The LinkedIn newsletter below accompanies the full edition of the December 2025 IFLA Newsletter.
Organisational highlights
IFLA President Leslie Weir and Secretary General Sharon Memis, FRSA joined the meeting of IFLA’s Regional Offices in Doha, Qatar, and visited Riyadh to hear about the exciting work taking place in Saudi libraries. Leslie has also shared updates from our most recent Governing Board meeting and more in her December message to members and volunteers. In addition, you can watch a recording from our recent Townhall meetings with Leslie and Sharon. On 6 December, they, along with the Governing Board and IFLA staff, thanked all IFLA volunteers for International Volunteer Day.
In advancing IFLA’s Strategy, a workshop with Professional and Regional Councils and a survey explored how the latest Trends Report may impact progress toward strategic goals. Meanwhile, IFLA/ De Gruyter Brill published Libraries Empowering Society Through Digital Literacy (2025), which highlights frameworks and practices to expand digital literacy initiatives globally.
The IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC)
Registration for the 90th edition of the IFLA World Library and Information Congress is now open, with great member and group discounts available—be an early bird and save!
The website is live and packed with opportunities. Stay tuned as we announce speakers, sessions, and much more over the upcoming months. We look forward to seeing you in Busan, South Korea, from 10 to 13 August 2026!
News at a glance ?
- Teaching international librarianship offers a look at current practice focuses on IFLA100’s reflection on the past, present, and future of international librarianship, informed by how the field is currently understood within library and information science education.
- The IFLA Advisory Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) joined the Free Access to Information Roundtable in Zagreb, Croatia, participating in the 25th-anniversary celebration of the Croatian Library Association’s Committee for Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression and bringing together Croatian librarians and international guests at Zagreb City Library.
- An interactive webinar on January 28 will explore new ways for libraries to collaborate with local governments and UNESCO offices on digital inclusion, presenting the new UNESCO-IFAP brief developed with IFLA and highlighting opportunities to strengthen these connections in the coming year. Join us!
- The WSIS+20 High-Level Meeting reaffirmed a library-powered, people-centred internet as United Nations Member States endorsed the outcome document, emphasising the role of libraries and the broader goal of ensuring the internet supports development objectives.
- The European Commission Report on Distance Education and Research highlights why reform matters, with a study examining libraries’ work with copyright and licensing for remote access and underlining current shortcomings and broader implications for research, education, and heritage institutions, summarised on the KnowledgeRights21 website.
- Planning for Partnerships was explored at a meeting of IFLA’s Regional Offices hosted by the Office for the Middle East and North Africa at Qatar National Library, providing an opportunity to examine how partnerships can be leveraged to advance organisational goals.
- IFLA welcomes the University of Cape Town Libraries as a PAC Hub, with Preservation and Conservation Centres around the world serving as key regional and international resources for expertise in cultural heritage conservation and preservation and supporting IFLA’s wider work in this area.
Open calls roundup ?
- The 2026 IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award offers €3500 to attend WLIC 2026 in Busan and recognises outstanding library marketing projects, with applications open until 27 February 2026.
- The 2026 IFLA Green Library Award celebrates innovative, sustainable library projects, administered by ENSULIB and sponsored by De Gruyter Brill and Library Juice Academy, with a 30 January 2026 deadline.
- The IFLA International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD) Review Group is seeking new members to help manage and promote the International Standard Bibliographic Description, with expressions of interest due by 16 January 2026.
- The IFLA Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section invites short papers of up to 1000 words with photos on inspiring a love of reading among children and teens, due by 12 January 2026.
Finally, and before we turn the page on 2025… ?
Interested in more IFLA news, upcoming events, and member updates? Be sure to read the full newsletter and subscribe today!
