The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is a non-profit
organization which represents an international network of people
from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and
children together.
· to promote international understanding through · children's books |
· to give children everywhere the opportunity to have · access to books with high literary and artistic · standards |
· to encourage the publication and distribution of · quality children's books, especially in developing · countries |
· to provide support and training for those involved · with children and children's literature |
· to stimulate research and scholarly works in the · field of children's literature |
IBBY was founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 1953. Today, it is
composed of seventy National Sections all over the world.
It represents countries with well-developed book publishing and
literacy programmes, and other countries with only a few dedicated
professionals who are doing pioneer work in children's book
publishing and promotion.
The National Sections are organized in
many different ways and operate on national, regional and
international levels. In countries that do not have a National
Section, individual membership in IBBY is possible.
The membership of the National Sections include authors and
illustrators, publishers and editors, translators, journalists and
critics, teachers, university professors and students, librarians
and booksellers, social workers and parents.
IBBY's policies and programmes are determined by its Executive Committee: ten people
from different countries and a President, elected biennially by
the National Sections at a General Assembly during the IBBY
Congresses. They work on a voluntary basis. The daily management of
IBBY's affairs is conducted from its Secretariat in Basel, Switzerland.
The annual dues from the National Sections are IBBY's only source
of regular income. Independent financing is necessary to support
IBBY activities.
As a non-governmental organization with an official status in
UNESCO and UNICEF, IBBY has a policy-making role as an advocate of
children's books. IBBY is committed to the principles of the
International Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the
United Nations in 1990. One of its main proclamations is the right
of the child to a general education and to direct access to
information. Thanks to IBBY’s insistence, the resolution includes an
appeal to all nations to promote the production and distribution of
children's books.
IBBY also cooperates with many international organizations and
children's book institutions around the world and exhibits at the
International Children's Book Fair in Bologna and other
international book fairs. |