International Federation of Library Associations Trend Report 2022 Update

The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) has released its IFLA Trend Report Update 2022:

"Following the focus in the 2021 Trend Report on the key developments which, according to emerging leaders across the field, are most likely to shape the future of the libraries and the communities that we serve over the next ten years, this year takes a look at what we need to do in order to respond. What should be on our own to-do list in the coming years if we are to be ready to seize the opportunities and face down the threats that lie out there for us?"

"To do this, we again draw on the insights and ideas of emerging leaders across our field. These are the ones who will be responsible, within their institutions, their associations, and our global Federation, for ensuring that we can not just respond to the new situations we face, but also can take a positive, proactive approach."

"This report is therefore a collaborative effort. It is based on the key proposals made by the participants in the three emerging leaders sessions held at the 2022 World Library and Information Congress, and has subsequently been co-drafted by them."

"The ideas shared have been structured according to the four pillars of IFLA’s mission - to inspire, engage, enable and connect the global library field. In each case, there are recommendations both for libraries in general, and our Federation in particular."

The broad recommendations for the library sector are:

1. We need to see libraries as players in a wide variety of policy areas 
2. We should be more open in where and how we engage in advocacy, making a wider variety of issues our own 
3. We should intensify and improve our own advocacy 
4. We need to adopt a broad definition of our field, and ensure that being part of it is synonymous with action 
5. We must see outreach as key to achieving our missions
6. We need to feel a sense of agency in the face of the future 
7. We need to embrace and share innovation 
8. We need to see ourselves as a core part of the education infrastructure 8 #IFLATrendReport 
9. We need to support emerging leaders as a core plank of sustainability, while also seeing that we all have potential to develop 
10. We must make connecting with others in our field an integral part of our practice 
11. We should invest seriously in our connections with partners and supporters