Donation from the Netherlands to IFLA's Freedom of Information programme

The library umbrella organisation of the Netherlands has decided to donate EUR 50,000 to the IFLA Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) core activity.

The President of the umbrella organisation, FOBID, Jan-Ewout van der Putten, said that FOBID was "convinced of the importance of IFLA's core activities, especially FAIFE, because it is concerned with the core content of the profession and of utmost importance to the international advocacy of libraries."

Paul Sturges, the Chair of the IFLA/FAIFE committee, thanking FOBID for its contribution, said: "This is not only a valuable contribution in its own right. Your example is very much needed as a means to encourage other library associations to recognise that they should contribute towards this most important of IFLA's core activities."

The FOBID contribution will be in the form of an annual contribution of EUR 10,000 over five years.

• That IFLA takes steps to secure broader financial support for its FAIFE programme by encouraging other organisations to follow FOBID's example
• Full reports, including financial reports and accounts are made available to FOBID, so that an evaluation of the effect of its contribution can be made by FOBID after two years.

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Notes for Editors

FOBID (Federatie Organisaties Bibliotheek-, Informatie-, Dokumentatiewezen) is the library umbrella organisation of the Netherlands. The funds for the donation come from the proceeds of the IFLA Annual Conference held in Amsterdam in 1998. FOBID was the host organisation for that conference.

IFLA/FAIFE is an initiative within IFLA (International Federation of Library Association and Institutions) to defend and promote the basic human rights defined in Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The IFLA/FAIFE Committee and Office furthers free access to information and freedom of expression in all aspects, directly or indirectly, related to libraries and librarianship. IFLA/FAIFE monitors the state of intellectual freedom within the library community world-wide, supports IFLA policy development and co-operation with other international human rights organisations, and responds to violations of free access to information and freedom of expression.

IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, founded in 1927, is the global voice of the library and information profession. IFLA is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization. Its objectives are: to promote high standards of provision and delivery of library and information services, to encourage understanding of the value of good library and information services, and to represent the interests of its members throughout the world. With over 1700 members in 150 countries, it represents hundreds of thousands of library and information staff throughout the world. IFLA has formal associate status with UNESCO and is accredited at the United Nations and with many UN agencies.

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