Finding Aid for International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions File, 1980-2019 | The American Library Association Archives

Title: International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions File, 1980-2019

ID: 7/2/18

Primary Creator: International Relations Office (IRO)

Extent: 3.0 Cubic Feet

Arrangement: Subject files arranged by alphabetical order; Conferences files arranged chronologically

Date Acquired: 00/00/2020

Subjects: Conferences, International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), International Librarianship, International Library Congress

Languages: English

Files on the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions maintained by the International Relations Office, including correspondence, reports, and publications relating to IFLA conferences (1980-2019), standing committee nominations (1983-95), governing board documents (1996, 2001, 2003-2006), handbook (1992), IFLA dues (1980-1997, 2003), and US association members.

The International Relations Board (International Relations Round Table) creatred the International Relations Office (IRO) in June 1942 (1).  The IRO was set up to "carry on its work in cooperation with the other committees of the Association whose work had international implications" (2).  The IRO also functioned as an advisory agency for libraries abroad (3).  In 1942-45, the IRO served "as an operational agency for various projects of the Department of State, the Rockefeller Foundation, and other foundations and libraries" (4).  A "new" IRO was created in 1956 (5).  The IRO concentrated its efforts on library development and the director was charged to "study and investigate the state of library education in various parts of the world" (6).  The director was expected to spend several months of each year in nations on the continents of Asia, Africa, and South America (7).  In 1959, the IRO sponsored (with Rockefeller Foundation monies) a group of ten visiting Japanese librarians who studied reference and advisory services in the United States (8).  The IRO was disbanded in 1972 (9). The office reopened in 1976 before closing again in 1982, then reopening.

Repository: The American Library Association Archives

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/alasfa/0702018a.pdf

PDF finding aid for International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions File (7/2/18)