Stimulating IFLA's Ethical Conscience: FAIFE 2003—2009

Abstract

Reviews the activities of the Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) programme of IFLA from 2003 to 2009, based on three types of activity: intervention, education, and advocacy. FAIFE is still prepared to intervene in cases of threat to the stock, services and staff of libraries, but this was not the predominant form of activity during the period. With the aid of a grant from Swedish Sida, FAIFE has developed an education programme consisting of workshops using specially written sets of learning materials. These first dealt with the IFLA/UNESCO Internet Manifesto and Access to HIV/AIDS Information. Further sets of learning materials, on Libraries and Transparency, and Public Access to Health Information, have since been developed. The workshops, facilitated by FAIFE trainers, train local trainers to disseminate the message more widely in their own country and region. The centre of FAIFE's advocacy work has had the creation of the IFLA Manifesto on Transparency, Good Governance and Freedom from Corruption. A model of participative policy development, leading into training workshops, and a consequent strengthening of the advocacy capacity of the library profession can now be identified.