INTERNATIONAL DELEGATION VISITS PLYMOUTH LIBRARIES

by Katherine Hillier, Director Pease Public Library, Plymouth

Twenty-five librarians representing 16 countries gathered August 17th for lunch at Pease Public Libraries in Plymouth, with a tour of Lamson Library at Plymouth State College (PSC) following. They were en route to the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) annual conference in Boston, having spent a week of pre-conference meetings in Montreal. They were greeted at Pease Public Library by Michael York, N.H. State Librarian, Todd Trevorrow, Director or Lamson Library at PSC, and Katherine Hillier, Director of Pease Public Library.

The IFLA is a non-governmental organization developed to promote international understanding and cooperation in all fields of librarian-ship and information science. It is headquartered at the Hague, in the Netherlands. The last annual conference held in the United States took place in 1985.

Michael York, commented, "We are very excited about hosting this group of international librarians. Dr. Rejean Savard, Professor of Library Science at the University of Montreal, has organized this trip, and we have worked with him to provide our visitors an opportunity to see two outstanding New Hampshire libraries. We are very proud of our libraries, and of New Hampshire, and are eager to show them off. Our guests will be here for just a few hours, before leaving to arrive in Boston on time for their evening programs."

Todd Trevorrow added, "The annual IFLA conference is an important opportunity for librarians from around the world to met one another and to discuss the critical issues that all libraries face today. The libraries of Plymouth, New Hampshire, Pease Public Library and Lamson Library at Plymouth State College, are pleased to have a chance to share our wonderful libraries facilities with librarians from so many different countries."

Katherine Hillier added, "This delegation's stop in Plymouth is indicative of the spirit of cooperation that exists within the library profession. We are very pleased to be hosting librarians representing countries on several continents. This is an unusual opportunity for us to share mutual concerns with our international colleagues."

One hundred forty-one countries were represented at the IFLA's 67th General Conference at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. Topics discussed included licensing of electronic information sources, copyright issues, equal opportunity for access to information, and meeting information challenges in developing countries.