Libraries around the world are figuring out how to ensure that technological advances do not widen the gap between people

Every generation has its own technological breakthrough. For some, it was the press or radio; for others, television or the internet. Today, artificial intelligence is driving such a breakthrough. However, the most important question remains the same: how can we ensure that new opportunities are accessible to everyone, not just those who adapt to change the fastest?

Libraries, whose role in society is changing along with people’s needs, are also seeking answers to this question today.

These issues were the subject of extensive discussion this year at the 90th Congress of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), held in South Korea. Aušrinė Žilinskienė, Director General of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, also participated in the event. The discussions focused heavily on the impact of artificial intelligence on information retrieval and its reliability, digital inclusion, and the role of libraries in a rapidly changing society.

From Access to Books to Access to Reliable Knowledge

According to A. Žilinskienė, libraries have always served the same purpose—helping people access knowledge.

“Formats, technologies and reading habits have changed, but the core mission of libraries has remained the same – to ensure access to reliable knowledge. Today, this mission is taking on new forms and methods, as libraries help people to make use of digital resources, develop new skills and adapt to the changes taking place in society”, says A. Žilinskienė, Director of the National Library of Lithuania.

Today, this means not only access to information, but also the ability to evaluate, understand and apply it in practice. According to A. Žilinskienė, libraries are now increasingly seen not only as custodians of knowledge, but also as centres for digital inclusion, information literacy and technological skills. Whereas libraries used to teach people how to use computers and the internet, today they teach people how to utilise artificial intelligence.

National libraries bear a special responsibility – not only to preserve the country’s documentary heritage, but also to ensure that it is accessible to the public. For example, the ‘eKultūra’ digital culture platform, coordinated by the National Library, brings together over a million cultural heritage items that are freely accessible to the public.

The accessibility of publications remains a key focus of the National Library’s work. The National Library’s project, aimed at increasing the availability of publications in easy-to-read language for young people with disabilities in the Baltic states, has received international recognition. It was selected as one of three initiatives worldwide to receive funding from the IFLA Impact & Innovation Fund. Out of 51 ideas submitted for funding, projects from the National Library of Qatar, ‘Library Aid Africa’ – an organisation providing support to libraries in Africa – and the National Library of Lithuania were selected.

What will help us discern what is trustworthy in the age of artificial intelligence?

In international discussions among library leaders, much attention has been focused not on the technologies themselves, but on trust in information.

This topic was one of the main themes at the Conference of Directors of National Libraries (CDNL), held as part of the IFLA Congress, which brings together the heads of national libraries from around the world. In the discussions, libraries were described as potential ‘guardians of trust’. This concept refers to the ability to preserve reliable sources and high-quality data, and to enable the public to access verified information.

“Technology can help us access information quickly, but it does not eliminate the need for reliable sources. The strength of libraries has always been their ability to collect, preserve and pass on knowledge in a way that ensures it can be trusted. Let us not dismiss the idea that it is libraries that will, in the future, create an open and universally accessible intellectual resource, just as they have been creating an open and free infrastructure for centuries”, says A. Žilinskienė.

The library of the future – a place to prepare for the future

Although technology is often emphasised when discussing the library of the future, people remain at the centre of attention.

The library of the future is not merely a place where the past will be preserved. It is a space where people meet, collaborate and develop digital skills.

Consequently, increasing attention will be paid to AI literacy, accessibility for people with disabilities, and solutions that help the widest possible section of society to benefit from the opportunities offered by technological change. Libraries cannot solve these challenges on their own, but they can become a vital part of the infrastructure, helping people to navigate the era of digital change and ensuring that access to knowledge, learning and culture is open to as many people as possible.

“The library of the future will not just be a place where we preserve the past. It will be a place where we help people prepare for the future. Because we are the ones who shape the future”, says the Director General of the National Library of Lithuania.

About the Congress

The 90th IFLA World Congress of Library and Information Professionals took place from 10 to 13 August in Busan, South Korea. According to official figures, 3,191 delegates from 111 countries and regions attended.

The congress programme featured over 200 professional sessions, with around 350 speakers taking part. The National Library of Lithuania has been involved in IFLA’s activities for several decades, contributing to the work of professional committees and expert groups.

Next year, the Congress will take place in the United Kingdom and will coincide with the celebration of IFLA’s centenary.