The IFLA Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Recommendations and the Libraries Serving People with Print Disabilities (LPD) Manifesto were passed at the 37th UNESCO General Conference held in Paris (5-20 November 2013). Member States will now be asked to endorse both pieces on a national level. Member states are encouraged to apply the policies set out in the Recommendations and the Manifesto to their community to further their citizens’ access to information.
The Media and Information Literacy Recommendations highlight the need for training and education to use the information resources available. Without the necessary, knowledge, skills and attitudes, people will not be able to gain access to and benefit from information relevant to them and develop to their highest potential.
“UNESCO’s encouragement for Member States to endorse the IFLA MIL Recommendations will provide the impetus for multi-stakeholder efforts to promote and pursue media and information literacy and lifelong learning at all levels of society“ noted Sharon Mader, Chair of the IFLA Information Literacy Section.
The Libraries Serving People with Print Disabilities Manifesto stresses the importance of making materials available in all formats in order to include print disabled people into the information society. The passing of the Manifesto in UNESCO follows the endorsement of the Treaty for the Visually Impaired in June by the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Marrakesh.
You can find the online version here.
Julia Brungs
Policy and Projects Officer
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
P.O. Box 95312
2509 CH The Hague
Netherlands
Phone: 0031703140884
Email: Julia.brungs@ifla.org