[A2k] eIFL Director receives IFLA Medal

[Teresa Hackett (eIFL)]

**Apologies for cross-posting**


eIFL Director receives IFLA Medal for groundbreaking work with libraries
in transition and developing countries

PRESS RELEASE
August 14, 2008 Embargo 16.15 EDT

Rima Kupryte, Director of Electronic Information for Libraries
(eIFL.net) was honoured by the International Federation of Library
Associations and Institutions (IFLA) at the 74th World Library and
Information Congress in Quebec, Canada. The IFLA Medal is one of the
highest professional accolades  and is awarded to an individual for
their distinguished contribution to international librarianship.

Rima Kupryte received the award in recognition of her groundbreaking
work with the Open Society Institute (OSI) and eIFL.net in sharing
information at a global level. =93IFLA applauds the outstanding commitment
of Rima in promoting international cooperation throughout her
professional career=94, said Claudia Lux, IFLA President. =93We are
delighted to bestow this honour for her dedication in expanding access
to knowledge internationally through libraries=94.

=93It has been a privilege to work with librarians in transition and
developing countries=94, said Rima Kupryte. =93The OSI Network Library
Program, which I joined in 1995, gave me a unique opportunity to play a
role in the transformation of library services in countries affected by
the break-up of the Soviet Union. When eIFL was established as an
independent foundation in 2003, we were able to expand the benefits of
library consortia, and access to quality electronic resources, to other
parts of the world. I am very grateful to OSI for entrusting me with
this pioneering work, as well as the many great colleagues, friends and
the eIFL team who have provided inspiration and who have influenced me
over the years=94.

=93eIFL is extremely fortunate to have had Rima at its helm=94, said Hannie
Sander, Chairperson of the eIFL.net Advisory Board. "Rima has worked
with amazing energy to build eIFL up from a small project into a global
network encompassing 50 countries and more than 4,400 libraries. Under
her leadership, program areas have expanded from bulk licensing of
e-resources and support for the development of sustainable library
consortia, to advocacy and capacity building in open access and local
institutional repositories, fair copyright laws and the benefits of open
source solutions for library management systems. Her total commitment to
levelling the playing field for librarians and their users in transition
and developing countries has led eIFL to where it is today, a vibrant
knowledge-sharing network with an impressive array of programs and
capacity building events each year=94.

=93We are proud to have nominated Rima Kupryte for this award, the highest
such honour bestowed on a librarian from Lithuania=94, said Petras Zurlys,
President of the Lithuanian Librarians' Association. =93Libraries in our
country have benefited enormously from our membership of eIFL. When
Lithuania joined eIFL, not a single library had access to e-journals and
budgets for subscriptions were so low that a university could subscribe
to only a few foreign titles. Now our libraries offer access to over
25,000 titles in all academic disciplines. These valuable resources are
important for scientists and universities, but their availability
impacts on the whole of society=94.

=93I am delighted to accept this award not just for myself, but on behalf
of the entire eIFL network=94, said Rima Kupryte. =93Their trust,
partnership and friendship have enabled eIFL to help empower the library
community in countries situated in the former Soviet Union, central and
south-east Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The commitment of
librarians in providing quality services, despite many daily obstacles,
is always impressive. I am really happy to be part of the global eIFL
family=94.

Further information:

Rima Kupryte, Director
Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL)
c/o ADN Kronos, Piazza Mastai 9
00153 Rome, Italy
Tel: +(39)(06)5807216/17
E-mail: info@eifl.net
http://www.eifl.net/

Notes for Editors

eIFL.net

eIFL.net is an international foundation, which supports national library
consortia in more than fifty transition and developing countries to
negotiate and advocate for the wide availability of electronic resources
to education, research and professional communities as well as
governmental organisations and civil society. This global network
embraces millions of users in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the former
Soviet Union and the Middle East.