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CORE SPECIAL ISSUE IFLA MILANMetadata, AUGUST citation and2009 similar papers at core.ac.uk
Provided by Florence Research th 75 IFLA Congress Milan Mauro Guerrini *
n 2006, at Seoul IFLA Congress, Italy was bibliographic information. Every possible subject awarded the hospitality for the 75th Congress, in the wide world of library science is in fact dealt that will be held in Milan, in the premises of with in the different parallel sessions held in the I rd th the trade Fair, from 23 to 27 August 2009, five hectic days of the meeting. under the auspices of the Presidence of the Republic. When IFLA decided, in 2006, to hold its congress in the South of Europe, a few cities – IFLA Conferences in Italy Lisbon, Rimini, Florence and Milan – applied to and the birth of AIB host the event. The eligibility requirements were: the presence of Italy is very tightly linked to IFLA as it hosted in a congress palace and a hotel system suitable for Rome (15/30 June 1929) the First World Congress hosting from four to five thousand delegates, being of Libraries and Bibliography, attended by about easily reachable by plane, train and car and the 1.300 librarians, coming from forty countries, fact of having important libraries. The AIB who met Pio XI, “a previous and old colleague” (Associazione Italiana Biblioteche = Italian Libraries as he called himself, Achille Ratti, previously Association) announced at once Italy’s candidacy Prefect of Ambrosiana Library of Milan and of which was supported by the Ministry for Cultural the Vatican Library. Activities (MiBAC), by Regione Lombardia, Milan This Congress is considered the first one for IFLA Province and Municipality. After several meetings and it was attended by delegations of several in the different venues (Rimini was not included countries and of the Society of Nations as well as for the lack of a few requirements) and at the Aja the associations linked to the International Library office of IFLA, Milan won the nomination. I still and Bibliographical Committee which was set up remember our exultation as Italian members in 1928 in Edinburgh as core of IFLA. present in South Korea, right after the IFLA was formally founded in Venice on June 30th, announcement of the IFLA President Alex Byrne: in the wonderful setting of the Biblioteca we enthusiastically waved the Italian flag that we Marciana, where the International Library and were given by the Ambassador Mr. Andrea Leggeri Bibliographical Committee moved from Rome. The at the Italian Embassy. text of the statute has been written a few days IFLA Congress comes back to Italy after 45 years earlier in a hotel in Florence during a stopover on from the previous edition, a long time which the way from the Capital. shows, unfortunately, the lack of interest, these From this historical experience skilfully directed by last forty years, of Italian libraries in the Luigi De Gregori, starts in 1930 the promoting international dimension. Not an overall passivity, Committee of the Italian Librarians Association (later of course, because some librarians and teachers named Italian Association for Libraries and finally have always kept international relations, but Italian Libraries Association) made up by council probably on a personal basis and referring to and state librarians with Pier Silverio Leicht as institutions different from IFLA. The limited chairman. He was a law historian and deputy who, number of active members at the IFLA at the worldwide libraries Congress of bibliography, conferences caused, in the mid-seventies, the represented the government as an undersecretary of abolition of Italian as official language. It is a minister Belluzzo and chaired the technical shame because IFLA congress is the most commission responsible for the choice of relations. important meeting for librarians and people “So, at last”, Simonetta Buttò and Alberto dealing professionally with libraries and Petrucciani mention (see
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Calcagno and Boselli and secretary Mancini signed 23 to 27 August 2009 (http://it.youtube.com/ the certificate of incorporation of AIB. As soon as watch?v=hnnxNrdiAHk&feature=related). the act was signed a celebration was organized at Since then the National Committee has been Caffè Aragno, the usual meeting place of scholars, working for the success of this almost unique journalists and Roman politicians”. chance of professional updating for many Italian The second and third IFLA congresses kept in librarians. Italy were again in Rome, in 1951 and 1964. As a start, the Italian Committee tried to promote In 2009, 80 years later than the first World the aims of IFLA, which is an international congress of libraries and bibliography and 45 librarian association formed by about 1700 since the last world meeting, Italy is still hosting national associations, big libraries and, in a the Congress of librarians. This event is a great smaller number, by librarians. IFLA represents success for the whole (directly or Italian librarian indirectly) about community and 500.000 libraries in rewards the qualified, 150 countries and intelligent and librarians all over constructive the world giving engagement of many them a place for Italian librarians who sharing ideas and have been working promoting within IFLA and on international the international cooperation and the scene. development in During a whole week library science the Congress Centre (which technically is of Fiera Milano City called advocacy). will give hospitality The social values of to about 5000 IFLA are: creating delegates coming, and supplying high from all over the quality library Seoul, 72 th IFLA Congress (2006): Mauro Guerrini taking world, who will the floor just after Milan has been chosen as congressional seat services and attend several for IFLA Conference in 2009 supporting the technical meetings principles of free and will be