IFLA, the World Summit on the Information Society, and After

摘要

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions has been active at the World Summit on the Information Society held in Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005), raising issues of concern to librarians, libraries and their users. The article gives an overview of IFLA's advocacy work during and after WSIS, illustrating its positive effects, such as the statements on the importance of libraries contained in the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action, The role of libraries in providing equitable access to information and knowledge was also recognized in the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society. A set of guidelines for utilizing the WSIS action lines in library advocacy has been made available on the IFLA website. IFLA is currently looking beyond WSIS and is committed to using the expertise and dedication of its members to promote the vision that libraries are relevant to all spheres of life and central to the Information Society.