Front page of Guide to Combatting Illicit Trafficking

November 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. 

This Convention provides an international framework for the prevention of theft and looting, as well as the return and restitution of stolen cultural property.

The common understanding of cultural property trafficking tends to focus primarily on theft of art and antiquities.

So where do libraries fit in?

IFLA has created an introductory guide to help outline the unique challenges of fighting the illicit trafficking and theft of library collections. Read on to better understand key points of this issue and discover how libraries can contribute to the mission of the 1970 Convention.   

Download here: Combatting Illicit Trafficking of Documentary Cultural Heritage [pdf]