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IFLA Conference

World Library and Information Congress: 74th IFLA General Conference and Council

"Libraries without borders: Navigating towards global understanding"

10-14 August 2008, Québec, Canada,


Frequently asked questions and answers

Arabic translation  French translation  Spanish translation 

The Conference

Registration

How do I register for the 74th Conference?

The registration form is available on the IFLA Internet site. You can also find the form on the ASTED website by clicking on “Formulaire d’inscription” under the heading “IFLA 2008.” There are two registration forms, one showing fees in Canadian currency (CAD), and the other showing fees in Euros (€).

The deadline for early registration is May 7, 2008. The deadline for online and hardcopy pre-registration is July 25, 2008. Please provide the information as you wish it to appear on your badge and on the list of participants. Each active participant must complete a registration form. The form should be completed using a typewriter or handwritten in block letters. Do not forget to make a copy for your own records.

If you have any questions about registration, please e-mail them to: wlic2008reg@congrex.com.

Can I register for the Conference by telephone?

To register, you must complete the official registration form and send it by fax or by mail to the following address:

Conference Secretariat IFLA WLIC 2008
4b, 50 Speirs Wharf
Port Dundas, Glasgow G4 9TH
Fax: +44 (0) 207 117 4561

How much does it cost to attend the Conference?

Fees vary depending on the participant’s status and when the registration form is received. Fees shown below in CAD ($) and EUR (€).

Registration fees On or before May 7, 2008 After May 7, 2008 and before July 25, 2008
IFLA Member $640.00/€400.00 $776.00/€485.00
Non-IFLA Member $784.00/€490.00 $936.00/€585.00
Student $320.00/€200.00 $368.00/€230.00
Accompanying person $424.00/€265.00 $512.00/€320.00

Can I cancel my registration?

Notices of cancellation and requests for refunds must be sent in writing no later than May 7, 2008, to the Conference Secretariat, Concorde Services/Congrex UK. Cancellations received on May 7, 2008 or before are subject to an administration fee of CAD$80 or €50. No refunds will be made for cancellations received after May 7, 2008.

Under certain circumstances, delegates who are unable to attend can name a substitute to take their place. Please contact the Conference Secretariat in such cases.

How can I obtain my identification badge?

The badges will be available at the Québec City Convention Centre. Information concerning the exact time and location for pick-up will be provided shortly.

How can I pay my registration fees?

You can pay by credit card, bankers cheque or bank transfer. The following information is required:

  • For EURO payment please use the following bank details:
    Concorde Services Ltd/WLIC 2008
    IBAN GB73 RBOS 1610 7010 094789,
    BIC code COSEWLIC- EUR-A, with your family name and registration number.

  • For CAD$ payments please use the following bank details:
    Concorde Services Ltd/WLIC 2008
    IBAN GB73 RBOS 1663 0000 427288,
    BIC code COSEWLIC-CAD-A, with your family name and registration number.

If you would like to pay by credit card, please complete the necessary section of the registration form.

Are the social events included in the registration fee?

The Opening and Closing Session, the Exhibition Party and the Cultural Evening are included in the registration fee. However, you must indicate which events you want to attend on your registration form.

Am I able to make a change to my registration?

To make a change to your registration, contact Concorde Services Ltd/Congrex UK at wlic2008reg@congrex.com. Please be sure to include your surname and registration number in your e-mail.

Program

Can I see the Conference program beforehand?

The preliminary program for the 74th IFLA Conference is available on the IFLA website. You can also consult the program on the ASTED website under the heading “IFLA 2008.”

Trade Exhibition

Where will the trade exhibition be held?

The exhibition will be held in the Québec City Convention Centre, where the Conference is taking place.

When will the trade exhibition be open?

The exhibition will be open from Sunday, August 10, in the afternoon until late in the morning of Wednesday, August 13. The exact hours of operation will be provided in the final Conference program.

Who will be participating in the trade exhibition?

The exhibition is open to all private, public and other organisations that provide library-related products and services (books, periodicals, e-documents, audiovisual products and equipment, office supplies and other services).

The names of exhibition participants will be posted on the Internet site.

How much does it cost to rent an exhibition booth?

Information concerning the trade exhibition is available on the IFLA website under the heading “Exhibition Information.”

Papers

How do I submit a paper?

Various professional committees are organising the content of the IFLA 2008 Conference. If you would like to present a paper, all documents must be submitted directly to one of these committees.

For more information, please visit the IFLA website and click on “Call for papers” and “General Guidelines for Papers.”

Québec

Visas

Do I require a visa?

All visitors must have a passport that is valid for the length of their stay in Canada. Visas are also required for visitors from certain countries. For more information, please consult the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website or contact the Canadian embassy or consulate in your country.

