The colorful opening ceremony began with traditional First Nations dancing. Speeches were interspersed with storytelling and history, painting a vibrant picture of the dissemination of culture and knowledge, and author Dany Laferrière gave a lively performance illustrating the important role of humankind in today's information society.
This is only the third time Canada has welcomed the prestigious conference since IFLA was founded in 1927. The IFLA annual congress has been held in Toronto before, in 1967, and in Montreal in 1982.
Making knowledge accessible
Worldwide, two out of every five people visit libraries. In Canada, this number rises to more than one in every two. Throughout the congress-the biggest international meeting of librarians-hundreds of conference speakers and panelists will discuss the issues surrounding the preservation and dissemination of documentary heritage, namely the digital shift, equal access to information, freedom of expression, the social and economic impact of libraries, and the role of libraries as public forums promoting social integration, continuing education, and the sustainable development of society. "We need to consider the mission of libraries in a world where technology has erased many borders, and where opportunities for discussion and cooperation have grown constantly, to the point of becoming indispensable," Mr. Claude Bonnelly, chair of the IFLA 2008 Congress national organizing committee, told delegates. ASTED (Association pour l'avancement des sciences et des techniques de la documentation) has been preparing this congress since 2003 in cooperation with Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ), Library and Archives Canada (LAC), Université Laval, and other associations and institutions. Library of Alexandria director honored The opening ceremony of the 2008 IFLA Congress also saw the director of the prestigious Library of Alexandria, Ismael Serageldine, awarded an honorary doctorate by Université Laval.
About IFLA The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) was founded in 1927. It aims to promote the development of first-class libraries and documentation services around the world. IFLA is a nongovernmental and nonpolitical organization that brings together over 1,700 associations, institutions, and individuals in 150 countries worldwide.
