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IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2017
19—25 August 2017 | Wrocław, Poland
Greetings from NC Poland
We invite you
On behalf of the National Committee we are pleased to invite you to the 83rd World Library and
Information Congress in Wrocław, Poland, which will take place from 19-25 August 2017.
“Libraries. Solidarity. Society.“ A straightforward yet powerful message that resonates with a singular
truth in a country where the most powerful union movement of the past century was born and went
on to change the face of history. A message from a robust library community that managed not only
to survive the challenges of the transformation, but excelled and flourished in the new social and
political reality. And now the network of our country‘s information providers is ready to bring you the
most exciting and exceptional congress experience.
Poland hosted the IFLA World Congress only twice in its history: in 1936 and 1959, both times in the
nation‘s capital, Warsaw. Since then, the progress made in Polish science, information technology
and librarianship, especially this past 27 years, has been nothing short of revolutionary. Over half
a century later, the Congress in Wrocław has a feeling of starting over: new, fresh, full of ideas and
ready for the challenges of the modern world.
While Wrocław is graciously inviting librarians from all over the world to come together and share
their ideas in this unique city, we all know that organizing WLIC is a task that challenges the
nation‘s entire librarian community. A task this community is ready to take on, seeing it as an
opportunity to present their achievements and engage with fellow librarians from all over the world.
You are therefore cordially invited to visit libraries not only in Wrocław, but also in Lower Silesia,
Katowice, Kraków, and many other cities. Wrocław is a town filled with vibrant and varied libraries,
from the libraries of academic institutions to a rich offering represented by public libraries. Only
in the past several years the University Library, the Wrocław University of Technology, and the
Wrocław University of Economics have acquired new state of the art facilities equipped with the best
technology, which IFLA Congress participants will have an opportunity to visit. Together with the
unique special collections of the Ossoliński National Institute as well as those of Wrocław’s public
libraries, such as Mediateka, they represent a very special offering to library professionals, while the
tourist attractions of the city, with its colorful Market Square, the atmospheric Cathedral Island, and
dozens of bridges linking Wrocław’s 12 islands, are a sight and experience not to be missed.