IFLA books in to Athens

Europe’s oldest capital, Athens, will play host to the 85th International Conference on Libraries and Information in August 2019. Following the announcement on 31 January, three International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) representatives visited the proposed event venue, Megaron Athens International Conference Center (MAICC), for a site inspection. IFLA president, Glòria Pérez-Salmerón, and IFLA secretary general, Gerald Leitner, met with Greek president, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, at the Presidential Palace in Athens to discuss the congress (pictured). Athens is also to host the 2018 ICOMIA World Marinas Conference (IWMC) in October. For the Athens bid, the IFLA Committee took into account the opening of a new national library building and Athens’ designation as 2018 World Book Capital. Mayor of Athens, Georgios Kaminis, welcomed the decision of the Committee, confirming his strategic investment in culture as a driver for local growth.