EIFL is collaborating with IFLA (the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) to champion libraries as a crucial gateway to the internet for billions of unconnected people at the 10th Internet Governance Forum - IGF 2015.

EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) manager Ramune Petuchovaite, Stuart Hamilton, IFLA Director, Policy and Advocacy, and Christina de Castell, IFLA Manager, Policy and Advocacy, will lead the meeting of the Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries (DC-PAL) and take part in the IGF2015 plenary sessions, discussing policy papers from a range of Dynamic Coalitions that address different aspects of internet governance.

IGF 2015 has for the first time introduced a main session providing a platform for the dynamic coalitions to present their work. During this meeting on 12 and 13 November, DC-PAL will table a policy paper for multi-stakeholder discussion, stating key principles on public access in libraries.

Every year, during the annual meetings of the IGF, EIFL and IFLA organize a separate meeting bringing together stakeholders from civil society, government, business, and international organisations. This year, the meeting will focus on what stakeholders can do to support public access to the internet in libraries. The meeting will inform and inspire the future work of the Dynamic Coalition.

The main questions to be explored at this meeting are: How do we ensure that we connect the many next billion when technology and connectivity do not yet reach across the globe? How can libraries realize their potential to connect the many unconnected, and overcome the challenges of limited infrastructure?

Join us in João Pessoa, Brazil at the following sessions:

• November 12 at 11.00 am in the Room 6:  Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries
• November 12 at 4.30 pm in the Main meeting room: Main session on Dynamic Coalitions (Part 1)
• November 13 at 9.00 am in the Main meeting room: Main session on Dynamic Coalitions (Part 2)

IGF also provides the option of remote participation. (intgovforum.org/cms/remote-participation) Click here to see how to take part remotely.

BACKGROUND

The Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries (DC-PAL) was created by EIFL and IFLA at the Internet Governance Forum in 2011. DC-PAL aims to engage the IGF community in discussion about public access to the internet and the role and potential of libraries.

The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) brings together people from various stakeholder groups as equals, in order to discuss public policy issues relating to the internet. While there is no negotiated outcome, the IGF informs and inspires those with policy-making power in both the public and private sectors.  At the IGF annual meetings, delegates discuss, exchange information and share good practices.