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The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) provides information specialists throughout the world with a forum for exchanging ideas and promoting international cooperation, research, and development in all fields of library activity and information service. IFLA is one of the means through which libraries, information centres, and information professionals worldwide can formulate their goals, exert their influence as a group, protect their interests, and find solutions to global problems.

IFLA's aims, objectives, and professional programme can only be fulfilled with the cooperation and active involvement of its members and affiliates. Currently, over 1600 associations, institutions and individuals, from widely divergent cultural backgrounds, are working together to further the goals of the Federation and to promote librarianship on a global level.

Categories of Membership and Affiliation

IFLA membership is comprised of International, National and Other Associations, Institutions, and Personal and Student Affiliates. There are various requirements of and benefits to the different categories.

Association Membership is open to associations of libraries and information centres, associations of librarians and library schools, and to associations of bibliographic and research institutes that are primarily concerned with the aims and activities of the Federation.

National Associations are associations with a national focus, which means that they have members from anywhere in their country and that they support the profession throughout their country. This category also includes subject-specialist associations which operate nationally.

The overview below shows the band structure for this category. The operating expenses of your association are necessary to determine the amount of votes and consequently the fee. Section registrations will vary according to the band established.

Table: IFLA band structure for National Association members
Operating expenses (in Euros)	band	votes	fee (Euros)	free sections^*
less than 10,000	12	10	209	2 +
10,000–25,000	11	10	229	2 +
25,000–50,000	10	10	311	2 +
50,000–100,000	9	20	673	4 +
100,000–250,000	8	20	1034	4 +
250,000–500,000	7	20	2069	4 +
500,000–750,000	6	30	3103	8 +
750,000–1,000,000	5	30	5171	8 +
1,000,000–3,000,000	4	30	7240	8 +
3,000,000–7,000,000	3	40	10343	16 +
7,000,000–10,000,000	2	40	15514	16 +
more than 10,000,000	1	40	20686	16 +

^* Additional to the free registrations all association members will automatically be registered for the Management of Library Associations Section (section 40) and if applicable to the Regional Activities Sections (Asia & Oceania, Africa or Latin America & the Caribbean).

Please contact the Membership Officer at IFLA Headquarters if you have any further questions.

International Association members must function within the framework of multinational or international library and information services.

International Association membership fees are divided into 3 bands, dependent on the country of residence of the majority of members of the association. Countries are placed in a band according to UNESCO Scale of Assessment figures and the United Nations List of Least Developed Countries. For those associations with a majority of members in Band 1 countries, the annual fee is EUR 489. For those in Band 2, the fee is EUR 367. For associations whose members come mainly from countries on the UN List, the fee is EUR 224.

International Association members may register free of charge for 4 professional Sections, in addition to automatic registration in the Management of Library Associations Section and, if appropriate, the relevant Section of Regional Activities. They are entitled to exercise 5 votes.

Other Associations membership includes any associations which do not fit either the International Associations or National Associations category. It is mainly intended to allow sub-national (ie. provincial/state) associations to join membership.

The fees for this category are banded into 3 levels, using the same banding divisions as currently exist for International Association and Institutional members. These are based on the UNESCO Scale of Assessment and the United Nations List of Least Developed Countries. For those associations based in countries whose UNESCO figure is 0.251 or higher, the fee is EUR 489. For those in countries whose figure is between 0.001 and 0.250, the fee is EUR 367. For associations in the countries on the UN list, the fee is EUR 224.

Other Associations are entitled to 2 votes. They may join 2 sections free of charge, in addition to automatic registration in the Management of Library Associations Section and, if appropriate, the relevant Section of Regional Activities.

Institutional Members include library and information centres, library schools, bibliographic and research institutes, and other institutions or bodies that would like to contribute professionally to the activities of the Federation.

Institutional Members are entitled to register for two Sections free of charge. For those in Africa, Asia & Oceania, and Latin America & the Caribbean, participation in the appropriate Section for Regional Activities will automatically be included in the membership benefits.

Institutional Members are subject to a system of differentiated fees. Using the UNESCO Scale of Assessment and the United Nations List of Least Developed Countries, Institutional Members are divided into three bands, according to the assessment for the country in which they are based. For countries whose UNESCO assessment is 0.251 or higher, the Institutional fee is EUR 433. For countries that are assessed at 0.001 to 0.250, the fee is EUR 382. Countries which are included in the UN List of Least Developed Countries pay a fee of EUR 178. All Institutional Members are entitled to one vote.

Institutional sub-units
This membership category is intended initially for libraries in faculties and departments of universities. The university (usually via its main library) must be a full Institutional member of IFLA to enable other campus libraries to join sub-unit membership. Institutional sub-units may register free of charge for 1 Section; they receive the IFLA Directory and the IFLA Journal (4 issues per annum).

