users across Australia.

These joint initiatives include the National Year of Reading in 2012, which saw more than 4,000 events involving in excess of 200,000 people of all ages; national standards and guidelines for public libraries; promotion of Australian books and authors; support for libraries’ expansion into ebooks and eSmart Libraries, helping to keep children safe online.

How Public Libraries Help Development

Earlier this year IFLA asked its Sections to look closer on how their profession furthers development and how the work they do supports the principles set out in the Lyon Declaration. The responses received clearly show the essential role libraries play in furthering development on every level.

These are now available on the IFLA web site.

In our response the Public Libraries Section drew on examples from 11 countries across 5 continents to demonstrate the role that public libraries play in supporting development through access to information.

Take the time to look at our response and those of other IFLA Sections and stay abreast of this important conversation.

Gift a Book and Change a Life

Are you coming to the IFLA Congress in Cape Town this August? If so make a little more room in your suitcase and bring a book to change a life.

Delegates are being asked to share the joy of reading and discovery through books with Cape Town’s children and youth! The Cape Town Book Project that will culminate at the IFLA congress.

The American Library Association-International Relations Committee Africa Subcommittee, in partnership with the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) and the IFLA Section Libraries for Children and Young Adults, call for books to be gifted to Cape Town’s children and youth. They are asking each delegate to either :
• bring along a book
• purchase a book upon arrival at a local book store
• or make an advance online purchase

Before the end of the IFLA Congress, the collection will be handed over to LIASA for distribution to public libraries, schools and community centres in the Cape Town area.

What a FABULOUS idea. Please share it with your colleagues.

Early Bird Registration Closes on 12 June

If you’re considering attending the Public Libraries satellite Public Libraries at the Crossroads in Cape Town 13-14 August you’ll need to be quick. Early bird registration closes on Friday 12 June.

Public library services around the world have reached the cross-roads. Collection formats and community needs continue to evolve at a rapid pace. Technology plays a major role providing people with access to information; bringing library staff out from behind the desk to engage with users and delivering programs and activities, to suit the local community.

How do Public Libraries cope with these changes?
How do we plan and adapt our spaces to incorporate these changes?
How do we reorganise our service models?

These are the questions we will explore through our exciting and very practical program. We will be adopting a multi-pronged approach with a combination of keynote speakers, targeted papers and workshop sessions.

Our dynamic speakers bring perspectives and experiences from around the world including Australia, Denmark, Japan, South Africa, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.

The conference will be hosted by the City of Cape Town Library Service and the Western Cape Provincial Library Service in partnership with IFLA’s Public Libraries Section.

Delegates will have the opportunity to workshop solutions for service delivery options with their professional colleagues and to share and learn from others’ experiences. Public library colleagues from around the world have already indicated their intention of attending and will bring with them a wealth of experience that will lead to stimulating discussions.

If you’re thinking of attending you’ll need to be quick as places are limited.

We look forward to meeting you in South Africa

IFLA Public Libraries Section Blog

An interactive international forum for the development and promotion of public libraries