Conference Session 121

Libraries today and tomorrow: a force for change in our transforming societies?

President’s Theme Session

14 August 2012 09:30 - 12:45 | Room: Session Room 6

Watch the results on the IFLA Express site

Society is rapidly being changed and transformed through many external influences, such as access to and use of ICT, grass roots democracy movements, multiculturalism and cultural integration, and economic challenges in the distribution and use of wealth. This Session will discuss how changes influencing societies today may impact on democratising digital access in societies of tomorrow; and the role that libraries can have within that transformation of society.

The commentary of speakers and delegates will contribute to the IFLA Trend Report which will be launched in 2013.

Programme

Welcome and Opening remarks

Ingrid Parent, IFLA President

Presentations

[Moderator: Inga Lundén, IFLA Governing Board]

• Media and communications influences transforming societies
  Hanna Nikkanen, Finnish journalist and commentator on corporate social responsibility, technology and social justice.
• Civil rights in a digital environment
  Anna Troberg, President, Swedish Pirate Party
• Public Libraries: Defining their Society's Future
  Paul-Andre Baran, Digital Champion, Romania & Director of Biblionet, Bucharest, Romania

Break

Overview of the IFLA Trend Report project

Christine Mackenzie & Frédéric Blin, IFLA Governing Board

Interactive Discussion

Roundtable discussions bringing together the issues arising from the presentations and delegates thoughts on "inclusive libraries - transforming our libraries, transforming our societies".

Closing remarks

Ingrid Parent, IFLA President