Since 2007, the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament and the IFLA Section on Library and Research Services for Parliaments have established a successful partnership with the aim of strengthening the capacity of parliamentary libraries to respond to parliament's information needs by better harnessing information and communication technologies. Several joint initiatives have been undertaken through this partnership, such as workshops and training, compilation and analyses of data, and preparation of studies and reports.

In the next months, the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament intends to finalize, in collaboration with the IFLA Section on Library and Research Services for Parliaments, a Handbook on the use of ICT in parliamentary libraries and research services, which will cover various topics ranging from cataloguing to digital information services, from digitization to connecting MPs and citizens to services through social media.

The objective of the Handbook is to outline the innovations and emerging trends brought about by ICT in parliamentary libraries and research services, also in light of the recently published Guidelines for Legislative Libraries, and to provide guidance and ready references to their staff. As a support to the Handbook preparation, the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament has also agreed with the IFLA Section on Library and Research Services for Parliaments to conduct a joint survey with a view to gather information relevant to the Handbook outcome and recommendations.

The preparation of the Handbook benefits from the advice and expertise of a number of members of the IFLA Section on Library and Research Services for Parliaments who work as a virtual team through a Working Group. The members of the Working Group work collaboratively under the moderation of a senior exper to support the analysis of the responses of the survey and to provide contributions on the draft of each chapter and on the final complete draft of the Handbook.