One-person Library Centres
One-person library centres are limited to those libraries or information centres with one full-time equivalent (FTE) staff member. Members in this category must provide a signed statement that this is the case in their centre. Benefits of membership include the IFLA Directory and the IFLA Journal (4 issues per annum), and registration in 1 Section.

School Libraries
School libraries are those within primary and secondary level schools (or their equivalents). There is no limit to the number of staff. Members receive free registration in 1 Section, as well as the IFLA Directory and the IFLA Journal (4 issues per annum).

Members of all three categories have limited voting rights: they may vote only in Section Standing Committee elections for the Sections in which they are registered.

Fees for these three categories are differentiated in the same manner as Institutional members. The fee for Band 1 is EUR 219 per year; for Band 2 the fee is EUR 189; and for Band 3 it is EUR 102.

Personal Affiliates and Student Affiliates are individuals who wish to mark their interest in and support for the purposes and professional activities of IFLA.

Personal and Student Affiliates are entitled to register free of charge for one Section. For those in Africa, Asia & Oceania, and Latin America & the Caribbean, participation in the appropriate Section for Regional Activities will automatically be included in the membership benefits.

The annual membership fee for Personal Affiliates is EUR 127. For Student Affiliates the fee is EUR 56. Affiliates have no voting rights.

Benefits of IFLA Membership

IFLA offers a professional home for library associations, libraries and information centres, and information professionals whatever their type of expertise. The Federation is dedicated to informing its members of current research and development in all the fields of library activity. By keeping members up to date on the latest trends in the field and future expectations, IFLA provides its membership with a basis for professional growth.

The joint interest and professionalism embodied in IFLA's international network has turned the Federation into a melting pot of expertise and experience. Participation in IFLA's global network provides members with the opportunity to directly contact colleagues and experts, exchange experiences and expand views. Improvement of LIS skills through workshops, seminars and poster sessions, participation in study and exchange programmes, and promotion of products and services are but a few of the benefits open to IFLA members.

The objectives and professional activities of IFLA aim at universal application and comprehensiveness. Various types of library and information service are covered by six Core Activities and a series of professional groups: eight Divisions divided into 45 Sections as well as Discussion Groups. The professional programme fosters the international outlook which is essential to the work of information professionals. The structure of IFLA's professional programme enables members to enhance their particular field of interest. Participation in the work of the Sections gives members and affiliates the benefit of sharing specialised expertise.

Voting Rights

Since IFLA is run by and for its membership, its structure is based on democratic principles. The highest forum within the Federation is the General Council of Members, the supreme governing body consisting of delegates of members. IFLA Association members and Institutional members have voting rights in Council and by postal ballot on all matters. They are entitled to nominate and elect candidates for the post of IFLA President-Elect and for the Governing Board, as well as for members of the Section Standing Committees.

All IFLA members and affiliates are entitled to participate in the programmes of the professional groups specialising in various areas of library activity and information service. Once registered for the appropriate groups, voting members have the right to nominate and elect members of the Section Standing Committees and thus contribute to those components of IFLA's structure which govern the professional activities. Personal Affiliates, while they have no voting rights, may run for any elected position.

Conference Discount

All members and affiliates are entitled to a discount on the registration fees for the annual World Library and Information Congress. The reduction applies to both early and late registration fees. The amount of the reduction will vary from year to year, depending on the fees set for each year's conference. Please check the Conference Site for further details. To claim the discount, simply include your membership number on the conference registration form. For Associations and Institutions, the discount applies to any of your members or employees who will be attending the conference.

Membership Publications

IFLA Directory: published every two years, the IFLA Directory provides readers with an informative overview of the professional structure and activities of IFLA. A comprehensive list of names and contact details for all IFLA Officers and members enables readers to contact colleagues around the world to share skills and expertise.

IFLA Journal: a widely used information source, the IFLA Journal features articles and reports on current topics of interest ranging from management and information technology, education and research, to news on regional activities in the international library and information scene. The contents of the articles are summarised in abstracts in English, French, German, Spanish, and Russian. IFLA Journal is issued four times a year.

IFLA/Saur Publications Series: all members receive a 50% discount on purchases from the Publications Series, in which six new monographs per year are issued. Members can place a standing order for the set each year with their membership renewal for a cost of EUR 175.

All members also receive IFLA's Annual Report. It provides details on resolutions, projects, and meetings, and summaries about the annual Conferences, finances, and membership objectives, as well as reports on the various professional activities initiated and organised between the Council meetings.

Contact

IFLA Headquarters

c/o Membership Officer
P.O. Box 95312
2509 CH The Hague, Netherlands

Fax: +31-70-3834827
E-mail: membership@ifla.org