Dear colleagues, dear friends, dear IFLA community, I wish you a pleasant day from Bratislava, capital of Slovak Republic. Slovakia is a young and modern small state in the heart of Europe. My name is Sylvia Stassalova. I am Director-general of the University Library in Bratislava, which is the oldest and largest research library in Slovakia. Our library belongs among the first Slovak institutional members of IFLA, officially seated in Denhark. And today, on Samas March 2023, I am standing in our wonderful library garden and waiting for the very important state visit from the Netherlands. His Majesty the Dutch King, her Majesty the Dutch Queen, in company of Slovak president. Of course, I will tell them all about the importance of IFLA and its active role in building strong libraries and library associations all over the world. What can I offer to IFLA? My strong capability is the deep knowledge of various types of library associations and libraries and understanding their differences and their needs. I was running the National Library and Librarians Association in Slovakia for 20 years. Together, I was elected for five election periods. For more than 10 years, I served as a member of IFLA Management of Library Association's Standing Committee. For two election periods, I served as IFLA MALS Secretary and this was a great experience which made me ready to sing globally. I have also more than 30 years experience of running the academic library and since 2015, I managed the important and frequently visited research library in Slovakia. During my previous professional life, I have organized several dozens of international conferences and many successful library campaigns. In case I become an IFLA governing board member, the most of all I would like to contribute to IFLA in strengthening the role of libraries in the field of cultural diplomacy. I would like to share my experience of making our library to become the center point of all state visits in Slovak Republic. In October 2015, I could discuss the library topics with Bankimón, previous Secretary-General of United Nations. In September 2021, I met Frank Valterstein-Meier in our library. I was proud to tell him that IFLA President Barbara Riesson is a German librarian. IFLA is a strong voice of libraries and librarians from all over the world. No man is an island, entire of itself. We are all part of one great continent of librarianship. I would like to become a member of IFLA governing board because I'm sure that even being a librarian from the small country, I have gained a strong international experience. I believe I could be useful at the field of international cultural diplomacy. The same as I have several minutes ago discussed the importance of IFLA in the closed dialogue with the Dutch king. I can tell you his majesty knows about IFLA and other importance. I could bring to IFLA governing board my enthusiasm, my optimism and passion for the profession. Hopefully I could be helpful in creating new future perspectives of IFLA. I see its future the same as this wonderful perspective from our library garden to the impressive monument of Bratislava Castle up on the hill just behind. What to say more? I love IFLA.