This week, the Conference of the Parties of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions takes place. IFLA will be observing, as well as taking an active role in today’s Civil Society Forum.
But delivering on the goal of the Convention – to encourage and support creativity by all, everywhere – is not just a question for international-level discussions.
Rather, it is something that requires mobilisation and engagement in every community.
Libraries have an important role to play here – arguably one that has often been underestimated.
Because while it can be easy to think of access to information being simply about making use of the works of other people, it is also a vital precondition for people to be able to create themselves.
Added to this are the possibilities libraries offer, through spaces, programming, and support, to encourage people to use their imaginations.
Around the world, we benefit from a stronger understanding of how libraries are key players in supporting creativity and innovation.
So for our 54th 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, think of a way in which your work supports creativity.
Once you have an idea, think about how you can explain it clearly, for example to a library user, an artist, or a decision-maker.
Are there other things you could do to support creativity among the community you serve?
Let us know your ideas in the comments below!
Good luck!
This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! Key Initiative 1.1: Show the power of libraries in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals.
As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box below.
Thanks for sharing my idea.
To empower our libraries is a collective effort but as an information professional, we can do a lot more by contributing through social platforms, individual websites, blogs, etc. thereby creating awareness in young library and information professionals. I have also my blog LibCognizance (https://librarycognizance.blogspot.com/) trying to bring forth the efforts and initiatives in open access movements, new digital technologies, new library policies, etc.
An integrated common portal for all the open access resources available in the country. Sharing Open Access Initiatives by each country on their official government’s libraries websites to let every citizen of country know the free resources available to them.
Many times the right information does not reach to the needy person. We have to ensure that the information of the free, open access resources available in the country is being communicated to the citizens in a proper way. We can also check the usage reports through analytics and based on that improve our activities regarding open access of information.