Can you send me a letter of invitation?

Participants from countries who require a letter of invitation to attend the Conference must visit the IFLA website for an online personalised letter of invitation. This letter must be sent to the appropriate embassy/consulate together with a copy of your registration confirmation.

Please note that this process is intended to assist participants who must obtain a visa or permission to attend the Conference. It is not an official invitation covering fees and other expenses, and does not in any way imply financial support from the Conference.

The letter is intended to help people make arrangements with their employer or the government authorities in their country to attend the Conference.

Hotels

I have already registered for the Conference and would like to reserve a hotel room.

The Conference Secretariat has reserved rooms in various price categories at a wide range of hotels in Québec City at preferential rates. You must indicate your first, second and third choices for a hotel on the registration and hotel reservation form. Concorde Services Ltd/Congrex UK will endeavour to meet your accommodation requests. However, if the hotels chosen are not available, the Conference Secretariat reserves the right to book the hotel that most closely matches your original choice.

The list of hotels is provided in the IFLA registration form to help you make your reservation. The list is also available online.

A list of other hotels is provided on the website of the Québec Region Hotel Association.

When will my reservation be processed?

Your reservation will be processed as soon as the Conference Secretariat has received the registration form with a credit card guarantee or deposit. Reservations should be made far in advance, as availability cannot be guaranteed after April 11, 2008. All reservations will be processed in the order in which they are received. After April 11, 2008, all reservations will be dependant on availability.

How do I cancel my hotel reservation?

Please do not contact the hotel directly; all reservations are handled by the Conference Secretariat. Room changes and cancellations must be made in writing. If the Conference Secretariat receives the cancellation request in writing before May 7, 2008, an administration fee of CAD$80 will be charged to your credit card. For cancellations received after the deadline, the cost of one night’s stay in the hotel plus 10% of the total cost of the reservation will be charged. If the hotel is able to rent the room, only 10% of the total cost of the reservation will be charged.

Do hotel prices include breakfast and taxes?

No, the rates shown on the hotel reservation form are per room and per night, and do not include breakfast and applicable taxes (GST and QST).

What are the hotel rates?

Hotel rates are indicated in the Conference program.

Where are the hotels located?

The hotels are indicated on the map in the preliminary program, which is available on the ASTED website. For information on other accommodations, please visit the following websites:

Travelling to Québec

Can I get a discount on my airfare to the Conference?

Star Alliance Airlines has been appointed the preferred airline for delegate travel to and from the IFLA World Library & Information Congress 2008 taking place in Quebec City. The participating carriers are offering special Conventions Plus Delegate Fare Discounts to delegates and accompanying persons. You (and the accompanying person) need to be registered before applying for the reduced airfare.

The Star Alliance Members include the following Airlines:

  • Air Canada
  • Asiana Airlines
  • Austrian Airlines
  • LOT Polish Airlines
  • Lufthansa
  • SWISS International Airlines
  • Scandinavian Airlines
  • South African Airways
  • Spanair
  • TAP Portugal
  • United

To book your ticket please contact the relevant airline and quote the Convention Code, AC008S8, this will be recognised by any Star Alliance member airline or travel agent. Please note that you cannot book your airline ticket online, it must be booked through a travel agent or directly with the airline.

As always, if you're a member of one of the Star Alliance member airlines' frequent flyer programmes, you will earn points, build status and enjoy member benefits with each flight you take.

To find out more information regarding the offers available with Star Alliance Airlines please click on the following link:

Star Alliance Airlines

Is there a shuttle service between the Québec City airport and the Convention Centre?

The airport does not offer a shuttle service to the Convention Centre, and there is no public transit service to the airport. Taxi fare from the airport to downtown is CAD$30.

Concorde Services and the national committee are looking into providing a shuttle service between the airport and the downtown core. Further information will be provided at a later date.

How can I get around in Québec City?

The public transit system (Réseau de transport de la Capital, or RTC) operates throughout the city. The RTC also offers the métrobus, a service that runs at frequent intervals and serves main areas in the city. This service operates seven days a week, including holidays. The métrobus connects the hotels in the Sainte-Foy area with the downtown core, with a stop at the Convention Centre.

Public transit rates are CAD$2.50 (exact change), CAD$2.30 (per ticket) or CAD$5.95 for a one-day pass.

For more information, please consult the website of the Réseau de transport de la capitale.

How can I travel around the province of Quebec?

Travelling throughout Quebec is easily done via the Gare du Palais, located less than 2 km from the Québec City Convention Centre. This is the terminal for trains (Via Rail Canada) and motor coaches operated by five (5) intercity transportation companies (Orléans Express, Intercar, Autocars La Chaudière, Autocar ADS and Autobus A-1).

For more information on transportation in Québec City, please visit Télégraphe de Québec: City Guide.

