Theme: “Advocacy, Collaboration, and Transformation: Libraries Shaping the Future in Times of Global Change”
Introduction
On behalf of the IFLA Regional Council, the Asia-Oceania RDC, Europe RDC, Latin America & the Caribbean RDC, Middle East & North Africa RDC, North America RDC, and the Sub-Saharan Africa RDC, we are seeking proposals for papers to be presented at a session to be held at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Busan, South Korea, 10-13 August 2026.
Advocacy, Collaboration, and Transformation: Libraries Shaping the Future in Times of Global Change
Building on our 2025 session “Advocacy and Collaboration in a Time of Global Upheaval,” the 2026 Regional Council session invites proposals that explore how libraries across regions are not only responding to global disruption but actively powering transformation in their societies, institutions, and professional ecosystems.
As geopolitical tension, technological acceleration, economic inequity, and information disorder continue to reshape our world, the role of libraries as trusted, community-driven, future‑oriented institutions has never been more essential. We seek contributions demonstrating how advocacy and collaboration are evolving within this context — and how libraries are driving meaningful change.
Suggested topics
We welcome proposals that address (but are not limited to) the following themes. Proposals should clearly focus on an evolution in the ways that libraries are doing advocacy and/or partnerships, explaining the drivers and implications of change, and a look ahead to what further developments can be expected:
1. Transformative Advocacy in a Shifting World
- Libraries strengthening democratic participation and intellectual freedom amid political change.
- Strategies for maintaining institutional trust in polarized environments.
- Evidence-based advocacy models that successfully influenced policy at local, national, or regional levels.
- How advocacy strategies have changed in response to disruption
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Proposals are encouraged to reflect explicitly on how advocacy approaches have evolved over time, including what disruptions, conditions, or opportunities prompted these changes and how libraries adapted their strategies in response
2. Partnerships for Greater Impact
- Cross-regional and cross-sector collaborations that demonstrate new approaches.
- Partnerships that address global issues such as misinformation, digital inequity, migration, or climate disruption.
- Regional alliances that amplify voices of marginalized or underserved communities.
3. Digital Transformation, AI, and the Future of Library Services
- Library-led initiatives leveraging AI, immersive technologies, or data governance models.
- Ensuring inclusive, equitable access in rapidly digitizing societies — tying directly to WLIC 2026’s emphasis on digital equity.
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Concrete examples illustrating how libraries have shifted their digital or technological approaches in response to changing user needs, technological acceleration, or equity considerations
4. Cultural Leadership and Community Resilience
- Libraries supporting cultural identity, multilingual communities, and heritage preservation.
- Programs emerging from regions experiencing conflict, displacement, or social upheaval.
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Evolving and transferable models for engagement with multicultural, displaced, and vulnerable communities
5. Innovative Models for Regional Engagement within IFLA
- How Regional Divisions are strengthening representation, communication, and strategy.
- How regional collaboration structures have meaningfully shifted, including changes in governance, communication, or modes of cooperation
- New models for cross-division cooperation aligned with IFLA’s evolving governance and WLIC structure.
Across all themes, proposals should foreground change—how practices, strategies, or structures have evolved—and consider the implications of these shifts for future regional and global library work.
Submissions may include:
- Lightning talks
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10-minute presentations
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Panel with multiple regional perspectives
- Practice-based case studies
- Research-informed analyses
We encourage formats that foster dialogue, exchange, and cross-regional learning.
Important dates & deadlines:
- 11/05/2026: Deadline for submission of proposals/abstracts
- 31/05/2026: Notification to authors about the status of a submission
Submission guidelines
Proposals should include:
- Maximum 500 words
- In one of IFLA’s official languages
- Include: title, all authors, institutional affiliation, contact email, and presentation format preference.
- Indicate whether your proposal shares a regional perspective or is cross-regional.
Send proposals via email to: Abeer S. Al-Kuwari and Evviva Weinraub Lajoie
Please note:
- At least one of the paper’s authors must be present to summarize the paper during the program in Busan. Abstracts are to be submitted only with the understanding that the expenses of attending the conference will be the responsibility of the author(s)/presenter(s) of accepted papers.
- All papers must use the WLIC Paper template, which will be provided when your paper is accepted
- The language of the session is expected to be English.
- All papers presented at the WLIC 2026 will be available online under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
- All papers must be unpublished and not previously presented.
- Authors must disclose whether they submit this proposal to another WLIC 2026 session.
- Authors of accepted papers must complete the IFLA Authors’ Permission Form.
- Authors and presenters must adhere to the Presenter guidelines provided when your paper is accepted
- All expenses, including registration for the conference, travel, accommodation, etc., are the responsibility of the authors/presenters. IFLA does not provide any financial support.
Congress Participation Grants
A list of opportunities for support is available on the Grants and Awards page of the WLIC website.