Monthly Archives: February 2019

Meet the candidates: Sander van Kempen

Sander van Kempen
Senior adviser
Royal Dutch Library
The Netherlands

I have been active since 2011 within public libraries and since 2015 at the Royal Dutch Library (Koninklijke Bibliotheek). I have a background in ICT and digitization but more recently have broadened my expertise to include digital inclusion, digital innovation and supporting local libraries.

Currently my main focus is the connection between the local library and our national digital library infrastructure, which includes a digital library catalogue, ID system, Datawarehouse, etc. I love to work with all kinds of public libraries and feel that we all have something to contribute to achieve the mission set out in the Public Library Manifesto.

A part of my drive to work in the public library domain is that I feel that reading is an essential part of the upbringing of my two small boys. I also strongly believe in the mission of the public library as being central to freedom and equity of access to knowledge and information for all people. I would like to contribute to a stronger relationship between public and scientific libraries.

For more information about voting for members of the Public Libraries Standing Committee take the time to read our post.

Meet the candidates: Ulrike Krass

Ulrike Krass
Deputy Director Public Library Freiburg
GERMANY

My name is Ulrike Krass, I have been working in public libraries in Germany for many years, now as deputy director in Freiburg, a city near the black forest and close to the border to France and Switzerland. After concentrating on marketing, I am now focusing on organization and customer services. Further I´m also responsible for the branch libraries (including our mobile library), section for children, music and reference services in the central library.

My main motivation as a librarian is to enable people participating in society through free and equal access to information of any format. This is my vision for a progressive forward looking viability for libraries.

Since the beginning of my professional career I have been active in the German Association of Information and Library Professionals (BIB). My main emphasis here is   to support professional development at libraries in general.

I have been observing the IFLA activities since many years. I have participated at the WLIC in Glasgow, Oslo and Berlin. At Lyon and Wroclaw I intensified my participation with a poster presentation.

Now I feel ready to work more active in the international library movement with a focus on public libraries and their concerns – in the Public Libraries Section. The Action Plan with the objectives and activities is challenging and ambitious. As for example the Public Library Service Guidelines, the annual Public Library of the Year Award or the organisation of relevant conference programs. I would be happy to contribute constructive ideas to above objectives based on my experiences.

For more information about voting for members of the Public Libraries Standing Committee take the time to read our post.

Meet the candidates: Adriana Cybelle Ferrari

Adriana Cybelle Ferrari
President
Brazilian Federation of Librarians’ Associations
BRAZIL

I am a candidate for re-election (having served on the Standing Committee 2015-2019) and I would like to say that interaction at this moment with the Committee has been extremely enriching. I really wish to continue collaborating and learning, especially, to work with the revision of the Guidelines for Public Libraries, a project that is ongoing.

I was the coordinator of the projects – Biblioteca de São Paulo (launched in 2009 ) and Biblioteca Villa Lobos Park, (launched in 2015) which are considered references in promoting reading and citizenship. These libraries received national awards and were finalists of international awards.

I am the President of the Brazilian Federation of Librarians’ Associations (FEBAB) and for this reason, I strongly believe that at this political moment especially in Latin America, we must talk more about advocacy, spread the libraries´s work as a partners of  the 2030 Agenda. Is extremely important to make our voice reach out to decision makers! Libraries are being threatened and we can be an important advocated in defending this cause. The new Guidelines for Public Libraries will be an important tool for us!

For more information about voting for members of the Public Libraries Standing Committee take the time to read our post.

Meet the candidates: Jane Cowell

Jane Cowell
Chief Executive Officer
Yarra Plenty Regional Library
AUSTRALIA

I can bring a broad career experience to the Standing Committee that encompasses 20 years working in Public Libraries, including over 10 years as a Public Library Manager, significant strategic planning skills honed through four years as a national Library Consultant working with Public Libraries, State Libraries and Archives in developing future directions, and 8 years working as an Executive Director State Library of Queensland which included responsibility for Public Libraries, Rural Libraries Queensland (a service for very small regional local government Councils) and the Indigenous Knowledge Centres in the remote corners of the State.

I have also played an integral part in the research and Public Library policy development delivered at the State Library of Queensland in collaboration with the public libraries in the State.  This included, The Library Dividend: A study of the socio-economic value of Queensland public libraries, The Impact of Libraries as Creative spaces, and The First Five Forever early literacy program and I bring an excellent understanding of current issues, future opportunities and advocacy skills for Public Libraries today.

I have also participated in the wider Australian library industry sector and have served as President of the Queensland Public Library Association, a Director on the Australian Library and Information Australia board, participated on a national conference committee and State based library industry programs and projects, such as mentoring new Librarians.

My passion and enthusiasm for the impact that public libraries can deliver for all their communities abounds and I will bring energy, commitment and future based thinking to the role.

For more information about voting for members of the Public Libraries Standing Committee take the time to read our post.

Voting is now open!

Voting for members of the IFLA Public Libraries Standing Committee for the 2019-2023 term is now open. All financial members of the Public Libraries Section are eligible to vote and the ballot papers have been posted out by IFLA Headquarters. Voting closes on 29 March 2019.

We are excited to announce that  18 people have nominated to be members of our Standing Committee. Sadly we only have 9 vacancies.

To help you make an informed decision we asked each of the nominees to tell us a little about themselves and why they are standing for election. Over the next few days we will be gradually posting these on our Blog and on Facebook. Please take the time to read them.

Our Standing Committee is very active and geographically distributed to give us links into the wider public library community. Our continuing members will be:

Lo Claesson (Sweden); Montserrat Espunga (Spain); Leikny Indergaard (Norway); Corinne Hill (USA); Pirkko Lindberg (Finland) Sue Considine (USA); Margaret Allen (Australia) Ismea Meic (Croatia); Lenka Pruckova (Czech Republic); Spaska Tarandova (Bulgaria); Qiang Xu (China).

We also have 5 Corresponding Members who are eligible to stand for a second, two year term:

Rursudan Asatiani (Georgia); Sarah Dudek (Germany); Mark Freeman (UK); Fatemeh Pazooki (Iran); Shaddy Shadrach (India).

So take the time to read about our candidates and make an informed decision. Make your vote count!

Jan Richards
Chair IFLA Public Libraries Standing Committee