First up here is the official IFLA statement on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
01 March 2022
IFLA stands in solidarity with our colleagues in Ukraine – condemns all violent actions and joins the international community in their statements on the situation.
In alliance with the protest of the international Library community IFLA urgently appeals to the libraries all over the world to mobilise in favour of accurate information to be spread on the conflict as a means to support democracy and freedom of expression. IFLA also asks libraries to support any Ukrainian refugees, in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organisations. We should be ready to find practical solutions and be prepared to provide Ukrainians with assistance and support as needed.
IFLA Governing Board
1 March 2022
Last week the Polish Librarians Association also issued an official statement
”We support the appeal of the Ukrainian Library Association and call to exclude the membership of all institutions of Russia from IFLA members.”
Here’s the statement in full
Polish Librarians Association Appeal Regarding Excluding All Russian Organizations and Libraries from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
As a consequence of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, the achievements of generations are being destroyed, thousands of people are killed, and hundreds of thousands of them are forced to flee and seek shelter.
The General Board of the Polish Librarians Association condemns the actions of Russia and expresses deep solidarity with the entire Ukrainian Nation and with our colleagues – Ukrainian librarians. We cannot ignore this terrible violation of both international law and social norms by Russia.
For this reason, we support the appeal of the Ukrainian Library Association and call to exclude the membership of all institutions of Russia from IFLA members.
We believe that Russian librarians, who we have met at congresses, symposiums, and discussion forums, will find a lot of strength and determination to express their opposition to the violation of the principles and norms adopted in civilized countries in the 21st century.
On behalf of the PLA General Board
dr Barbara Budy?ska
PLA President
Zuza Wiorogórska, Ph.D.
Department of Information Studies / Faculty of Journalism, Information and Book Studies
& The Library….University of Warsaw, Poland
Many IFLA members via their LIS over the past week have not shown support for the call arguing that Russian librarians should not be punished because of Putin’s actions, a response, we believe at House of Butter, that rings very hollow indeed.
As an example here’s what one member posted
However, as people of culture, libraries and librarians should not be dragged into the narrow route of segregation and hate. Instead of taking a negative position toward our colleagues in Russia
Unfortunately, as terrible as it is to say it, All official Russian organizations and associations will have to be sanctioned in one way or another and this includes library associations
As readers were reminded on the LIS today there is a precedent as highlighted by former IFLA President, Alex Byrne that draws such a blindingly obvious parallel, all we need do is leave you to read it yourself
We republish his post in full
Dear colleagues
On the eve of the Second World War, IFLA failed to speak out strongly against Nazi aggression despite the occupation of Sudetenland and Austria and the resultant closure of the Austria and Czechoslovakian library associations which had previously been IFLA members. President Godet spoke for libraries as places of free inquiry and against subordination to “the objectives identified by the Leader”. But IFLA reaffirmed its decision to hold its congress in Germany in 1940 to celebrate the five hundredth jubilee of Gutenberg, a congress that didn’t happen.
We must learn from that history and speak out forcefully against the naked and brutal attack of Russia on Ukraine. We must decry the bombardment of civilians, schools, libraries, homes and all Ukrainian society and condemn the Russian state and President Putin. While our focus will always be on the professional consequences of war, we must call out the continuing aggression of Russia including its 2014 capture of Crimea and de facto occupation of the Donbas region, its crimes against international law and its crimes against humanity.
Condemnation is not enough. Not only must we issue unequivocal statements but we must take practical action including refusing to support or participate in conferences such as the “World Professional Forum”, supported by the Russian state and held in occupied Crimea since 2014.
Sanctions against Russia and Russian organisations must include library and information goods and services and participation in collaborative ventures. As professionals committed to freedom of information, free inquiry and community welfare, we have to join the international efforts to make Russia cease its attacks and withdraw from Ukraine
At the same time, we need to support our Ukrainian colleagues in any way we can and follow the inspiring example of Poland and the initiatives of other European states to respond to the emergency. Our governments must feel the force of public and professional opinion to support Ukraine now and in the future.
We should also remember that many Russians have bravely protested against the war and many have been arrested. We should recall the brave Russian librarians who acted subversively against the brutal Soviet regime by collecting samizdat and fostering free inquiry as fully as they could. In remembering that bravery, we should continue to welcome dialogue with Russian colleagues and continue to include them in our professional forums including the World Library and Information Congress and IFLA’s professional activities. As we know from the Soviet era, this dialogue strengthens the resolve of those opposed to the current regime and provides a foundation for collaboration in a more positive future.
With great sadness and admiration for Ukraine and its people
Alex Byrne
Foundation FAIFE Chair 1997-2003
IFLA President 2005-2007
We finish with a Ukrainian librarian’s post from last week and again no further explanation is required after reading her words, just action.
We all know that libraries it is about an access to cultural heritage, about research, inspiration and commitment to intellectual freedom.
But how can we explain that among Russian cultural figures who supported Russian aggression to Ukraine in 2014 were librarians? It was Russian librarians who organized and conducted annual conferences in annexed Crimea.
Of course, I am sure that nobody from IFLA took part in that annual Crimea conferences 2014-2021.
But I am not sure that Russian librarians who visited and organized all of that are not still the members of IFLA Committees, etc.
From their publications I see also that they very often refer to IFLA as an organization of which they are a part. Accordingly, IFLA is a part of Russian librarianship’s discourse.
Below is a link to the site of the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Culture with a list of “Cultural figures of Russia – in support of the position of the President on Ukraine and Crimea”:
Among them:
Director General of the National Library of Russia (St-Petersburg),
Director General of the State Library of Russia (Moscow),
President of the State Library of Russia (Moscow),
Deputy Director of the State Library of Russia (Moscow),
Director of the Russian State Children’s Library (Moscow)
Director of the V. Maiakovsky Central City Public Library (St-Petersburg),
Director of the M. Lermontov Central Library (St-Petersburg), etc.. .
It was in 2014.
There is about organizations of cultural heritage in Ukraine now, in 2022:
