Next week, the library sector’s annual world congress will be held in Kazakhstan. Here’s a question the Swedish participants might want to put to the organizer, IFLA.
18 aug 2025 • 2 min
Statements about “Ukrainian fascists” and Ukrainian cities being portrayed as Russian are being made. Yet the Russian Library Association is not excluded from the international library organization IFLA.
13 maj 2025 • 2 min
By choosing Dubai to host WLIC 2024, IFLA sparked a debate about Dubai's relationship with human rights. In the end it was too much for an emirate that wants to appear modern – and the offer to stand behind the conference was withdrawn.
17 okt 2023 • 14 min
For the first time an Ifla representative directly involved in last years turbulence has agreed to answer Biblioteksbladet’s questions. Hans Ulrich ”Halo” Locher apologizes for the lack of transparency and promises to make secret compensations and golden parachutes public – should he be elected as president of Ifla.
5 apr 2023 • 4 min
Global tensions with war, economic instability, climate threats – in addition to internal challenges. But a historical review shows that even in past crises IFLA has managed to maintain free research and truth, as well as access to information and freedom of expression, writes former IFLA president Alex Byrne.
28 nov 2022 • 7 min
REPORTAGE What is happening within IFLA? In search of answers, journalist Lisa Bjurwald travelled to The Hague, where IFLA’s headquarters are located. She found a culture of silence and an organisation that lacks confidence in its leaders.
28 nov 2022 • 13 min
SURVEY Limited transparency and poor communication. Biblioteksbladet’s survey shows that the turbulence is raising questions among IFLA members in Sweden.
28 nov 2022 • 5 min
There was also testimony of an outdated leadership style in his previous place of work. Nevertheless, Gerald Leitner was given the task of modernising the global library sector.
27 nov 2022 • 3 min
Suzanne Reid was an employee representative at IFLA headquarters. She has since changed careers and recovered from the experience. IFLA she feels, however, is beyond rescue.
27 nov 2022 • 6 min
CHRONICLE Karin Linder, secretary general, Swedish Library Association: Why is the Swedish Library Association fighting with IFLA? The answers are rooted in the principles of democracy and responsibility.
25 nov 2022 • 2 min
För tio år sedan engagerades stora delar av samhället – inte minst biblioteken – i att ta emot människor på flykt. Skulle det agerande som var självklart då vara lika självklart idag?
Bibliotekarien Agnes Kotka om situationen i Gaza: ”När vi är tysta i ett läge där två miljoner människor ropar efter vår hjälp, så tar vi ställning vare sig vi vill det eller inte.”
När flyglarmet går och drönarattackerna avlöser varandra finns biblioteket där som en trygg plats. Bokmagasin under jord har tömts på 400 000 böcker och gjorts om till skyddsrum.
