The eIFL-IP Advisory Board held its first meeting in Geneva in February 2007 with a wide-ranging discussion on the achievements of eIFL-IP, the challenges and the opportunities ahead. Special attention was paid to training and capacity building, including how to develop regional hubs and to strengthen regional support. Growing the Access to Knowledge (A2K) movement in key countries of strategic importance in the global IP debate was also a topic for discussion.

Under wraps on the day of the meeting was the announcement that Advisory Board member Winston Tabb, Dean of University Libraries at John Hopkins University, is this year’s recipient of the American Library Association (ALA) International Relations Committee’s award to an individual for significant contribution to international librarianship. Winston received the award for his focus on issues relating to increasing global access to information, particularly in parts of the world where access has been limited.

eIFL extends its congratulations to Winston and is proud that we can count internationally acclaimed professionals amongst our friends and supporters.

Press release: http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/february2007/HumpryOCLCForestPress.htm