What is the average temperature in Québec City in August?

The average temperature and precipitation in the region during the month of August is:

Min. temp.: 12°C
Max. temp.: 23°C
Precipitation: 117 mm

What taxes are applicable in the province of Quebec?

Two taxes are added to the sale price of most products and services: the federal goods and services tax (GST: 6%) and the Quebec sales tax (QST: 7.5%).

Many tourism areas charge a special tax for accommodations. This amount is CAD$2-3 per night or 3% of the cost of the room per night, before GST and QST.

Tipping is obligatory in restaurants, bars, taxis and hair salons. Tips are not automatically included in the bill and should represent from 10 to 15% of the total bill (before taxes). An easy way to calculate the tip is to add the two taxes (GST and QST) that appear on the restaurant bill; they add up to approximately 15% of the total. Tipping bellhops or porters is discretionary (usually CAD$1 per bag carried).

Entertainment

What are some of the sights to see in Québec City?

There are several suggestions for sightseeing in the IFLA preliminary program, including professional visits and tourist activities.

The Québec City Tourism website also highlights other activities and places of interest.

How far away from Québec City are the main points of interest?

Several places of interest are located near the main highways and are easily accessible from the Québec City Convention Centre. The following table gives estimates for distance and times.

Transportation
International
Jean-Lesage International Airport
500 Principale Street
Quebec City, Quebec G2G 2T9
16.4 km22 min. *
National / Provincial
Gare du Palais
450 de la Gare du Palais Street
Quebec City, Quebec G1K 3X2
1.3 km5 min. *
Culture and Heritage
National Assembly
1045 des Parlementaires Street
Quebec City, Quebec G1A 1A4
0.3 km1 min. *
Battlefield Park (Plains of Abraham)
835 Wilfrid-Laurier Avenue
Quebec City, Quebec G1R 2L7
0.6 km2 min. *
Musée de l’Amérique française
2 Côte de la Fabrique
Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3V6
1.2 km4 min. *
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Battlefield Park
Quebec City, Quebec G1R 5H3
1.8 km5 min. *
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
1 des Carrières Street
Quebec City, Quebec G1R 4P5
2 km4 min. *
Centre d‘interprétation de Place-Royale
27 Notre-Dame Street
Quebec City, Quebec G1K 4E9
2 km6 min. *
Musée de la Civilisation
85 Dalhousie Street
Quebec City, Quebec G1K 7A6
2.1 km6 min. *
Shopping Centres
Place Fleur de lys
552 Wilfrid-Hamel Boulevard
Quebec City, Quebec G1M 3E5
4.4 km9 min. *
Place Laurier
2700 Laurier Boulevard
Quebec City, Quebec G1V 4J9
6.9 km12 min. *
Les Galeries de la Capital
5401 des Galeries Boulevard
Quebec City, Quebec G2K 1N4
9.5 km15 min. *
Other Places of Interest
Restaurant le Concorde
1225 Cours du Général de Montcalm
Quebec City, Quebec G1R 4W6
0.9 km3 min. *
Old Port150 Dalhousie Street
Quebec City, Quebec G1K 7P7
2.1 km6 min. *
Laval University Campus
2195 de l’Université Street
Sillery, Québec
5.4 km10 min. *
Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
2490 Royale Avenue
Quebec City, Quebec G1C 1S1
12.8 km17 min. *
Quebec
Île d’Orléans14.6 km16 min. *
Mont Sainte-Anne45 km45 min. *
Trois-Rivières130 km1 hr. 50 min. /
2 hrs. 30 min. **
Montreal250 km3 hrs. 15 min. **
3 hrs. 14 min. †
Canada
Nova Scotia
Halifax1,025 km18 hrs. 20 min. †
New Brunswick
Moncton770 km13 hrs. 44 min. †
Ontario
Ottawa 250 km˜ 5 hrs. 30 min. †
Toronto 800 km˜ 8 hrs. 30 min. †
Niagara Falls920 km˜ 14 hrs. 30 min. †
Manitoba
Winnipeg 2,620 km˜2 1/4 days †
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon3,410 km˜2 3/4 days †
Alberta
Edmonton3,945 km˜3 days †
British Columbia
Vancouver4,920 km˜4 days †
United States ††
New York 840 km11 hrs.
Detroit 1,160 km˜ 18 hrs. 30 min.
Washington D.C. 1,190 km˜ 14 hrs.
Chicago 1,620 km˜ 22 hrs. 30 min.

*Estimated time according to Google maps
**Orléans Express bus
ViaRail Canada train
††Amtrak train (from Montreal)

More

What if I have other questions?

If you have other questions that were not addressed here, please send them by e-mail to wlic2008@congrex.com We will be happy to answer them and update the FAQ site.