A virtual WLIC held successfully without the constraints of time or space

A virtual WLIC held for the first time in response to the Covid-19 pandemic

The 86th World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) hosted by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) was held online from August 17 through August 19, 2021 under the slogan of “Let’s Work Together for the Future.” The WLIC is the largest international event in the library and information service community. Some 3,500 library professionals, scholars, and librarians from about 120 countries participate every year.

Innovative online meetings

Photo2. Lecture hours for three continents

The IFLA introduced a range of innovative programs for its first virtual WLIC. Program schedules that considered respective time zones allowed participants in different continents to take part in meetings held during their daytimes. The WLIC 2021 eLibrary was provided for those who could not participate in the congress in real-time and allowed people to watch lectures apart from those they attended. The WLIC 2021 eLibrary will remain accessible to registrants with the congress. Aiming to provide a diverse range of information, WLIC offered lectures in five different tracks (Inspiring, Including, Engaging, Innovating, and Sustaining), special lectures, e-poster sessions, and virtual exhibitions.

Photo 3. 2021 WLIC website (www.ifla-wlic2021.com): over 160 online lectures were provided

Furthermore, virtual award ceremonies, including for the IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award and IFLA/Systematic Public Library of the Year Award, were held.

Photo 4. The Deichman Bjørvika Oslo Public Library, winner of the IFLA’s Public Library of the Year

Eleven NLK employees, including IFLA Section Standing Committee members, attend WLIC 2021

A total of eleven employees from the National Library of Korea attended this year’s WLIC and actively participated in lectures and discussions on topics of active interest in the library and information community: innovation and transformation of national libraries, sharing resources after the Covid-19 pandemic, library marketing, AI technology in libraries, government information and publications, and preservation of audiovisual materials, among others.

The NLK is participating in IFLA permanent committees (August 2021-August 2025) in eight sections, including the National Libraries Section, Government Libraries Section, Preservation and Conservation Section, and Information Technology Section. Since the inauguration of CEO Suh Hye Ran in August 2019, the NLK has been developing a plan to systematically support its international activities and expand its international presence and employee capacity. As part of this initiative, the NLK has engaged in a number of international activities, including participation in the permanent committees of relevant international organizations and international essay competitions. It has also redoubled its effort to expand its strategic cooperation within the international library community and promote library policies. The NLK is anticipated being an active participant in WLIC 2022, which is scheduled to be held in Dublin, Ireland.

The NLK will continue to boost its participation in the activities of the international library community, including the IFLA, and promote its presence as the flagship library of South Korea.

Source

WLIC 2021 website URL: www.ifla-wlic2021.com