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School Library Manifesto Ratified by UNESCO

PRESS RELEASE : for immediate release
November 26, 1999

The IFLA School Library Manifesto was ratified by the 30th UNESCO General Conference.

This Manifesto argues that school library services are so vital that they should be provided equally to all members of the school community, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, nationality, language, professional or social status. Specific services and materials must be provided for those who are unable to use mainstream library services and materials.

"I am delighted by UNESCO's ratification of the Manifesto; this is a major step to ensure that the role of the school library in the new information environment is understood and agreed upon worldwide", said Ms Glenys Willars, Chair of IFLA's Section for School Libraries and Resource Centres, and member of IFLA's Professional Board.

The IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto urges governments, through their ministries responsible for education, to develop strategies, policies and plans that implement the principles of this Manifesto. Plans should include the dissemination of the Manifesto to initial and continuing training programmes for librarians and teachers.

Effort will now be put in the promotion of the IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto, including the translation and publication in as many languages as possible.

Additional information is available from:
Ms. Glenys Willars, IFLA Section for School Libraries and Resource Centres, or from Mr. Sjoerd Koopman at IFLA Headquarters:

Ms. Glenys Willars

Leicestershire Libraries and Information Service
Rothley Crossroads
929/931 Loughborough Road, Rothley
Leicester LE7 7NH,
United Kingdom
Tel: +44-116-2678008
Fax: +44-116-2678039
E-mail: gwillars@leics.gov.uk

Mr. Sjoerd Koopman

Coordinator of Professional Activities
IFLA/HQ
P.O.Box 95312
2509 CH The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +31-70-3140884
Fax: +31-70-3834827
E-mail: sjoerd.koopman@ifla.org

Notes for editors

  1. The school library provides information and ideas that are fundamental to functioning successfully in today's information and knowledge-based society. The school library equips students with life-long learning skills and develops the imagination, enabling them to live as responsible citizens.

  2. IFLA is grateful for the support that colleagues throughout the world have given to the development of the School Library Manifesto. Many professionals were involved in this, but special reference should be made to the library community of Canada for the role it played in this process.

  3. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions IFLA is an independent organisation created to provide librarians around the world with a forum for exchanging ideas and promoting international cooperation. IFLA is an organisation of world-wide scope representing almost 1700 members in more than 150 countries all over the world.

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