The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. They conduct the annual World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) which is considered to be the most "international" global library conference. For 2021, the WLIC will be entirely online on August 17-19.
This is the first online WLIC for IFLA, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has affected travel worldwide. The event will be conducted via their platform, https://www.ifla-wlic2021.com.
The theme for this year's WLIC is "Let's work together for the future". The event is supported by the Dutch National Committee.
According to IFLA, "For the 2021 World Library and Information Congress, IFLA is embarking on a journey to somewhere fascinating and entirely different. Designed to be more accessible and inclusive than ever, broadening IFLA's reach to bring our profession together, this year’s WLIC is not just another virtual conference but one that truly reflects the global diversity of the library field.
The logo of the IFLA WLIC 2021 |
IFLA WLIC 2021 is conceived as a 3-day program (17-19 August) aligned to IFLA's new regional structure and provides coverage across three time zones: Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa; Asia and Oceania; and North America and Latin America and the Caribbean. Structured over two time zones per day, each day’s programming will begin in a different time zone and progress across the globe to provide equal opportunity and access to WLIC sessions and events. Whether you are an early riser, a daytime worker or a night owl, there will be multiple opportunities to engage and connect with colleagues and content.
The WLIC 2021 virtual venue offers thousands of librarians and information specialists the possibility to explore content scheduled on three different tracks. We aim to create an effective and easy to navigate path for WLIC participants along with the possibility to participate and engage in discussions, sessions and forums for up to nine hours per day. Access to on-demand content will also be available during the congress and for one year following the end of the event."
Since the event will be online, their platform is designed to be user-friendly and accessibility support will also be provided throughout the conference.
The topics are relevant to the current circumstances. There is also more focus on topics related to diversity and inclusivity.
I will be attending this event thanks to a grant from the Emerging International Voices of Goethe Institut and IFLA. I will be sharing my experiences on this blog or on my YouTube channel.
I also attended the IFLA WLIC in 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Read more on My first International Librarians' Conference: IFLA WLIC 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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