Guidelines for Libraries of Government Departments - IFLA

Introduction
Section 1
1.0 Preface
Libraries of government departments provide information to policymakers, to
government staff and employees, and, sometimes, to the general public. It is
essential that libraries of government departments are organised and managed
so as to collect and provide the information most needed by government decision
makers, government workers, and the public at large.
1.1 Why guidelines are needed
• To gather best practice worldwide about the organisation, responsibilities, and
value of government libraries
• To serve as guidance to government about best practice for government
libraries
• To be used as a tool in developing countries to provide an outline of the
organisation and responsibilities of government libraries
• To support advocacy for the development and improvement of government
libraries
1.2 Definition
Libraries of Government Departments are any libraries that are established and
fully supported by government to serve government. (While their primary
audience is government, the actual audience served may be broader than
government.)
Under this definition a public or university library, though it might have been
created by government or provide services to government employees or the
public, would not be defined as a “government library” because the primary
audience would not be defined as a government department but the general
public or the student and faculty population.
1.3 Sponsorship
This project to prepare Guidelines for Libraries of Government Departments is
sponsored by two sections of the International Federation of Library Associations
and Institutions (IFLA). These sections are Government Libraries and
Government Information and Official Publications.
Each of the sections appointed members to participate in the development of the
Guidelines. In addition, a separate group of people reviewed the guidelines and
made suggestions for improvement.
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