International library work at the IAI

The international orientation of the library is reflected in many areas such as the acquisition strategy, digitization, the wide range of services for library users, a large proportion of whom come from abroad, but also in the training of trainee librarians. It is also reflected in the formats of cooperation with libraries, archives, research institutions and universities, the participation in committees or cooperation projects and the IAI's participation in committees. 

An important learning space for strengthening the internationalization of libraries and the exchange with scientific communities is the BMBF-funded (external link, opens in a new window) joint project Mecila (2017-2026). The Maria Sibylla Merian International Center Conviviality-Inequality in Latin America (Mecila) (external link, opens in a new window) is based in São Paulo. In addition to the IAI, other consortium partners are the Freie Universität Berlin (external link, opens in a new window) (coordination), the Universität zu Köln (external link, opens in a new window), the Universidade de São Paulo (external link, opens in a new window), the Cebrap (external link, opens in a new window) in São Paulo (external link, opens in a new window), the IdICHS (external link, opens in a new window)(Conicet / Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina) and El Colegio de México (external link, opens in a new window) in Mexico City. The IAI provides the information infrastructure for Mecila, links the libraries of the consortium partners, coordinates the collaboration and organizes the exchange of experience on strategic issues relating to the further development of collections in times of digital transformation and a globally changing scientific landscape. 

Another example of the international orientation of the IAI library is its committee work. The library is a member of the European Network for Information and Documentation on Latin America (REDIAL (external link, opens in a new window)) and currently has Christoph Müller as its Vice-President. In this way, the IAI is actively involved in shaping European strategies, processes and structures for the provision and communication of information from and about Latin America and the Caribbean. 

The international role and importance of the IAI library prompted the Executive Board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA (external link, opens in a new window)) to hold its spring meeting at the IAI from April 2 to 4, 2025. At the IAI, the librarians and information specialists from all over the world who are active on IFLA's Governing Board not only discussed and developed future strategies for international association work and library work itself. They also used the IAI and its library as an established space for academic, library and cultural exchange and brought together representatives of the German library associations, German members of IFLA and representatives of other institutions at an evening event.