Founding Organisations
The need for a European association of libraries was first expressed during the IFLA conference in Brighton in 1987. Then in 1990, the UK Library Association organised a meeting in London.
A working group was set up in 1991 to create a new European organisation for library, information and documentation associations in the member states of the European Community to represent and defend library interests in European affairs, especially in view of EC legislation and actions which affected libraries e.g. Directives on the rental and lending right and the legal protection of databases, action plans for libraries and culture. EBLIDA acts as a communication channel between members and the European Commission and other European institutions.
The founding organisations were:
- Association des bibliothécaires et documentalistes spécialisés (ADBS), France
[ABDS adopted the new name of "Association des professionnels de l'information et de la documentation" in 1993, in recognition of the broadening scope of the profession.]
- Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Bibliotheksverbände (BDB), Germany
[Name change took place in 2004. New name Bibliothek & Information Deutschland (BID).]
- Danmarks Biblioteksforening, Denmark
- Enosis Ellenon Bibliothekarion, Greece
- Fédération des Associations de Documentalistes Bibliothécaires de l’Education Nationale (FADBEN), France
- Institute of Information Scientists (IIS), UK
- The Library Association (LA), UK
[Current name: CILIP, Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, formed following the unification of the Institute of Information Scientists (IIS) and the Library Association (LA).
- Nederlands Bibliotheek en Lektuur Centrum (NBLC), Netherlands
[Current name: VOB, Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken, Netherlands Public Library Association]
NEWS
Domāt ne iedomājamo
15 February 2021: Now available in Latvian: Think the unthinkable - A post Covid-19 European Library Agenda meeting Sustainable Development Goals and funded through the European Structural and Investment Funds (2021-2027). Read more >EBLIDA Newsletter February 2021
11 February 2021: Find out why EBLIDA selected European Structural and Investment Funds as a preferred area for fundraising for libraries. Read more >Citizens' Initiative Minority SafePack - A Communication from the European Commission
21 January 2021: Worth raising the interest of libraries committed to national and linguistic minorities – 50 million citizens in Europe. Read more >EBLIDA Newsletter January 2021
14 January 2021: A Guided Tour of the EBLIDA website. Reaping the benefits of joining EBLIDA. Read more >2020 Year in review
23 December 2020: As the year comes to an end, we reflect on some of the things that we achieved in 2020, with your support, and despite all the challenges. Read more >