Swedish Library Association

The aim of the Swedish Library Association is
- to promote an efficient and dynamic library system in Sweden of high standards
- to promote the Swedish Library Law and work for its development
- to promote the role of the libraries in the democratic process and to promote free access to information and freedom of speech
- to promote all kinds of co-operation between all libraries and between libraries and other institutions in society
- to promote information to science
- to promote culture, reading and education
- to rouse public opinion in favour of Libraries and to spread knowledge about the Swedish Library Society/the Swedish libraries
- to stimulate debate and encourage exchange of experience within the library and information area
- to promote education, lifelong learning, research and development within library and information studies
- to arrange conferences, courses and seminars in the library and information area
- to strengthen and develop international co-operation

Founding
The Swedish Library Association was founded in 2000 as a result of a merger between Sveriges Allmänna Biblioteksförening, SAB (founded 1915), and Svenska Bibliotekariesamfundet, SBS (founded in 1921).

Membership
The Swedish Library Association unites libraries and librarians from all library sectors. The association welcomes anyone who acknowledges its aims. You can either be a private or an institutional member. In 2002, we count 2,600 members.

International membership
The Swedish Library Association is a member of many international organisations, IFLA, EBLIDA, NVBF etc.

IFLA
IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, is an important platform for the co-operation with other countries and library development around the world. A global organisation like IFLA is a useful tool for the Swedish Library Association to spread the knowledge about the Swedish Library Society/the Swedish libraries. The association is a member of all the different IFLA sections.

The Round Table on Management of Library Associations is of special interest to the association. The President of the Round Table is the Secretary-General of the Swedish Library Association.
The Swedish Library Association partly funds the participation of 4-6 persons in the annual IFLA meetings.

The Swedish Library Association fully funds the participation of one person from a developing country at the annual IFLA meetings. In 2002, this is Arlene Cohen from Guam.

The Swedish Library Association funds the membership of one library association from a developing country. In 2002, this is the Uzbeki Library Association.

EBLIDA
EBLIDA, European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations is a lobbying organisation for the European Parliament. The representatives from the Swedish Library Association in EBLIDA are the president of the association Eva Hesselgren Mortensen and the member of the board Stefan Ersgård.

NVBF
The Nordic Scientific Library Associations Federation is an organisation with the aim to strengthen Nordic library co-operation, mainly in the world of scientific library.
Representatives of the Swedish Library Association in the NVBF board are Anna Swärd Bergström and Henrik Åslund.

Pdf-files
Swedish libraries: An increased role in the Education Society while adjusting to harder economics and technology. (aug 2001)
By Mats G. Lindquist, Board member, Swedish Library Association
(Director of the Economics Library, Göteborg University)

Nordic Libraries and their organisations in the 21st Century (July 2005). This publication gives you an introduction to what is going on in our part of the world. To the way we work and advocate for libraries, and finally to who we are. Editors: Peter Axelsson, Swedish Library Association Hellen Niegaard, Danish Library Association.

In the Best Interests of the Child
The recommendations have been drawn up by the children’s library advisors from the county libraries in the counties of Gävleborg, Stockholm, Sörmland, Uppsala, Västmanland and Örebro.
The Swedish Library Association accepted these as national guidelines in 2003.