Dear Delegates,

On behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, I would like to welcome you to the 85th IFLA World Library and Information Congress and Assembly (IFLA WLIC), which will be held in Athens in August 2019, in an event that follows the nomination of the city of Athens as the UNESCO World Book Capital in 2018. We are indeed very proud that the National Library of Greece and the Association of Greek Librarians and Information Scientists are ready to host such a prestigious international event in Athens, at Megaron (the Athens Concert Hall), a high-quality standards conference and cultural venue that safeguards the success of the IFLA Congress.

The main objectives of the 85th IFLA WLIC in Athens are promoting libraries and librarianship at the local, regional and international level; providing an opportunity for Greek libraries and library professionals to exhibit, share and learn from best practices in the fields of information management and innovation; interaction of library and information services with social, cultural and economic development; and the development of equal opportunities for all vis-à-vis education and culture, with the inclusion of the physically and/or socially disadvantaged and of the cultural immigrants.

Furthermore, Athens, as a city, and Greece as a whole, find themselves in the middle of a true recovery and regeneration process, after a long period of economic downturn. The nomination of Athens as the UNESCO World Book Capital provides a unique opportunity for international sharing of experiences, best practices and innovation in the fields of culture and books. Our internationally renowned cultural heritage sites and infrastructure, including the Parthenon, the New Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, the new National Library and all the city’s major archaeological, Byzantine and contemporary art museums and exhibitions, in addition to its tourism and accommodation capacities, provide a unique environment for a fulfilling participation and ensure the success of hosting the IFLA WLIC in Athens.

The experienced personnel of the Ministry and its related organisations will help to make your stay in Athens beneficial and creative in the best possible way.

We look forward to welcoming you in Athens.

Sincerely,

 

Lydia Koniordou
Minister of Culture and Sports