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UNESCO and the IFLA Internet Manifesto

Last week I attended the meetings of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Council of the Information For All Programme (IFAP) in Paris. On Wednesday 23 April 2003, the IFLA Internet Manifesto was discussed.

First of all I was invited to introduce the Manifesto. I set out sketching its history from the preparations by our FAIFE Committee, via approval by our GB and the proclamation on 1 May 2002, to the unanimous approval by the IFLA Council in August last year.

I explained that this forms the third of a series of three manifestos, and that the previous ones (on Public Libraries and School Libraries) had proved their usefulness in advising and influencing local, regional and national governmental bodies in matters of library development.

After that I underscored the importance of giving unhindered access to the Internet by libraries and information services, for the benefit of communities' and individuals' freedom, prosperity and development.

I pointed out that this Manifesto forms one of IFLA's many activities in the context of bridging the Digital Divide and that it is intended to have it followed up by guidelines for implementing the principles contained in it.

I testified that it was a great pleasure to learn that the Bureau of the IFAP Council had welcomed the spirit and objectives of our Manifesto and that it recommended endorsement. I said that IFLA was happy to "offer" this declaration to UNESCO. As a kind of a "frivolity" I ended by stating that it was hoped that after this meeting we could speak of the IFLA UNESCO Internet Manifesto.

Following was a long discussion, of nearly two hours !! From the very beginning it was clear that the support was broad and massive. Speakers representing the IFAP member states Benin, Canada, France, Germany, Irak, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Russian Federation and Tanzania, as well as observers (Belgium, Denmark, Israel) all stated that they were very much in agreement with the objectives of the Manifesto. IFLA was commended on this statement.

It was a sometimes passionate debate which circled around the issue of FREE access, i.e. free of charge or not. After long discussions it became apparent that our Manifesto could not be transferred into a joint one with UNESCO. The Chair stated that the IFAP Council is legally not entitled to do so. Only by means of a resolution of the UNESCO Conference could this be realised; that then could not be done before November 2005 (!).

I stated on behalf of IFLA that we could not possibly "wait" for that and would not be willing to cooperate. I also said that we would be grateful if IFAP would endorse this IFLA Manifesto and UNESCO would disseminate it widely. As a "compromise" I proposed that IFLA and UNESCO would together develop a set of Guidelines based on the IFLA Internet Manifesto.

This was approved: see the "Recommendation"

In conclusion: a good debate, followed by another proof of powerlessness of this Council, but as a result: praise for IFLA and hours long maximum exposure of the library profession, including its Federation.

Sjoerd Koopman
IFLA Coordinator of Professional Activities
28 April 2003


United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Intergovernmental Council for the Information for All Programme
(Second Session)

UNESCO House, Paris, Room XI (Fontenoy Building), 22-24 April 2003

ADOPTION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS

Item 14 of the provisional agenda
The Intergovernmental Council for the Information for All Programme, adopts the following recommendations

( . . . )

Related to Item 8 "UNESCO/IFLA Internet Manifesto"
The Intergovernmental Council for the Information for All Programme,

  1. Having examined document IFAP-2003/COUNCIL.II/5, particularly the "IFLA Internet Manifesto" contained in this document;
  2. Welcomes the spirit and the objectives of the "IFLA Internet Manifesto";
  3. Decides to endorse the "IFLA Internet Manifesto";
  4. Requests the Director-General to disseminate the IFLA Manifesto to all UNESCO Member States;
  5. Recommends that the Director General collaborate with IFLA in the preparation of IFLA-UNESCO Guidelines based on the IFLA Manifesto, and taking into account the discussions of the Intergovernmental Council for the Information for All Programme at its 2nd Session.

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