Ministers of Culture and Representatives from Latin America and the Caribbean Commit to Libraries as Motors of Change

Today, Ministers of culture and their representatives from 12 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean affirmed their commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda, and to the power of libraries and access to information to achieve it, by signing the Buenos Aires Declaration.

The Forum of Ministers of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean, held at the Congress of the Argentine Nation, saw the Ministers and their representatives share information about libraries in their countries, their contributions to sustainable development, and their plans for the future.

Welcoming participants, IFLA President Glòria Pérez-Salmerón reminded participants of the theme of her presidency – Motors of Change – and underlined the difference that libraries can make, for so many people, in so many ways.

IFLA Secretary-General Gerald Leitner stressed to the ministers of the power they had in their hands, and made the case for ensuring that they – and libraries – are included fully in national development plans.

The Declaration reiterates the importance of the UN 2030 Agenda, the need for access to information in order to achieve it, and how libraries can contribute. It includes commitments to supporting library systems nationally, promoting collaboration, and passing laws, nationally and globally.

Ministers and representatives participated from Argentina, Aruba, Brazil, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay.

IFLA is very grateful to the Secretary of Culture of Argentina, the Library of Congress, the National Library Mariano Moreno, the City of Buenos Aires, and to all of the sponsors who made this event possible.

Read the Declaration of the Ministers of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean