IFLA and the League of Nations

Louis Takács

IFLA Communications Officer

12-10-2022

 

Those of you with any interest in IFLA’s early history might want to read on.

The United Nations Library & Archives Geneva has just completed their massive “Total Digital Access to the League of Nations Archives (2017-2022)” project. IFLA was headquartered at the League from 1928 to the WWII era and although they sent us 15+ linear meters of IFLA-related documents in the late 80s, a lot of additional material remains in Geneva. This includes an indeterminate amount of material relevant to IFLA’s early history.

I made some quick searches on their new repository and found a lot concerning pre-war IFLA, including:

https://archives.ungeneva.org/coordination-internationale-des-bibliotheques-organisation-dun-service-special-de-linstitut-de-cooperation-intellectuelle

This shows why some IFLA historians claim that the idea of IFLA came from the U.S.

https://archives.ungeneva.org/congres-des-bibliothecaires-edimbourg-septembre-1927-correspondance-diverse

reference to the founding!

 

https://archives.ungeneva.org/international-libary-coordination-correspondence-with-and-concerning-the-international-library-and-bibliographical-committee

https://archives.ungeneva.org/international-library-coordination-third-meeting-of-delegates-of-the-international-federation-of-associations-of-librarians

https://archives.ungeneva.org/international-library-coordination-4th-session-of-the-comite-international-des-bibliotheques-international-federation-of-library-associations-cheltenham-29-31-august-1931

https://archives.ungeneva.org/co-ordination-internationale-des-bibliotheques-1er-congres-mondial-des-bibliotheques-et-de-bibliographie-rome-venise-15-30-juin-1929

They even scanned some of the Actes du Comite International des Bibliotheque, an early version of IFLA’s Annual Report:

https://archives.ungeneva.org/co-ordination-internationale-des-bibliotheques-comite-international-des-bibliotheques-5me-cinquieme-session-berne-juin-1932

Using search terms such as:

“Comité international des Bibliothèques" or “International Federation of Library Associations”

“Commission internationale de coopération intellectuelle” or “International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation”

“Sevensma” (IFLA Secretary General, 1929-1958; he was also the League librarian for many years)

yields a lot of interesting hits.  We have some of this material in our own archives but much of it is unique to the League’s archive.  

 

Access to the platform started less than a year ago

https://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/news/2022/04/preserving-and-enabling-history-multilateralism-new-online-platform-gives

and as of 6 October 2022, it’s complete.

Introduction to the Library History SIG

 Introduction to the Library History SIG

Prepared by Peter Lor on behalf of Anna Maria Tammaro, Convener

27 May 2022

 

“History ≠ Bunk”

Globally, libraries and information services have deep roots in their societies. As everything changes, there is much we can learn and gain inspiration from the struggles, successes, and failures of our predecessors and elders in various parts of the world.

 

Organizational Information

The Library History Special Interest Group (LibHist SIG) is a long-standing unit. Currently it is sponsored by the Library Theory and Research Section, in Professional Division E.

SIGs are run less formally than Sections. We have a committee of nine members, chaired by our Convener, Professor Anna Maria Tammaro. You do not have to formally join up and pay a subscription as you would if you wanted to join an additional IFLA section. Just send a message to Anna Maria and she will add you to our discussion list. We also have a blog at www.iflalibraryhistorysig.blogspot.com. Our web page is at Web page:  https://www.ifla.org/units/library-history/

 

Current Projects

Over the years we have had many interesting sessions with contributions from many countries, on varied topics.

Our current projects:

• IFLA will celebrate its Centenary in 2027 and currently we are focusing on projects to prepare for that:
• Checking the existence of oral recordings from past librarians
• Capturing Oral Stories from today’s librarians, especially oral histories from past IFLA Presidents, Secretaries General and IFLA personalities
• Developing a programme of research into aspects of IFLA’s history, with a view to a special session at the WLICs leading up to 2027, and for publication in a book to be published in the centenary year.

IMPORTANT: These projects offer scope for LIS students to help with reference queries, and for those looking for a topic for a thesis or dissertation in library history and professional association studies, e.g. applying organizational theory. To learn more, check our website and attend our open session in Dublin.

WLIC Programme

Annually we try to have two meetings: an open session and a business meeting, also open to all.

Dublin 2022: Tuesday 26 July

SIG Committee at 14:45-16:15 (all interested members welcome to audit)

Open Session on “Sources and Themes for the Historiography of IFLA” 16:30-18:00

To prepare for a commemorative volume of chapters about various aspects of IFLA’s history.

Call for papers is still open, but not for long!

See https://2022.ifla.org/cfp-calls/library-history-special-interest-group/

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Oral Histories

Members of the IFLA Library History Special Interest Group have started conducting oral history interviews with former IFLA presidents, secretaries general, and other leading IFLA personalities from as far back as possible. Along with many other IFLA members we were dismayed and saddened to learn of the recent death of former IFLA president, and Honorary Fellow of IFLA, Donna Scheeder (1947-2022). Her death is a great loss to the profession. It is also a reminder how important it is to collect oral histories and other information about our leading personalities while we can. In Donna’s case, we can no longer record an oral history interview. We are therefore inviting members who have recollections, photographs, documents or information relating to Donna, to share these with the SIG, so that we can compile an album or portfolio about her in lieu of an oral history interview. If you wish to contribute, please contact Peter Lor at peterjlor[@]gmail.com.

Peter Lor

IFLA Library History SIG