Anna Wałek, PhD, becomes the head of the International Association of University Libraries | Gdańsk University of Technology

The International Association of University Libraries is an international, non-governmental association existing since 1955, serving as a forum for the exchange of experiences and the development of modern library services.

Currently, IATUL has over 260 member institutions from 70 countries on all continents. The aim of the association is to initiate and support effective cooperation of its libraries through mutual exchange of professional and scientific experiences. IATUL organizes annual conferences, workshops and development projects, supports the development of library standards, publishes recommendations for legislative institutions, organizes training courses, and informs its members about forecasted trends in university libraries.

The organization is led by the Board of Directors, consisting of 8 directors of academic libraries representing different continents and geographic areas (Europe, Africa, the Americas, Middle East, Australia, Oceania and Asia).

The function of the IATUL Board of Directors is to supervise the activities of the association, set the directions of development activities, and give opinions for institutions and external bodies, including The European Commission. The main task of the board is to act for the benefit of the association and its members by initiating and supervising various types of innovative initiatives and projects.

The Executive Board is selected from among the members of the board, and consists of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Anna Wałek, PhD, was elected to the board of directors in July 2017 at a conference in Bolzano, Italy. Since then, she has represented the European area in the board, currently together with Lars Egeland from Norway. In 2020, she took up the position of secretary on the IATUL board, and in 2021 she was elected president, and is going to replace Charles Eckman from the University of Miami in the USA at the beginning of 2022. The term of office of the new management board is three years and starts on 1 January 2022.

The basis for the nomination of Anna Wałek, PhD, were her professional and scientific achievements to date, her involvement in the development of innovative library solutions and the last three years of work for the association, in the field of organizing conferences and workshops and initiating the activities of working groups (Special Interest Groups).

Apart from Anna Wałek, PhD, the new IATUL board will include Charles Eckman, PhD, (vice president), Gerda Winkler (treasurer) and Donna Bourne-Tyson (secretary).

The Library of Gdańsk University of Technology has been a member of IATUL since March 2017.