Past IFLA Congresses
The World Library and Information Congress has gathered library and information professionals from around the world the 1920s. You can explore our past congresses here.
2023 – Rotterdam – Let’s work together, Let’s Library
2022 – Dublin – Inspire, Engage, Enable, Connect
2021 – virtual – Let’s work together for the future
2019 – Athens – Libraries: dialogue for change
2018 – Kuala Lumpur – Transform Libraries, Transform Societies
2017 – Wrocław – Libraries. Solidarity. Society
2016 – Columbus – Connections. Collaboration. Community.
2015 – Cape Town – Dynamic Libraries: Access, Development and Transformation
2014 – Lyon – Libraries, Citizens, Societies: Confluence for Knowledge
2013 – Singapore – Future Libraries: Infinite Possibilities
2012 – Helsinki – Libraries Now! – Inspiring, Surprising, Empowering
2010 – Gothenburg – Open access to knowledge – promoting sustainable progress
2009 – Milan – Libraries create futures: Building on cultural heritage
2007 – Durban – Libraries for the future: Progress, Development and Partnerships
2005 – Oslo – Libraries – A voyage of discovery
2004 – Buenos Aires – Libraries: Tools for Education and Development
2003 – Berlin – Access Point Library: Media – Information – Culture
2002– Glasgow – Libraries for Life: Democracy, Diversity, Delivery
2000 – Jerusalem – Information for Cooperation: Creating the Global Library of the Future
1998 – Amsterdam – On Crossroads of Information and Culture
1997 – Copenhagen – Libraries and Information for Human Development
1996 – Beijing – The Challenge of Change
1995 – Istanbul – Libraries of the Future
1994 — Havana — Libraries and Social Development
1993 — Barcelona — The Universal Library: Libraries as Centres for the Global Availability of Information
1992 — New Delhi — Library and Information Policy Perspectives
1991 — Moscow — Libraries and Culture: Their Relationship
1990 — Stockholm — Libraries: Information for Knowledge
1989 — Paris — Les Bibliothèques et l’information dans l’économie hier, aujourd’hui et demain
1988 — Sydney — Living together: People, Libraries, Information
1987 — Brighton — Libraries and Information Services in a Changing World
1986 — Tokyo — New Horizons of Librarianship towards the 21st Century
1985 — Chicago — Libraries and the Universal Availability of Information
1984 — Nairobi — Basis of Information Services for National Development
1983 — Munich — Libraries in a Technical World
1982 — Montreal — Networks
1981 — Leipzig — The Role of National Centres in National Library Development and in International Library Cooperation
1980 — Manila — Development of Libraries and Information Systems
1979 — Copenhagen — Library Legislation
1978 — Strbské Pleso — Universal Availability of Publications
1977 — Brussels — Libraries for All: One World of Information, Culture and Learning
1976 — Lausanne — IFLA
1975 — Oslo — The Future of International Library Cooperation
1974 — Washington D.C. — National and International Library Planning
1973 — Grenoble — Universal Bibliographic Control
1972 — Budapest — Reading in a Changing World
1971 — Liverpool — The Organization of the Library Profession
1970 — Moscow — Lenin and Libraries
1969 — Copenhagen — Library Education and Research in Librarianship
1968 — Frankfurt am Main — Books and Libraries in an Industrial Society
1967 — Toronto — Library Service for a Nation Covering a Large Geographical Area
1966 — The Hague — Libraries and Documentation
1965 — Helsinki
1964 — Rome
1963 — Sofia
1962 — Berne
1961 — Edinburgh
1960 — Lund and Malmö
1959 — Warsaw
1958 — Madrid
1957 — Paris
1956 — Munich
1955 — Brussels
1954 — Zagreb
1953 — Vienna
1952 — Copenhagen
1951 — Rome
1950 — London
1949 — Basel
1948 — London
1947 — Oslo
1939 — The Hague and Amsterdam
1938 — Brussels
1937 — Paris
1936 — Warsaw
1935 — Madrid and Barcelona
1934 — Madrid
1933 — Chicago and Avignon
1932 — Berne
1931 — Cheltenham
1930 — Stockholm
1929 — Rome, Florence, and Venice
1928 — Rome