The National Organising Committee looks forward to inviting all participants to a cultural evening of modern and traditional entertainment at the open-air Norwegian Folk Museum in Oslo. The National Library of Norway has kindly arranged for the grand opening of its new premises in Oslo to take place during the conference, thus providing the conference programme with an added highlight.

Conference participants will be invited to visit any of 35 libraries located in the city and in the greater Oslo area. These include many interesting buildings and different types of library well equipped to serve their particular target groups.

2005 is a significant year for the relatively young nation of Norway, since it marks the centenary of the dissolution of the union with Sweden. This peaceful decision by our two countries in 1905 to make their independent ways into the future forged a special bond between us. Throughout the year there will be many arrangements to commemorate this historic event, including the IFLA conference itself as a symbol of the importance of libraries and information to international relations.

The National Organising Committee finds great pleasure in welcoming you in this very special year to Oslo, the capital of Norway.We feel sure that the conference in the heart of the city will prove to be a memorable event.

Official web site: http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla71/index.htm

Marit Vestlie, project director IFLA 2005 Oslo Secretariat E-mail: ifla2005@norskbibliotekforening.no

Satellite Meetings

1. CPD and Preparing for the New Roles of Librarians: A voyage of discovery. Date: 10–13 August 2005, Norway, Oslo University College

2. Management, Marketing, Evaluation and Promotion of Library Services. Based on statistics, analyses and evaluation in your own library. Date: 9-11 August 2005, Norway, Bergen

3. The Impact and Outcomes of Library Services Performance measurement for a changing information environment. Date: 20–23 August 2005, UK, University of Durham, Collingwood College

4. The 21st Annual Preconference of Library and Research Services for Parliaments. Hosted by the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget). Date: August 2005, Norway, Oslo, Stortinget

5. Documenting Censored Books and Newspapers through all ages for the Bibliographic Database ‘Beacon for Freedom of Expression’. Date: 11 -12 August 2005, Norway, Oslo, Nobel Institute

6. Accessible Libraries. Date: 10–12 August 2005, Sweden, Göteborg (Gothenburg)

7. How Government Libraries and Information Services Support the Strategies of their Home Organisation in Practice. Date: 10–12 August 2005, Sweden, Stockholm, Government Office

8. Literacies for the 21st Century. Date: 11–13 August 2005, Norway, Oslo, Oslo University College

9. Public Libraries from Public Education to what? Designing the new strategies for Public Paradises for Adults, Children and Young People. Date: 10–11 August 2005, Norway, Stavanger

10. Responsible Stewardship of Cultural Property Date: 11–12 August 2005, Denmark, Copenhagen, The Royal Library

11. The Physical Library and Beyond - Library as a Place and the Library in Cyberspace. Who is Responsible for the Virtual Library? Date: 11–12 August 2005, Finland, Järvenpää, Järvenpää Hall

12. Nordic Mobile Meeting and Conference to Further the Knowledge and Development of Mobile Library Services. Date: 12–14 August 2005, Norway, Oslo, Holmenkollen

13. Organisations in Change: Effects on Art Libraries Date: 12 August 2005, Norway, Oslo, Oslo University Library

14. Arctic Circle Conservation Colloquium: Preservation Storage. Solution for all Library Materials Date: 11–12 August 2005, Norway, Mo i Rana, National Library

15. The Multicultural Library - Staff Competence for Success. Themes: Language Rights, Staff Competence and Multilingual Catalogues Date: 10–12 August 2005, Sweden, Stockholm, Kulturhuset

16. Biblioteca Universalis – How to Organise Chaos? FRBR, a New Effort to Organise Content, and Some Practical Applications Date: 11–12 August 2005, Finland, Järvenpää, Järvenpää Hall