The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), in association with the IFLA’s Centre for Arabic Speaking Libraries and Information Institutions at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, is pleased to announce its regional conference on ‘The Role of Libraries in Freedom of Expression, Tolerance, and Access to Information’ at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt on October 7, 8 and 9, 2008.

The first years of the 21st century have seen freedom of access to information and freedom of expression placed under pressure all over the world. Anti-terror legislation and national security concerns caused chilling effects on freedom of speech and decrease access to government information, while at the same time cultural misunderstandings cause offence, sometimes at the expense of freedom of expression. Even though it can be a struggle to promote tolerance and freedom of access to information in these conditions, librarians must find a way to uphold their commitment to human rights and intellectual freedom.

Conference Themes

• Freedom of Expression
• Tolerance
• Production /Dissemination of information
• Freedom of access to information