able to visit the wide exposition of access to information, ideas and intellectual products and services for libraries. achievements (as from article 19 of ONU Universal The title chosen for 2009, Libraries create futures: Declaration of Human Rights). Its aims are building on cultural heritage, well represents the promoting standards for the creation and supply peculiarities of Italian libraries as a moment of of library services and making both politicians and contact between the roots of history and the citizens aware of the importance to have good technologies of the future. The Italian libraries will library services. Sections and work groups draw have a chance of showing the achievements and the guidelines and recommendations about the projects being carried out to the international different aspects of the library service, often used librarian community. in different countries as a basis for the preparation of local and national services. IFLA is, in fact, the prescriptive board of all services for libraries and Towards Milan Congress: IFLA’s role, librarians, decides the standards which are later the organization of the Congress translated and used by libraries and agencies all and the engagements over the world. of the Italian National Committee On a second instance, the Italian Committee related to the Italian librarians, who had not At Québec IFLA Congress in 2008, the Italian attended IFLA congresses, about the way they National Committee IFLA 2009 (NC) made the work. It is not easy to understand the structure official invitation to IFLA Congress in Milan from and the organization and a newcomer could miss
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that the program of the Congress is mostly due to the Sections that decide on their own the titles of the open and the offsite sessions. Italian members of the sections favored the presentation of Italian contributions and experiences. IFLA Congress will be a special occasion to know what is going on abroad and let foreign colleagues know what happens in Italy. Italy can be proud of excellent experiences that are sometimes kept inside the libraries or among a few people. IFLA 2009 could be a chance for showing and promoting what has been done by Italian librarians. During the Congress there will be visits to libraries, a social event and Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense, Sala Teresiana, Milan. IFLA Congress a cultural evening, which are all delegates will have the opportunity of visiting this famous library very important moments of meeting with colleagues from all the great depth of the professional debate which over the world. In Milan, the cultural evening will is held in the three main moments: be at La Scala, on August 23rd with a lyrical – in the plenary sessions (opening ceremony, concert and the social event at Galleria Vittorio plenary session- meetings with Italian and Emanuele on August 25th. Another special hint of foreign authors (Nicoletta Maraschio, Benedetta the Congress is the Exhibition, the exposition of Cibrario, Carla Fracci), with IFLA President now the products and services for the libraries, in office (Carla Lux) and the elected President representing a place for professional information (Ellen Tise) – closing ceremony); and meeting with firms showing their products. – in the open sessions e nelle offsite sessions Finally, the main decisions for the life of the (meetings held out of the Congress premises), Association will be taken by IFLA Assembly (since organized by the sections and study groups 2009 this name will be used instead of IFLA where the participants get trained on up-to-date Council). themes; In order to improve and favor an active – in the internal meetings of the Standing participation to the Congress, the National Committees and of the study groups, as a Committee, along with AIB, has been promoting fundamental moment of scientific work open to several meetings for all librarians. accredited observers. Their activity lasts all year round with debates via electronic mail and meetings and it can involve experts from outside Libraries create futures: building the Sections. on cultural Heritage. The Programme of the Congress During the Congress there are also the poster sessions, often required by a call for paper and The theme will be dealt with two different then judged by experts of the Governing Board. perspectives: the Angloamerican one based on the The three best posters are given an award during epistemology of knowledge and on the social role the closing ceremony. of the libraries and the perspective of Satellite meetings are held before and after the Mediterranean origin based on the organization and Congress: in 2009 there will be 19 in different the conservation of ancient and unique collections Italian cities and in a few European ones, always witnessing a long and rich cultural tradition. organized by the Sections. It is, therefore, clear What are the proposals of IFLA Sections at the
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Congress? The discussion about “cultural heritage” meetings LIS Education in Developing Countries has widened the traditional themes including also SIG: Preparing future librarians in developing cultural and political ones as well as archives and countries: a vision for LIS education in the 21st museums. Some sections will deal with the theme century. of “cultural heritage” in a more traditional sense, “Cultural heritage” will be therefore at the centre that is mostly as conservation, such as the sections of many professional debates. Art Libraries, with the title Art and cultural What is considered particularly important for heritage: select, collect and connect; Bibliography, professionals, writes Anna Maria Tammaro, with the title Promoting and preserving national member of IFLA Governing body (see: bibliographies, our testimony of cultural heritage;
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