IFLA Launches Global Network for Digital Cultural Heritage
Tokyo, Japan – July 25, 2025 – The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has announced the official launch of a new global network dedicated to advancing digital cultural heritage. This significant initiative, detailed in a recent publication by the National Diet Library’s Current Awareness Portal, aims to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of best practices among libraries and cultural heritage institutions worldwide as they navigate the evolving landscape of digital preservation and access.
The establishment of this network comes at a crucial time when cultural heritage is increasingly being digitized and made accessible online. Libraries, as custodians of human knowledge and memory, play a pivotal role in this process, facing both immense opportunities and complex challenges. These include ensuring long-term digital preservation, promoting equitable access to digitized collections, addressing copyright and intellectual property concerns, and developing the necessary skills and infrastructure to manage digital cultural assets effectively.
The IFLA network will serve as a vital platform for professionals engaged in digital cultural heritage. Its primary objectives are to:
- Facilitate Collaboration and Networking: Connect librarians, archivists, museum professionals, and other stakeholders involved in digital cultural heritage projects to share experiences, discuss challenges, and explore potential collaborations.
- Promote Best Practices and Standards: Develop and disseminate guidelines, standards, and innovative approaches for digital preservation, metadata creation, collection management, and user engagement.
- Share Knowledge and Research: Provide a forum for the exchange of research findings, case studies, and educational resources related to digital cultural heritage.
- Advocate for Digital Preservation: Raise awareness among policymakers and the public about the importance of investing in and supporting digital cultural heritage initiatives.
- Foster Capacity Building: Support the development of skills and competencies among professionals working with digital cultural heritage through training, workshops, and mentorship programs.
The Current Awareness Portal’s report highlights the growing recognition of the need for a coordinated global effort in this field. As digital formats evolve and the volume of digital cultural heritage grows exponentially, a unified approach is essential to ensure that these invaluable resources are preserved for future generations and made accessible to a global audience.
This new IFLA network is expected to be instrumental in addressing key issues such as the sustainability of digital repositories, the ethical considerations of digital access, and the integration of digital cultural heritage into broader cultural and educational frameworks. By bringing together expertise and perspectives from diverse institutions and regions, the network promises to drive innovation and strengthen the collective capacity of the library and information sector to safeguard and share our shared cultural legacy in the digital age.
Libraries and cultural heritage institutions are encouraged to engage with this new network to contribute to its activities and benefit from the shared knowledge and collaborative opportunities it offers. Further details regarding membership and upcoming activities are anticipated to be announced by IFLA in the near future.
国際図書館連盟（IFLA）、デジタル文化遺産に関するネットワークを発足
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