World Library and information Congress 2021:
How Joyn Brought together Over 4,000 Attendees for the World Library & Information Congress
IFLA is an organization that acts as the global voice of libraries, representing both the interests of the profession and working to improve library services across the globe.
2021's virtual congress was structured over three days and was designed to accommodate attendees across three time zones: Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa; Asia and Oceania; and North America and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Conference
At A Glance
- 3-day global virtual event
- 4,167 attendees
- 7 languages
- 6 concurrent streams
- 24-hour networking rooms
- 408 speakers
- 66 ePosters
Overview
The Congress took place from the 17th to the 19th of August 2021, bringing together over 4000 delegates across 70 countries. The content was delivered across 3 different time zones, offered in 7 different Languages, and ran over 6 concurrent live streams.
Accessibility, Engagement, and Interactivity were important for IFLA when it came to the content and the platform. Joyn implemented the below features on the platform to deliver:
- Dedicated accessibility page outlining exactly how to navigate the features of the platform, this included automatically generated closed captions available, using the AWS speech recognition engine in 7 languages, screen reader and browser magnification across the platform and keyboard navigation to ensure the most success on the platform when using a screen reader
- 24/7 networking rooms available for delegates to engage across all 70 countries
- Gamification features included a scavenger hunt, trivia, and a photo-booth
- A wellness zone where delegates could come to participate in meditation, yoga, and relaxation techniques
Key Considerations
Joyn was selected as the event partner for The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), World Library and Information Congress for 2021. IFLA went to market to find the best virtual event platform that would support the energetic and spirited atmosphere of their Congress.
"Our 86th World Library and Information Congress – and first ever virtual one – came to an end, with the last of over 160 sessions packed with knowledge, insights and exchange. We learned a lot during those three days, not just about the latest developments and perspectives within our profession, but also about how to deliver the unique buzz of a World Library and Information Congress online." - Gerald Leitner, Secretary General, IFLA
Outcomes & Key Takeaways
The Congress was a huge success and the delegates thoroughly enjoyed their experience on the Joyn platform. The engagement from the IFLA delegates was the most we had ever seen and this comes down to the thought and creativity that was put into the platform and event content.
