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The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
(IFLA) was established in 1927, being one of the first non-profit,
non-governmental organizations to further the cause of librarianship
on a world-wide basis.  This is the international organization to
which associations such as ALA and SLA and institutions such as the
Library of Congress and the Universities of Florida,  Georgia, and
Tenessee belong.
 
Over 25 years ago, a Geography and Map Libraries Section was
established in IFLA.  Today it is one of 32 sections representing the
field of international librarianship for 137 countries.
 
There are several ways one may participate in the activities of IFLA
G&M.  If your association is a member of IFLA, they need to add the
G&M Section to their list (the first 4 sections are free and each
additional section is NLG 100);  if your institution is a member,
the first 2 sections are free (initial institutional membership is
NLG 750);  an individual membership is NLG 200; and an observer is
free, except for the cost of the conference and approval of the
Standing Committee of IFLA G&M.  More detailed information can be
supplied for your specific situation if you contact me directly.
 
A typical IFLA G&M conference begins with a meeting of the Standing
Committee on the first Saturday, followed by paper sessions, library
visits, a second meeting of the Standing Committee, and an all-day workshop
 during the following week. Evenings are filled with special
receptions and entertainment offered by local, regional, and national
leaders of the host country.  The second Saturday is reserved for
full and half day field trips to important national and regional
sites of the host country.
 
The next IFLA General Conference, the 62nd, will be in Beijing, China
August 24 - 31, 1996.  Anyone who would like to participate should
contact me directly.  Very brief abstracts of proposed papers dealing
with the themes "The Challenge of Change:  Libraries and Economic
Development" and "The Place of Map Libraries in Economic
Development",  or any cartographic or geographic subject related to
China or map librarianship, must reach me by December 1, 1995.
 
Inaddition to airfare, costs include registration fees of $350 by May
1, 1996, then $400;  hotel  charges ranging from $250 to $30 a night;
and the cost of meals. Again, contact me for more specific details.
 
The next IFLA conferences will be in Copenhagen, Denmark (August 31 -
September 5, 1997);  Amsterdam, Netherlands (August 16 - 21, 1998);
Bangkok, Thailand (1999);  Jerusalem (2000); Boston, MA (2001);
Edinburgh, Scotland (2002); and Berlin, Germany (2003).
 
David C. McQuillan
Map Librarian
Map Library
University of South Carolina
Columbia, S.C.  29208
 
Phone: (803) 777-4723
Fax: (803) 777-4661
Bitnet: L100003@UNIVSCVM
Internet: [log in to unmask]