With new Chair, Brian Wafawarowa, the IPA’s LIBS committee met in Frankfurt to lay the groundwork for a range of new workstreams including the IPA UN Sustainable Development Goals Book Club, and renewed work on VAT on eBooks following the recent success in Europe. The committee will also look to develop the IPA’s literacy work through the MoU with IBBY.

José Borghino, IPA Secretary General said: ‘Partnering with IBBY makes so much sense for IPA. Literacy is the foundation of our industry and the work of IBBY to help young people around the world access books and develop that love of reading is fully supported by IPA. We look forward to working together to amplify that work.’

Liz Page, Executive Director of IBBY added: ‘IBBY is delighted to be able to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Publishers Association – IPA. Our work is parallel in many ways and IBBY will use its wide network of 79 National Sections to support the freedom to publish and the fundamental rights of authors and illustrators to freedom of expression. IBBY will further encourage respect for the international copyright laws in all its activities and programmes. The joint celebration and promotion of International Children’s Book Day during the month of April will further both organizations’ work towards reading promotion.’

You can read the Memorandum of Understanding here