The Theme Report 2004
"Libraries for Lifelong Literacy"
The IFLA/FAIFE Theme Report 2004 presents visions of how libraries can promote literacy and lifelong learning. The literacy process has to be recognised as inclusive of all ranges of communication, and it occurs at all levels and ages of societies, whether they are predominantly oral societies or have a culture of reading as a basis for accessing information.
What is seen in the Report is that libraries in developing countries have to come up with novel ways to deal with problems that bigger, richer countries are able to tackle differently. The contributions to this report show how different processes – funding partnerships, community involvement, staff and user training – can be implemented to enable libraries to make a greater contribution to the lifelong learning process. The situations and solutions outlined here may inspire librarians in other countries in their quest to empower their users.