Italian Library Association -- WLIC IFLA 2009 Agreement of intent (AIB-WEB)

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Italian Library Association -- WLIC IFLA 2009 Agreement of intent

[Italian version]

The Italian Library Association (AIB), supported by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities, Department for Archives and Libraries, states its interest in hosting the WLIC in Italy in 2009.

The 80th anniversary of the First World Conference of Libraries and Bibliography falls in 2009: on that occasion the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA as it will be called later) was founded, and its first statute was drawn up in Florence on 25th June 1929.

IFLA's history begins in Italy, and the organization of that First World Congress of Libraries and Bibliography fostered the establishment of the Associazione dei Bibliotecari Italiani (Association of Italian Librarians) in 1930.

Today AIB is the most important professional association for librarians, and numbers about 4 000 members, between persons and bodies. It can rely on strong cooperative relations with other associations of professionals in the sphere of information, and with the many bodies and institutions which supervise different kinds of libraries for which it is an important scientific reference point and project partner. These include the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, through the Department for Archives and Libraries, especially the General Management for Library Patrimony, Cultural Institutes, Universities, Regions, Provinces, Municipalities, with their respective policy and coordinating structures (CRUI, ANCI, UPI).

Hosting WLIC would be for Italy, for its 15 000 libraries and for its more than 20 000 librarians, a way of testing the stage of development of the Italian library system and of its professional community, a way of stressing its constant commitment in international organizations, in European and international partnerships (EBLIDA, LIBER), and, last but not least, a way of recognizing the Italian presence within IFLA.

WLIC in Italy would be for IFLA an occasion for enhancing its visibility within the professional community, and above all within various Italian bodies and institutions.

The following points are worth stressing in support of this statement:

Central geographic position. Italy has a strategic position both in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin: it can be proud of its double identity, European and Mediterranean, which makes this country an ideal forum for themes such as information and knowledge, closely connected to globalization and exchange processes.
Multicultural position. Over the centuries Italy has been a place for meeting and exchange between different cultures. Respect for ethnic minorities present in its territory (Slovenians, Albanians, Greeks, Tyrolese), good reception of the current tide of emigrants from extra-European countries and a traditional political open-mindedness towards Mediterranean countries, are basic values that are shared with IFLA and its goals. Public Libraries especially are committed to promoting a policy of integration among different communities.
Tourist vocation. The Italian tourist industry guarantees top quality infrastructures and services, with a varied offer of cultural events, and a wide choice of tourist and cultural routes before and after the conference.

The President
Prof. Mauro Guerrini

Rome, 31st January 2006

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