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"Libraries and the fight against HIV/AIDS, poverty and corruption" takes up some of the big issues and major challenges facing the world: the HIV/AIDS pandemic, poverty and the reduction of it, and corruption and its counterpart transparency. The articles explore the role and responsibilities of libraries and information services, and how they can contribute to this fight. In regard to all three themes, authors call everyone's attention to the need to identify new responsibilities and values for the library profession. This report tries to answer the question of why libraries and information services should place stronger emphasis on issues concerning the condition and constraint of the environment in which they are operating, and by doing so recognize their social responsibilities and their role as advocates of intellectual freedom and equal participation in an inclusive information and knowledge society. This year's report clearly demonstrates the need for libraries' active involvement and support in the fight against HIV/AIDS, poverty and corruption. Contents of this report include: (1) Authors; (2) Acknowledgments (Susanne Seidelin and Paul Sturges); (3) Preface (Alex Byrne); (4) Introduction (Susanne Seidelin and Paul Sturges); (5) Information accessibility by the marginalized communities in South Africa and the role of libraries (Dennis Ocholla); (6) Information vaccine: HIV/AIDS and libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa (Kendra Albright); (7) India's public libraries: poised to meet the needs of the poor? (Anjali Gulati and John Riley); (8) Health information services in public libraries in Japan (Yasuyo Inoue); (9) The role of libraries in the dissemination of HIV/AIDS information in Trinidad and Tobago (Ernesta E. Greenidge, Marilyn Drayton-Andrews, and Marilyn Lewis); (10) The experience of Cuban libraries in preventing STI/HIV/AIDS (Margarita Pobea Reyes); (11) Information access for the poor and the role of libraries in the reduction of poverty (Celso M. Musino); (12) Information and transparency in Mexico: A mechanism to control corruption? (Oscar Maya Corzo); (13) Information and HIV/AIDS in Mexico: Towards building an appropriate system for public documentation? (Celso M. Musino & Oscar Maya Corzo); (14) Access to books, libraries and information literacy: Adoption of IFLA/UNESCO Manifestos and Guidelines by public and school libraries in South America (Marcia Rosetto); (15) Georgian libraries and the fight against HIV/AIDS, poverty, and corruption (Irakli Garibashvili); and (16) Conclusion (Susanne Seidelin and Thomas Skov Jensen). Appendices include: (1) Statement on Libraries and Sustainable Development; (2) Alexandria Manifesto on Libraries, the Information Society in Action; and (3) Beacons of the Information Society: The Alexandria Proclamation on Information Literacy and Lifelong Learning. (Individual sections contain figures, tables, notes and references.)

The IFLA/FAIFE World Report Series is unique. It is the only source based on a systematic data collection process that provides an overview of how libraries around the world are tackling barriers to freedom of access to information and freedom of expression. This year's edition includes 84 country reports which detail the extent of Internet access in libraries worldwide and address three specific areas of concern: Anti-terror legislation; freedom of information laws; and the social responsibilities of libraries such as raising awareness of HIV/AIDS and increasing women's access to information. This publication contains the following sections: (1) Acknowledgments (Susanne Seidelin & Stuart Hamilton); (2) Authors; (3) Preface (Kay Raseroka); (4) Introduction (Susanne Seidelin & Stuart Hamilton); (5) Libraries, Liberty and the USA PATRIOT ACT (Marc Lampson); (6) Freedom of Information Legislation, Libraries, and the Global Flow of Information (Barbara Jones); (7) IFLA and Social Responsibility: A Core Value of Librarianship (Al Kagan); (8) Methodology (Stuart Hamilton & Susanne Seidelin); (9) Country Reports (Stuart Hamilton & Susanne Seidelin); and (10) Analysis and conclusions (Stuart Hamilton & Susanne Seidelin). Seven appendices are included: (1) IFLA/FAIFE World Report 2005 Questionnaire; (2) The IFLA/FAIFE World Report Series; (3) National Security Legislation; (4) Follow-up of the work of the Social Responsibilities Discussion Group; (5) Women's Information Needs; (6) The IFLA Internet Manifesto; and (7) The Glasgow Declaration on Libraries, Information Services and Intellectual Freedom. Individual sections contain notes. [Funding for this report was provided by the German Library Umbrella (BID).]

