DEADLINE: 01 June 18 June 2018

To recognise the vital contribution and work of the Professional Units, IFLA established in 2018 the IFLA Dynamic Unit and Impact Award. This award recognises the success of Professional Units in achieving the expectations of a dynamic unit, as defined by the Professional Committee.

All IFLA Professional Units – Divisions, Sections, Special Interest Groups, Strategic Programmes or Core Activities – are eligible to nominate for the Award.   It is important that it is not to be perceived as a personal reward – but recognises outstanding team work.

The 2018 IFLA Dynamic Unit and Impact Award winner will be announced during the Closing Session at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in August. 

The Award intends to stimulate outstanding work by Professional Units by:

  • Recognizing and promoting outstanding examples of Professional Unit work;
  • Highlighting the impact of the work of IFLA's professional groups.

How to apply

Address one of the three Criteria listed below in 300 words or less. Highlight your creative efforts in achieving the result and what the outcomes and impact have been. You may include photos, video (see instructions on the submission form).

Submit your application

Criteria for evaluation

In the previous year [since 01 June 2017], the winning Unit(s) should have demonstrated at a superior level, one or more of the following expectations of a Dynamic Unit:

Criteria 1: Quality and impact of the work, for example:

  • Effectively networking with its community in order to define and develop the Unit’s  role in line with IFLA strategy and the general expectations of an IFLA Unit;
  • Synthesizing ideas and suggestions into clearly expressed and communicated objectives for the Unit that reflect IFLA’s strategy and unique position as a global library organisation;
  • Identifying and carrying out a variety of activities that contribute to achieving the objectives of the Unit and are communicated through a well-formulated Action Plan;
  • Thinking about how the results of its work are communicated for maximum impact;
  • Regularly reviewing and updating its activities to ensure they meet the changing demands and changing environment.

Criteria 2: Communications and impact, for example:

  • Implementing a written communication plan
  • Having frequent and regular communication within its own committee, with at least one (possibly online) meeting between Congresses;
  • Frequently and regularly communicating with its Members:
  • Proactively communicating its activities widely and reach out to other IFLA Units or other stakeholders in order to identify synergies;
  • Facilitating ongoing discussion with its community of interest, especially in order to identify ‘hot topics’ and where IFLA might have a role to play; Communicating and discussing progress and challenges with its Division Chair.
  • Increase publication output via IFLA’s publication channels (IFLA Journal, Professional Report series (online, Open Access publications), IFLA Publications series).

Criteria 3: Membership and leadership engagement and development, for example:

  • Attracting new members at each election;
  • Having an inclusive process that involves all members in both planning and execution;
  • Achieving diversity in its membership, and if this is not possible, actively seeking diverse views and input to its work, for example, in relation to geographical representation, gender and age;
  • Having capable leaders that: ensure the Unit has a clear goal and sense of direction and produces quality work; identify roles and responsibilities for others; ensure all members have a voice; communicate progress and problems to the Division Chair.
  • Having succession planning and mentoring in place for both the Officer roles and the member roles;
  • Ensuring there is continuity of activities when membership or responsibilities change, and that the transition to the new Committee in an election year is smooth;
  • Articulating what value a member gains from involvement;
  • Functioning effectively using volunteers, encouraging remote participation either of members who cannot attend physical meetings or people beyond the committee where relevant and appropriate;
  • Having involvement, partnerships and communication with relevant non-IFLA partners;
  • Having an international community that identifies itself as an active supporter of the Unit’s objectives or an active contributor to the Unit’s work and includes individuals who regularly and actively engage with the Unit.

Who can win?

The Award may be presented to one or more IFLA Professional Units:

  1. Divisions
  2. Sections
  3. Special Interest Groups
  4. Strategic Programmes
  5. Core Activities

Timeline

  • 23 April: announcement of call
  • 01 June 18 June: deadline for nominations
  • 29 August: presentation of award at Closing Ceremony

Questions? Contact us at unit-award@ifla.org.

IFLA Headquarters
The Hague, 23 April 2018