Strong Libraries, Strong Societies

Annual Conference of the Danish Library AssociationÅrhus

17.4.2015Sinikka Sipilä

President of IFLA

Libraries exert an impact on society by fostering equal opportunities and providing equitable access to

lifelong learning and education, research and innovation,

culture and recreation for all.

Presidential Theme : Strong Libraries, Strong Societies

• Strong status of libraries in all Nordic countries

• Finnish library customer survey 2010: 70 % of 13 000 respondents stated that libraries have improved their quality of life

• Impact on literacy – results of Finnish students in PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) by OECD

• Experiences in other countries

On the theme

Libraries change lives

• core mission to create a nation of informed and active citizens

• are safe and welcoming places with adequate space and catalogues, staffed by competent and helpful personnel and equipped by up-to-date resources

• supported by library associations and IFLA as their advocates

Strong libraries

• consist of informed citizens who participate actively in the society

• open, equal and democratic

Strong societies

“As libraries serve to prepare citizens for a lifetime of civic participation, they also encourage the development of a civil society”. Nancy Kranich

Libraries and civil society

• The library is a place full of new ideas. By sharing information, knowledge and stories, we are creating a new civil society together. (Vision of Helsinki City Library for 2017)

Libraries and civil society

Thank you!

• Satu Haavisto, Kallio Library, Helsinki Finland

• Patrick Lindström, Vuosaari Library, Helsinki Finland

• Satu Haavisto, Kallio Library, Helsinki,Finland

• Maru Peltonen, An African boy in the Greenwell Matongo Library, Windhoek, Namibia

• Satu Haavisto, Library 10, Helsinki, Finland

• People in the park, Jonas Tana

• Satu Haavisto, Oulunkylä Library, Helsinki, Finland

• Helsinki: keskustakirjasto.fi

Credits