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Being at an IFLA conference for the first time in 1987, I got very enthusiastic about the goals and the work of IFLA. With great interest I have been following the increasing degree of professionalism and quality of our organisation. I believe that the personal contacts and networks resulting from IFLA represent an excellent opportunity for all librarians to participate in the global development and to work together to strengthen our professional work.
The next World Summit on the Information Society will already take place in November 2005 but my efforts to help reducing the digital divide and to demonstrate the major contribution that libraries make to society will continue in the next years to come.
As the current co-chair of the IFLA/IPA steering group, where we discuss topics relevant for librarians and publishers, I am convinced that besides our differences we have to work together wherever it is possible.
The financial health of an organisation like ours is a challenge, and I am always dedicated to identify new funding opportunities.
I visited many libraries all around the globe in Asia and Latin America, in the Middle East and Australia, in Western and Eastern Europe. Worldwide I saw similar and different developments in libraries, and I took part in discussions about the digital library and information literacy. Libraries worldwide work to support education and research, to preserve our cultural heritage and to offer equal access to information.
Libraries need more financial support for these tasks, but at the same time they need to strengthen their position in society and to cooperate on a world-wide scheme. I am dedicated to work for this goal. I would like to serve the international library community as president-elect for the next two years and later for two years as president of IFLA.