The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)

Abstract

Set up in 1927, IFLA has been arranging its annual conferences ever since 1928. Joining the Federation first in 1938, Hungary resumed its participation in its work in 1955, and has been an active member ever since. The objective of IFLA is to promote international co-operation in the field of librarianship. It has full and associate members. Its supreme body is the General Council, which elects its operative management, the Executive Board, composed of seven elected and several ex offo or honorary members. A broader leadership is exercised by the 60-member Consultative Committee.
The actual professional work is being carried on in sections and committees. Currently there are 12 sections and sub-sections divided according to library types, while there are 13 committees covering: the specialized fields of library operations.
Dedicated to the memory of its first secretary-general, IFLA endowed the Sevenama-Prize to be awarded every three years.
IFLA is conducting a remarkable publishing activity, issuing highly useful monographs and other publications. Proceedings of the General Councilgives annual reports on conferences and also includes reports by the member-associations, thus furnishing an inside view of international librarianship. Involving now well over 600 to 700 librarians, IFLA General Council meetings are remarkable events of international library activities. An IFLA congress is planned to be held in 1972 in Budapest.