The IFLA/FAIFE (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions/Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression) Theme Report 2004 presents visions of how libraries can promote literacy and lifelong learning. The literacy process has to be recognised as inclusive of all ranges of communication, and it occurs at all levels and ages of societies, whether they are predominantly oral societies or have a culture of reading as a basis for accessing information. The authors explore the relationship between unrestricted access to information and lifelong literacy in a wide variety of ways. Their approaches, however, have an underlying link in common. Each approach seeks to tell us something important about the way information nourishes the skills that a human being requires to function as an autonomous actor in the world. What is seen in the Report is that libraries in developing countries have to come up with novel ways to deal with problems that bigger, richer countries are able to tackle differently. The contributions to this report show how different processes--funding partnerships, community involvement, staff and user training--can be implemented to enable libraries to make a greater contribution to the lifelong learning process. The situations and solutions outlined here may inspire librarians in other countries in their quest to empower their users. Contents include: (1) Acknowledgements (Paul Sturges and Susanne Seidelin); (2) Preface (Kay Raseroka); (3) Introduction (Paul Sturges and Susanne Seidelin); (4) Democratic Access to Information in Chilean Public Libraries (Clara Budnik Sinay); (5) Central America: Diversity and Challenge for Literacy--The Case of Costa Rica (Ana Cecilia Torres Munoz); (6) Empowering People through ICT-Enabled Lifelong Learning, Role of Libraries and NGOs in South Asia (Basheerhamad Shadrach and Nikhil Raj); (7) Indigenous Knowledge, Minority Languages and Lifelong Learning: A Role for Public Libraries? (Peter Johan Lor); (8) Library Responses to Information Literacy and Life Long Learning in the SADC Region (Ellen Ndeshi Namhila); and (9) Conclusion: An Inclusive Information and Knowledge Society (Susanne Seidelin and Stuart Hamilton). Appendices contain: The IFLA Internet Manifesto; Statement on Indigenous Traditional Knowledge; and Statement on Libraries and Sustainable Development. (Individual chapters contain notes and references.)

This paper describes the relation between mankind and diseases. HIV/AIDS is no exception; since it first appeared on the scene; many sectors within society have searched for ways to reduce its impact. Therefore, we consider that a better informed society can generate answers on this scourge and find effective alternatives to reduce and or prevent the impact of the pandemic. The paper provides a general view of the HIV/AIDS situation in Mexico and its impact over the last years, as well as discusses national , regional and worldwide proposals, and actions taken by institutions engaged in the fight to prevent and control HIV/AIDS. We also include examples of some of these initiatives such as international congresses, paper presentations, advocacy and promotion activities, and articles in the media. We conclude that due to the fast growing of HIV/AIDS, information professionals should collaborate more actively in the organization and sistematisation of documental information systems, using the Communication and Information Technologies (ICT’s) as a crucial resources.

To provide an overview of the situation of the general population of Mexico, this article Hill discuss some basic and recent socio economic statistical information including official statistics on library infrastructure and the use of Communication and Information Technologies (ICT’s) – specifically, the use of internet inside and outside of homes. Some significant results of a survey on reading habits of the residents of Mexico City Metropolitan Area included – e.g. citizens’ reading habits and preferred places to read compared to their personal income level. This article will also discuss an analysis of national programmes on poverty. However in relation to the reduction of poverty in Mexico, there exist are many challenges to meet, topics to analyze, and research to do to fully measure the possible impact of libraries in future. [NB: original and unchanged as written from the author. ZMMM].