Global Library Initiative

In Zagreb, Croatia, February 27, 2008, the DAISY Board and members of IFLA/LBS (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Libraries for the Blind Section) met to review the goals of the Global Library initiative. This important initiative was established at a summit of international leaders from agencies serving the reading needs of people with print disabilities, held in Redmond, Washington, November 2004.

The four major initiatives of the Global Library Project are:

• Discovery and access: end user issues
• Shared collection development and exchange
• Business model for the global library
• Partnership development

This project is owned jointly by IFLA/LBS and the DAISY Consortium. An eight person joint steering committee consisting of four representatives from IFLA/LBS and the DAISY Consortium Board of Directors has been established to provide governance, oversight and direction for the project. Margaret McGrory, DAISY Board member, Vice President Information Systems and CIO of CNIB, and Managing Director, CNIB Library, has been appointed as the chair of the Global Library Steering Committee. Julie Rae, General Manager, Community Information Access for Vision Australia, has been assigned the role of project manager.

The decision making for strategic direction will be decided jointly by the DAISY Consortium and IFLA through the Steering Committee which will review the project plan, report to the DAISY Board and begin the process. It has also been charged with the task of endorsing the charter on behalf of two groups.