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Case Study: International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
This case study describes the annual conference of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), an international association that was founded in Edinburgh in 1927 and now has its headquarters in the Hague, Netherlands. The IFLA is a membership organisation with over 1700 members in 150 countries. Members comprise national library associations, national libraries, large university and public libraries, and other kinds of libraries as well as ‘personal affiliates’ and ‘student affiliates’.
本案例研究介绍了国际图书馆协会和机构联合会年会（IFLA），一个国际性的协会，成立于1927在爱丁堡，目前在海牙的总部，荷兰。IFLA在150个国家拥有超过1700名会员组织。成员包括国家图书馆协会，国家图书馆，大的大学和公共图书馆，和其他类型的图书馆以及个人会员和学生会员”。
The IFLA annual conference:
•Attracts 3500-4500 participants from up to 150 countries;
•Attracts up to 175 exhibitors;
•Lasts for up to 5 days (with business meetings held outside those 5 days);
•Includes around 200 conference sessions.
The selection process entails the following (see Rogers, 2008, p356 for the full process):
•The PCO investigates potential destinations, and compiles a shortlist
•Shortlisted convention centres are invited to make a presentation to IFLA.
•Site visits are planned to the selected cities
•Discussions are held with the national association members to gauge the level of professional interest and government support in the countries under consideration.
•The IFLA Governing Board makes the final decision.
•The decision is announced during the closing ceremony of the Congress taking place 3 years before the Congress in question.
IFLA selection criteria are as follows:
•Geographic spread, ensuring that the conference takes place in different parts of the world for member accessibility. IFLA wishes to hold meetings regularly outside Europe and North America, and to include a range of geography over any five-year period.
•The venue must be capable of accommodating plenary sessions of up to 3500 people and have good, spacious registration areas.
•The menu must also have the rooms to handle 8 simultaneous sessions.
•There must be sufficient office accommodation for IFLA headquarters staff, IFLA officers, editors, translators and interpreters.
•Ity should be all under one roof, have sound-proof rooms and be able to provide good audio-visual services.
•It must also be able to provide simultaneous interpretation facilities for conference sessions in 5-7 languages.
•There needs to be an exhibition hall nearby with 3000 square metres of space, located so as to ensure a steady flow of delegates.
•The destination must offer a wide range of hotels. There should be sufficient supply of hotel rooms in each category. Alternatives to hotels (home-stays, dormitories, hostels, etc.) are also considered.
•There should be an efficient transport system. Transportation is assessed against its speed, cost, frequency, hours of service and safety.
•Details of meals and food services are assessed against both quality and variety-of-price criteria. Availability of different kinds of food to suit a range of cultures/religions is important.
•Support from national government/local city administration/sponsors. The convention centres and/or national association members must be able to provide evidence of financial support from local or national governments. Typical evidence will include: letters, money already raised/promised, or a reasonable strategy for raising money. There should also be an assurance that participants form all over the world will be able to enter the country.
•The quality and availability of local professional support
•The availability of local libraries for study visits, and interesting activities going on in the region/area. Support for the IFLA conference from local libraries is also assessed.
Other desirable facilities are:
•An internet café open all hours;
•All facilities within easy walking distance;
•A bank and post office nearby;
•Plenty of places for delegates/attendees to meet and sit down;
•Air-conditioning within the conference venue;
•Cheap and enjoyable post-conference tours;
•Social events that capture culture;
•A souvenir shop;
•And, finally, a safe and welcoming environment.
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