Apply to join the London Congress organising committee
*deadline midnight 13th February*
IFLA WLIC London 2027 is starting to assemble a National Committee to help deliver an exceptional IFLA Congress next year, in what will be IFLA’s Centenary Year.
As the lead bid partner, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) is seeking passionate volunteers to join the National Committee and sub-committees, leading and delivering key activity in partnership with International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and its Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) to bring the event to London and across the UK, making 2027 the biggest and best Congress yet, during IFLA’s centenary and CILIP’s 150th anniversary year.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to play a lead role in the planning and execution of the global library and information profession’s biggest event.
WLIC 2027 will enable the whole of the UK profession to showcase our positive impact to the rest of the world, to learn from their best practice, and to build lasting international connections.
Committee positions are tailored to specific areas of work (please see below for more information), allowing members to call on and further develop related skills and experience. It will also be a fantastic opportunity to grow a national and global network of contacts.
We are seeking individuals who are:
- great team players with excellent communication skills
- keen to get stuck in and make things happen
- genuinely (and realistically) committed; able to give between 1-3 days per month to deliver the event and keep a key area of the project on track - please see further information below on the time commitments of the National Committee before applying
- skilled and experienced in their sub-committee area of work – again please see below for further details on these areas of delivery
- and those who share CILIP and IFLA’s values including inclusion and intellectual freedom
We particularly welcome applications from professionals who are underrepresented in the library, knowledge and information sector, including people from ethnically diverse, LGBTQ+ and working-class backgrounds, people with experience of disability and those who are neuro-diverse.
Committee Positions
Role Type: Voluntary
Time Commitment: 1-3 days per month
Project Length: March 2026 – August 2027
Application deadline: Midnight, 13 February 2026
We are recruiting Chairs and Committee Members across the below subcommittee areas of work:
Volunteers
Responsibilities: managing Congress volunteers (recruitment, allocation of tasks, and liaison during the Congress etc)
Key skills and experience: volunteer recruitment processes and volunteer management; running live events; excellent communication and leadership skills; highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
Sponsorship and exhibitors
Responsibilities: recruiting national, regional and local government sponsorship, incentives and grants, and advising IFLA Conf BV and the Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) on potential local commercial and other sponsors and exhibitors.
Key skills and experience: leadership and advocacy skills; ability to network and influence; experience of securing successful grant/funding/private sponsorship/exhibitors; a broad network of funding, public and/or private sponsor contacts.
Social events
Responsibilities: advising on the content and location of one or more ‘cultural evening’ social events, and assisting the PCO with the planning, organisation and management where necessary. This will be an optional, ticketed event for delegates and not included within the registration fee. Organising a range of ‘cultural activities’ to attract delegates into the exhibition.
Key skills and experience: programming and/or organising social or cultural events; highly organised and with excellent attention to detail; a broad network of library and/or venue contacts across the library and wider cultural heritage and/or education sector.
Delegate marketing
Responsibilities: promoting the Congress to the national and regional audience. Contributing content to Congress publications, the newsletter and promotional materials. Assisting with photography and videography requirements.
Key skills and experience: delivering successful nationwide marketing campaigns; a strategic approach to marketing and communication plans; creating photography and videography specifications and managing and directing on-site contractors; excellent communication and copywriting skills; an eye for great design; highly organised and with excellent attention to detail.
Library visits/satellite meetings
Responsibilities: organising the library visits/tours programme, with assistance from the PCO where required. Recruiting and liaising with libraries who may wish to host satellite meetings.
Key skills and experience: leadership and advocacy skills; ability to network and influence; a broad network of library and/or venue contacts across the library and wider cultural heritage and/or education sector; highly organised and with excellent attention to detail.
Press/promotion
Responsibilities: Organising a high profile local and national media campaign.
Key skills and experience: delivering successful nationwide PR campaigns; a strategic approach to PR and communication plans; a broad network of press and media contacts at a national level; excellent communication and copywriting skills; highly organised and with excellent attention to detail; excellent leadership and advocacy skills.
Programme
Responsibilities: Working with IFLA HQ on suggestions for the keynote speaker for the Opening Session and other speakers/sessions, for approval by IFLA’s Governing Board, and assisting with their attendance at the Congress. Assisting with the Opening Ceremony, with logistical assistance from the PCO and IFLA HQ.
Key skills and experience: creative programming and/or organising CPD or other cultural events; highly organised and with excellent attention to detail; a broad network of expert speakers, leaders and cultural artists and performers across the library and wider cultural heritage and/or education sector.
Visas
Responsibilities: Organising host country invitation letters and visa application assistance when required, and liaising with embassies and consulates.
Key skills and experience: Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written); highly organised and with excellent attention to detail.
Apply
To apply, please read through the information regarding responsibilities and time commitments, and then complete the form on the CILIP site by midnight 13th February 2026. Click on the Apply button to access this.
Any questions are welcome to WLIC2027@cilip.org.uk