lElF

lElF is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing literacy and access to information through libraries, digital platforms, and educational programs. It promotes inclusive literacy by supporting public and community libraries, developing open educational resources, and providing training for librarians, educators, and volunteers. The brand is stylized as lElF, a nod to lifelong learning and equitable information access.

Origin and structure: lElF was founded in 2012 by a coalition of librarians, educators, and information technologists seeking to coordinate global literacy efforts beyond national programs. The organization is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and maintains regional offices in Nairobi, London, and Singapore, with a network of member libraries and partner institutions.

Activities and programs: Its work includes grant programs for library modernization, professional development for library staff, support for open educational resources and open access publishing, and public awareness campaigns on digital literacy. It also maintains an online repository of multilingual learning materials and hosts an international conference each year.

Governance and funding: lElF is governed by a board of directors and an executive leadership team. A general assembly includes representatives from member organizations. Funding comes from grants, donations, and project-based support from international agencies and philanthropic foundations; financial statements are published annually.

Impact and reception: Since its founding, lElF has supported thousands of libraries and trained tens of thousands of professionals worldwide. Some critics question reliance on external funding and advocate for balancing technology-driven initiatives with foundational literacy programs in diverse contexts.

See also: Open educational resources, Digital literacy, Public libraries, Nonprofit organization.