Chapter 3 - Conference of Directors of National Libraries

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of a conference of directors of national libraries. At the 1974 meeting of national librarians, three basic organizational options were considered: (1) to maintain the status quo and participate in the national libraries section to be created by IFLA as part of its reorganization proposals; (2) to form a completely independent association or council; (3) to form an association or council, affiliated to IFLA, which was then officially described as a federation of library associations. The third option is the best alternative for both IFLA and the directors of national libraries. Individual directors of national libraries had been invited in advance of the meeting in Canada to indicate the activities that were considered to be suitable for meetings of directors of national libraries: (1) consideration of the role and responsibilities of national libraries, (2) international role of national libraries, (3) bilateral cooperation between national libraries, (4) national bibliographies, (5) international loans and exchanges, (6) legal deposit, (7) standardization of information systems, (8) methods of preservation of library materials, (9) staff training, (10) buildings design and management, and (11) legislation and legal problems affecting national libraries. Despite such wide range of proposals for an international association of national libraries, the first meeting in Canada decided to proceed cautiously and slowly.