The Governing Board is responsible for the managerial and professional direction of the Federation, within the guidelines approved by Council. Other members are given specific responsibilities, for example to chair sub-committees such as the Conference Planning Committee, the Membership Development Committee and the Publications Committee. The Governing Board approves the annual budget and the annual accounts. Members of the Governing Board are sometimes asked to represent IFLA at key conferences or other meetings, to ensure that our voice is heard. The Governing Board is expected to meet on two occasions each year.
Business is conducted in between meetings, usually by email.
If IFLA is to achieve its aim of becoming a truly representative global organisation, representing the interests of library and information services, and their users, worldwide, it needs energetic, committed and capable people from a great variety of environments to serve on its Governing Board. It can be hard work. But it is also rewarding. The opportunity to work with colleagues from different types of library and information environments and from different cultures is stimulating in itself. Members ensure that they enjoy themselves at the same time as striving to advance the cause of library and information service and improve the practice of the profession.