The upcoming IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) 2024, scheduled to take place in Dubai, UAE, has been a topic of fervent debate and discussion among stakeholders in the library and information community. In response to the mounting concerns surrounding the decision to host WLIC 2024 in Dubai, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has initiated an Advisory Referendum. The referendum aims to gauge the views of IFLA's voting members to inform the Governing Board's decision regarding the congress's venue.
LIBER (Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche – Association of European Research Libraries), a voting member of IFLA, actively participated in the referendum. While acknowledging the complexities inherent in IFLA's selection of Dubai as the host city for WLIC 2024, LIBER has chosen to vote against the conference's hosting in Dubai.
At the core of LIBER's mission is the commitment to enable world-class research. In their new strategy for 2023-2027, LIBER has identified Rights and Values as crucial preconditions to achieving this goal. As a community of research libraries in Europe, LIBER staunchly defends and upholds values that are fundamental to universities and, more broadly, higher education and research. These values, including academic sovereignty, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI), solidarity, integrity, transparency, and user rights, are viewed by LIBER as public goods that underpin the fabric of society.
LIBER firmly believes that these values provide essential guidance and safeguards for the research and library community, as well as society as a whole. The association remains committed to actively promoting these values and facilitating open and unrestricted discussions on any topic. In light of this commitment, LIBER has expressed concerns that IFLA's choice of Dubai as the conference venue may not guarantee a truly free space for open discussions during the event.
One specific concern that LIBER has highlighted is the potential limitation on discussions related to the LGBTQ+ Users Special Interest Group. The decision to host WLIC 2024 in Dubai may impose restrictions on the extent to which open discussions on LGBTQ+ issues can take place within the conference program. This restriction goes against LIBER's dedication to fostering an environment that enables open and free dialogue on all topics, without any form of limitation.
LIBER's position statement on the IFLA WLIC 2024 in Dubai underscores the association's unwavering commitment to defending and promoting the rights and values that are integral to the research and library community. As the referendum progresses, the voices of LIBER and other voting members will play a significant role in shaping the outcome of the decision regarding the congress's location. With a deep-rooted commitment to inclusivity and open discussion, LIBER stands firm in its pursuit of a conference that truly embraces the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity for the benefit of all participants and stakeholders in the global library and information community.
Click here to read the original press release.
