Final report of the IFLA project under the Section for Public Libraries

The fifth UNESCO/CONFINTEA meeting took place in Hamburg in 1997.The Hamburg
declaration was adopted and stated that ”UNESCO should strengthen libraries, museums
heritage and cultural institutions as learning places and partners in the lifelong learning
process and modern citizenship” It was felt that IFLA should take a more active role in
strengthening the libraries role and to live up to what is stated in the IFLA UNESCO Public
Library Manifesto. ”The public library, the local gateway to knowledge provides a basic
condition for lifelong learning, independent decision-making and cultural development of the
individual and social groups.”