IFLA is the leading international organisation representing and promoting the interests of library and information services and their clients worldwide. The IFLA Presidency  is the highest position for a library and information professional and having someone from our own country in this role is a great honour for South Africa. 

Ms Tise announced that her presidential theme is "Libraries driving access to knowledge", with specific focus on user orientation, advocacy, library as place, the role of libraries in social inclusion and the need for strong partnerships.

Highlights in her programme will include representing IFLA at major international events, such as attending and speaking at the centennial celebrations of the National Library of China in Beijing in September and delivering the keynote address at the International Academic Library Conference in New Delhi, India, in October.

Ms Tise’s term as president promises to be significant in the broader African context as it will focus international attention on the Library and Information sector in South Africa and other African countries.

In 2007 Ms Tise was the Chair of the National Organising Committee which made arrangements for LIASA to host a successful IFLA Congress in Durban in 2007. It was during this conference that she was elected as President Elect of IFLA, a position which automatically ushered her into the IFLA Presidency.

Ms Tise's election as President Elect in 2007 coincided with the hosting of  IFLA World Congress (WLIC) by South Africa, a second time on African soil in over 80 years. She held this position for the period 2007 to 2009 and recently took over as IFLA President for the term  2009 to 2011.

“IFLA is one of the foremost international organisations representing and promoting the interests of libraries and information services as well as their clients. It is a global mouthpiece for libraries right across the world and was established in 1927 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Today IFLA’s head office is situated in the Royal Library in the Netherlands. The organisation has 1700 members from 150 countries across the world,” explained Ms Tise.

Rachel More, Ellen Tise, Dr Andrew Kaniki at the LAISA Gala dinner during the IFLA conference 2009

Sources: http://blogs.sun.ac.za/news/  and http://blogs.sun.ac.za/new

Photographs courtesy of NLSA Dept Development & Marketing