----------------------------Original message---------------------------- 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]