IFLA WLIC 2017The Hague, 13 August 2017—

For the first time in the history of IFLA’s World Library and Information Congress (WLIC), we will be live streaming a selection of the larger sessions so that our library friends all over the world, unable to come to the 83rd WLIC in Wrocław Poland, can still be a part of one of the biggest annual international library and information events. 

On Sunday, 20 August at 10.30 -12:00 (CEST), viewers will be able to watch the spectacular opening session and get a taste of the unique atmosphere that WLIC generates. Beginning with an official address by Donna Scheeder (IFLA President) and Gerald Leitner (IFLA Secretary General), delegates and live stream viewers will be the first to hear the words from a letter by Andrzej Duda, the President of the Republic of Poland, watch an official address to Congress delegates by Prof. Piotr Gliński, the First Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture and National Heritage and be welcomed to Wrocław and Poland by the chairs of the National Committee: Rafał Dutkiewicz (Mayor of Wrocław), Elżbieta Stefańczyk (President of the Polish Librarians’ Association) and Tomasz Makowski (Director of the National Library). Following a Keynote speech by Prof. Richard Butterwick-Pawlikowski, live stream viewers will be treated to a Short Story of Wrocław: A theatrical show which presents the history of Wrocław.

On Monday 21 August from 08:30 – 09:15 (CEST), tune in again for IFLA’s Highlights session, the quickest way to find out about all of our main projects and initiatives. There’s just enough time to grab a quick cup of coffee before IFLA President Donna Scheeder begins her President’s Session at 09:30 – a Call to Action – focusing on IFLA’s Global Vision discussion to empower the library field to not just survive but to thrive into the future. This session will launch the Global Vision online voting platform and invites all from the library world to take part and vote to help create a united library field.

The Closing Session on Thursday 24 August from 16:15 – 17:30 (CEST) will be the last chance for viewers to get a sense of WLIC2017. Tune in and see the outgoing IFLA Governing Board welcome the new, receive a virtual invitation to WLIC 2018, in Kuala Lumpur, and hear from incoming President Glòria Pérez-Salmerón.

Live streaming is just one of the many tools IFLA is utilising as it embraces an open and transparent approach. With plans to extend this communication style for future initiatives, IFLA is excited to be able to share these with our members in more engaging and interactive ways.

Follow us on social media for further live streaming announcements.

For more information about WLIC, visit https://2017.ifla.org.

About IFLA

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession. Founded in 1927 in Edinburgh, Scotland at an international conference, we now have more than 1,400 Members in over 140 countries around the world. IFLA was registered in the Netherlands in 1971. The Royal Library, the national library of the Netherlands, in The Hague, generously provides the facilities for our headquarters.