IFLA is proud to be working with the Goethe-Institut on the Emerging International Voices programme, an initiative bringing together key library thinkers of the future in order to discuss key issues around the role of digital technologies in library services.

The emerging voices – presented on our news page – will take part in three webinars, followed by masterclasses with key experts from the library field. We are happy to say that the webinars will be open to the public. 

The third session is entitled Competitors, Comparators, Complements? Digital Libraries and Internet Giants. There have been many obituaries written for libraries, and yet they remain stubbornly present and popular with communities. Nonetheless, the rise of commercial internet platforms, facilitating both access to information and other everyday activities, does oblige the field to think about how libraries prove their ongoing importance for society. We want participants in this session to explore questions around the purpose and value-added of libraries in a world of digital platforms, what we can learn, and where we can focus.

Our speakers will be Marie Ostergaard (Aarhus Central Library) and Harry Verwayen (Europeana) 

The session takes place from 1-2pm CEST (see what time this is for you).

You can register for the webinar, or simply watch it live on IFLA’s YouTube channel.