International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA); a close partner of UNESCO, announces the appointment of Ross Shimmon as Secretary General of IFLA, commencing in April 1999. Ross Shimmon will leave the position of Chief Executive of The Library Association (United Kingdom), a position he has held since 1992. As Chief Executive he was responsible to the Council of the Library Association for the management of the Association and for providing professional leadership. Upon appointment as Chief Executive he was required to prepare proposals for a restructuring of the Council and committee system, and of the staff at LA Headquarters. This was completed and implemented by 1995. Among his achievements were a streamlining of the committee process, the revitalization of income-generating activities, and greater emphasis to public relations and lobbying activities, resulting in a much higher profile for the Association and the profession. On his appointment, Mr Shimmon said: "I am excited at the prospect of working with IFLA at a time when the profession has a stunning opportunity. Our time has come. We must take advantage of the growing recognition worldwide of the importance of information and knowledge and the skills necessary for their creative exploitation." Throughout his career Mr Shimmon worked at a variety of levels in professional associations in the UK and in other countries. After a career of several years in the UK in public and academic libraries and in library education, Mr Shimmon was employed in Papua New Guinea from 1979 until 1983 at the Administrative College of Papua New Guinea, where he was responsible for the development and management of training courses for librarians. While in Papua New Guinea he was founder member of the Book Development Council of PNG, founder member of the College Management Team, and Chair of the National Library Council of PNG. He received a Life Membership from the Papua New Guinea Library Association in 1983, just before returning to the UK and becoming a member of LA staff. These posts included Director of Professional Practice (1988-1992) and Divisional Secretary for Manpower and Education (1984-1988) for which he was responsible to the Chief Executive for salaries and conditions of service for LIS staff; funding of library and information services; information technology; legislation affecting libraries; guidelines on best practice; research and development; accreditation of programmes at universities; and the continuing education programme. His other professional activities include: Member, British Library Advisory Council (1993 to date); Member, National Book Committee (1992 to date); Founder/President, European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA) (1991-1995); and Facilitator, Constituent Conference, Pretoria, South Africa (1997). Since 1996 Mr Shimmon has taken a leading role in the negotiations with the Institute of Information Scientists with a view to unification of the LA and IIS to form a new professional body. Mr Shimmon is already well-known to IFLA and knowledgeable about IFLA, having attended most IFLA Conferences since 1987; as a Member of the IFLA Copyright Committee (1991-1993); as a Member of the IFLA FAIFE Committee (1997 to date); and as a Member of the IFLA Round Table on the Management of Library Associations (1988 to date). Christine Deschamps, President of IFLA, commenting on Mr Shimmon’s appointment said: "I am confident that as IFLA enters the new millennium, the qualifications possessed by Ross Shimmon are exactly those needed by the Federation: skilled negotiator and manager; resourcefulness; commitment to high professional standards; broad experience in a membership organization; and ability to work in the international environment".          Contact - Axel Plathe - UNESCO   cii.webmaster@unesco.org © Copyright 1998 - UNESCO