World Summit on the Information Society

Call for Reports

IFLA Council, meeting in Berlin, passed the following resolution on the World Summit on the Information Society, proposed by Carla Hayden, President, the American Library Association, Robert Moropa, President, the Library and Information Association of South Africa, and Barry Cropper, Chair, Executive Board of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (UK).

The resolution was passed nem con.

In accordance with the terms of the resolution, I am conveying it to you with the request that you take all possible steps to implement it, as appropriate, within your country, including contacting your national delegation to the World Summit.

World Summit for the Information Society

Whereas the World Summit for the Information Society offers a unique opportunity for the library community to be recognized as the heart of the information society,

And whereas IFLA has already devoted a great amount of work to influence the draft declaration and plan of action of the World Summit for the Information Society,

Therefore be it resolved that library associations and institutions are urged to advocate to their government representatives to the World Summit for the Information Society for libraries as a global public good,

And be it resolved that IFLA calls upon all governments to address the growing gap between the information rich and the information poor, and promote library development programs for poor rural and urban populations, literacy instruction through libraries, and the strengthening of library education programs,

And be it resolved that IFLA urges governments to eliminate fees for basic services broadly construed, assist in developing local content for electronic information services, and provide equitable access to the Internet,

And be it resolved that this resolution be sent to all national library associations and government delegations to the World Summit for the Information Society.

Also in accordance with the terms of the resolution, I shall be conveying it to national delegations to the World Summit.

I look forward to hearing from you the outcome of your activities to implement this important resolution. As Carla Hayden said when she spoke in Council in favour of the motion, the Summit represents the best opportunity for the profession to make the case for libraries as key players in the movement to bridge the digital divide.

IFLA's Secretary General