Observations - IFLA Seoul August 2006 and China Michael Bertie Director Public Libraries and Communications

72nd IFLA General Conference and Council “Libraries: Dynamic Engines for the Knowledge and Information Society"

5000+ delegates from 150 countries 200 presentations and workshops, in 5 official languages plus Korean, 140 exhibition booths, 37 library tours, cultural performance; two official dinners, Plus numerous specialized sections and meetings.

Importance to Korea Opening Ceremony: Mayor of Seoul Minister for Culture and Tourism. First Lady, Kwon Yang-sook Kim Dae-Jung Former President of the Republic of Korea; Nobel Laureate 2000 Peace Prize

Se-Hun Oh Mayor of Seoul –“When it comes to IT, Korea is one of the leading nations with the world’s No.1 Internet penetration rate. Korea provides the most optimal environment for building and experimenting information infrastructure for the digital age.” –“In the 21 st century knowledge based society knowledge and information is a critical factor for growth that determines competitiveness of not only the individual but also entire nations.”

Korean Public Library Cooperation system National Library 16 major provincial libraries 34 regional libraries 514 community libraries 750 public libraries by 2011!

In the three most recent years, 3,800 school libraries and nine children's libraries were opened, National Library for Children and Young Adults was opened. By 2011, Small Libraries, will be expanded to every local community nationwide.

Keynote Address H.E. Kim Dae-jung “I think the time has come for libraries to assume a role that is unprecedented in importance. In the 21st century, libraries will perform pivotal roles in determining whether this age of knowledge and information will succeed or not in attaining its desired goals.“ Six roles for libraries

Library roles Repository of knowledge Creator of new knowledge Provider of services - anywhere, anytime Breaking down information divide Fighting poverty through education and opportunity facilitating dialogue between cultures.

National digitisation American Memory TEL : “Memory of Europe” LIBER – European research library network. Unesco World Digital Library Korean Digital Library New Zealand National Digital Heritage Archive.

72nd IFLA General Conference and Council “Libraries: Dynamic Engines for the Knowledge and Information Society"

Repositories a return to the guild era of pre-corporate publishing Why should anyone put there stuff in your repository? Carrot or stick? IP models – eg Knowledge Conservancy Standards - OAIS Reference Model for an Open Archival Information System. James Neal, Columbia University.

Branding OCLC Report - Perception of libraries and information resources. Only 1% begin search in library web site 90% satisfied with search engines. To public libraries = books. Why do they still come to libraries in the digital age?

Library as place. Libraries as centers for discussion and action. Community activism - “the library is on the case” Libraries as sexy – “sexy places are where people meet.” Gimmicks eg UK – Library makeovers.

Library spaces From “teaching space” to a “learning space”. Seattle public library eg library as community centre. Integration into community eg Korea small library movement. Vietnam universities – self funding. IFLA New guidelines for library buildings.

Digital lifestyle Web 2 and libraries; participation; conversation social web-based world library must become part of users online lifestyle. build communities learn from gaming and metaverse ?

Future Conferences Durban, South Africa, August 2007 Québec, Canada, August 2008