June 2022 — Vol. 2, No. 6
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The Irish National Committee is delighted to invite you all to the 87th IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) taking place from 26 to 29 July 2022 in Dublin, Ireland.

The WLIC in Dublin enjoys local and national Government support, engagement from librarians across all sectors, plus great commitment and enthusiasm throughout the country. The event will facilitate the exchange of experience and best practice between local, regional and international members of the profession, thereby providing useful insights and global comparisons to advance library innovation at home. Furthermore, contacts made at WLIC will last a lifetime and greatly enhance personal professional development.

Ireland has a large number and wide variety of libraries to visit and, being a relatively small island, libraries outside Dublin are easily accessible as well. We will be organising a range of guided tours – covering public, academic and special libraries, large and small, new and old.

In addition, Ireland is an attractive destination for cultural tours and leisure activities more generally, for accompanying persons and for delegates wishing to extend their stay, either before or after the conference. This is the first time the WLIC has been held in Ireland. There is huge excitement locally and it promises to be a week-long celebration of libraries and librarians.

Most importantly, all delegates are assured of our warm Irish hospitality, Céad Míle Fáilte – a Hundred Thousand Welcomes! ☘️

IFLA is delighted to announce that former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, will present the keynote address reflecting at the WLIC 2022 Opening Ceremony.

A campaigner for social change and a passionate advocate for human rights, Mary Robinson is Adjunct Professor for Climate Justice in Trinity College Dublin and Chair of The Elders. She served as President of Ireland from 1990-1997 and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997-2002. A lawyer, politician and diplomat, she has been strongly committed to improving human rights in locations around the world and in areas of healthcare, migration, women’s leadership, and corporate responsibility.

Her work over the years has changed lives and societies, and it is an honour to welcome her to give the keynote address.

🗓️ Tuesday, 26 July, 09:00 - 10:30 IST

After working at Harvard University Library as Executive Director, Helen Shenton, joined Trinity College as the first-ever female Librarian and College Archivist. Prior to this, she held leadership roles in the Conservation Department of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and worked as Head of Collection Care for the British Library.

Her presentation is entitled “The intertwined digital and cultural heritage; a view from the Library of Trinity College Dublin” and will cover one of the most significant heritage projects currently underway in Ireland, the conservation and reimagination of the iconic Library of Trinity College Dublin and Book of Kells exhibition. Helen will also speak about the very ambitious Virtual Trinity Library, which will enable global access to some of the world’s most valued, vulnerable and distinctly unique library collections.

These two major and deeply intertwined programmes will be presented through the lens of early ‘lessons learnt’ and in the context of some of the societal challenges for libraries, including engaging communities, capitalising on post-pandemic opportunities, sustainability, and re-evaluation of national cultural and digital heritage.

🗓️ Wednesday, 27 July, 10:00 - 11:00 IST

YOUR WLIC 2022 SCHEDULE ☘️

Can’t wait to get started with planning? Registered delegates can already log into the iPlanner to start saving their preferred sessions and building their own schedule.

In addition to traditional sessions and meetings, there will also be informal thematic conversations (‘talking stick’ sessions), early morning ‘reading for wellness’ slots, opportunities to gather with others for a walk along the Liffy and across its many historical bridges, and many more opportunities to network and connect with new people.

We'll be ready for a chat and can't wait to see you there!

THE FUN OF THE FAIR ☘️

After three years of virtual life, it's time to get up close and personal with new developments in the library and information field. Whether it is improvements to document scanners, enhancements to databases or enabling better services to library clients, the exhibitors at WLIC have many areas of innovation for you to discover!

The exhibition opening takes place Tuesday, 26 July, 10:30 - 11:00 IST and the exhibition space stays open until Thursday afternoon — allowing plenty of time to wander, learn, experiment, and discuss. Our exhibitors are enthusiastic to hear about your own workplace needs and experiences, providing a great opportunity to exchange ideas and gain new inspiration and knowledge to take home with you.

The exhibition space will also feature refreshments, including coffee, and exhibits which give delegates the chance to immerse themselves in Irish culture.

PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE YEAR AWARD ☘️

Systematic and IFLA are proud to present the Public Library of the Year (PLOTY) award once again in 2022. Please join us in congratulating this year’s finalists!

The four nominated libraries stand out, among other things, for the way in which they draw on the surrounding environment for their inspiration, and also for their use of modern and sustainable solutions in the design and daily running of the building.

The winner will be announced on Tuesday 26 July, 10:45 - 12:15 IST, in the Dublin Convention Centre Auditorium and via livestream on IFLA’s youtube channel.

CULTURAL EVENING ☘️

Get ready for an unforgettable cultural evening at in Dún Laoghaire on Wednesday, 27 July at 19:00 IST.

Our host will be Dlr Lexicon, one of Ireland's newest public libraries, set on the shores of the UNESCO protected biosphere of Dublin Bay (Cuan Bhaile Átha Cliath) with magnificent views out over the Irish Sea.

Alongside fellow delegates from around the world, you will have the opportunity to learn about Irish history through literature, myths, legends, and spoken word performances. On the large outdoor area, you will be taken on a magical journey through the history of Irish music and dance.

The Library Association of Ireland and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are proud sponsors of the WLIC 2022 Cultural Evening.

If you haven’t registered yet, there is still time – tickets are available at our Standard rate until 22 July. After that, registration is possible at the venue until 25 July.

As an IFLA Member, you are eligible for a 25% discount.

If you missed this unique session at Ballyfermot Public Library with hosts Stuart Hamilton and Erik Boekesteijn, you can now view it on IFLA’s YouTube channel.

Learn about projects and best practices from Irish libraries, as well as key information about the upcoming IFLA congresses in Dublin in 2022 and Rotterdam in 2023.

Thanks to OCLC, the Library Association of Ireland, the Local Government Management Agency and Dublin City Libraries for making this possible.

POSTER SESSIONS ☘️

During the conference, don’t forget to take a break from sessions to view the posters on display in the exhibition area.

The posters form an incredible repository of shareable ideas that can be accessed throughout the day. Presenters will be present and ready to chat about their activities between 12:00 and 14:00 IST on Wednesday 27 and Thursday, 28 July.

Come by and say hello!

MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS ☘️

The World Library and Information Congress is a great networking opportunity, where delegates can share and learn alongside librarians from around the world. All IFLA members receive a 25% discount on registration fees.

SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION ☘️

Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Russian and Spanish for a selected programme via our dedicated virtual platform. Sessions are marked in the programme with “SI”.

You will need your own earphones and mobile device to access the service. There will be a limited amount of earphones for sale at the convention centre but, we ask that you bring yours along wherever possible.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT ☘️

Keep up with and chime into realtime discussions about the Congress using the official #WLIC2022 hashtag, and let your peers know that you are attending via the event page!

The IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2022 would not be possible without key sponsors who we recognise and gratefully acknowledge here:

Platinum Sponsor – OCLC

Silver Sponsor – CONUL – Consortium of National and University Libraries

Bronze Sponsors – Baker & Taylor, Library Association of Ireland, Dublin City Council, ProQuest

Associate Sponsors – Kildare Library Service, AXIELL, EBSCO, ISSN, Digital Science, IREL, Maynooth University, San José State University