FOBID

FOBID Netherlands Library Forum is the national umbrella organisation and forum for co-operation between the national library organisations:
- the Netherlands Public Library Association
- NVB, the Netherlands Association for Library, Information and Knowledge Professionals
- KB, National Library of the Netherlands, and
- UKB, the co-operative Association of University Libraries.

FOBID was founded in 1974 to improve the co-operation between different types of libraries and institutions for information and documentation services. Its aim is to defend the interests of these institutions and their professionals, and to enhance professional development. The main activities focus on advocacy of the library field’s legal interests, on international networking and co-operation of professionals in the field of bibliographic matters and education. A division of tasks has been made into four Committees: legal aspects, bibliographic issues, professional education and international/IFLA-issues.
The secretariat is located in the National Library of the Netherlands. 

Legal aspects
The main issues focus on the implementation of the EU Directives on Copyright and Dutch law. The Legal Committee co-operates with a lobbyist, hired by FOBID, to achieve the best possible results for libraries. The Committee also advises on licenses, database protection legislation, digital rights management and other related issues.
The Committee co-operates with EBLIDA and IFLA’s CLM Committee in the field of intellectual property (WIPO) and World Trade (WTO) issues.

Bibliographic issues
Setting up and maintaining standards is one of the main aspects of this Committee. Different forms of bibliographic control are analysed with a view to future international co-operation. The Committee advises on necessary decision-making in the bibliographic field, also related to international standards.

Professional Education
The Committee presented a report on future development in an aging professional field. Measures to be taken include pilot projects to recruit new staff and to improve professional curricula.
Participation in European educational projects is another means to attract a flexible professional workforce and increase knowledgeable staff.

International/IFLA issues
Efforts are made to increase the involvement of professionals in international library development and networking. For example through seminars, preparation of IFLA-issues and focused presentation of international issues in the library journals. About 25 colleagues from the Netherlands are involved in IFLA Standing Committees and bodies, a number of 40-50 persons visits the IFLA conferences annually. The Dutch library community supports both EBLIDA and IFLA in various ways, as they are located in Dutch national library institutions.
FOBID has a website with some information in English and encourages Dutch library institutions to be accessible in other languages.

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