Global Library Summit


The Global Library Summit (GLS), a premier international event series, envisages bringing together librarians, scholars, and policymakers from across the globe to explore the transformative power of libraries. The summit serves as a platform for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration in addressing the challenges and opportunities faced by libraries worldwide. In addition, the summit aims to facilitate the understanding of new paradigms in professional practices and foster international cooperation. The summit addresses several contemporary aspects of libraries, such as transformations in libraries, leveraging technologies to enhance services, bridging the digital divide by improved access, democratizing knowledge through open access, libraries as hubs of digital inclusion and literacy, sustainable resource management, and so on

Inaugural Venue

C D Deshmukh Auditorium

India International Center

New Delhi, Delhi 110003

Dates

5th
February
2025

Summit Venue

South Asian University

Rajpur Rd, Maidan Garhi, New

Delhi, Delhi 110068

Dates

6th - 7th
February
2025

The First Global Library Summit (GLS)

The first Global Library Summit (GLS) envisions a transformative platform for fostering international collaboration and cooperation among libraries worldwide, aiming to enhance access to information, promote educational development, and preserve cultural heritage on a global scale. By pooling resources and expertise across nations, libraries can address shared challenges such as limited funding, technological disparities, and restricted access to diverse information sources. Collaborative initiatives like shared digital libraries, interlibrary loan systems, joint cataloging projects, and cooperative training programs for library staff can significantly elevate the quality and reach of library services globally. These efforts will not only encourage cultural exchange and mutual understanding but also support global integration and development. The summit will explore "Library Diplomacy," emphasizing the role of libraries as neutral grounds for dialogue, cross-cultural knowledge sharing, and international cooperation.

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Summit Objectives

  • Promote International Cooperation: Facilitate cross-border collaboration among libraries, scholars, and policymakers to enhance global understanding and cooperation.
  • Encouraging Library Diplomacy: Highlight the critical role of libraries in cultural exchange, diplomacy, and the promotion of international peace and understanding.
  • Strengthen Libraries as Cultural Diplomacy Agents: Empower libraries to act as key players in cultural diplomacy, promoting mutual understanding and knowledge dissemination on the international stage.
  • Enhance Resource Sharing: Develop strategies for effective resource sharing among global libraries to improve access to knowledge and information.
  • Address Regional Challenges: Explore and address the unique challenges faced by regional libraries, focusing on solutions that are adaptable to diverse contexts.
  • Adapt to Digital Technologies: Support the adoption of digital technologies to modernize library services and ensure the preservation of cultural heritage in the digital age.
  • Foster Best Practices: Encourage the exchange of best practices and innovative approaches in library management and service delivery across different regions.

Organising Institutions

South Asian University is a joint initiative of the eight SAARC member nations—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka— aimed at providing world-class education

The LIS Academy (Library & Information Science Academy) is a professional charitable Trust established to work for the development of the Profession and to assist Libraries with the state-of-the-art technology.


Program Schedule

(Tentative)

9:30 To 10.30

Registration

10.30 – 12.00

Global Library Summit-2025 Inauguration

12.00 – 12.45

Keynote Address

12.45 – 14.00

Lunch

14.00 onwards

Departure for visit to World Book Fair -2025

19.00 onwards

Dinner

9.30 - 11.00

Session I: Library Diplomacy & Cultural Heritage Preservation

11.00 - 11.15

Tea Break

11:15 – 12.45

Session II: Library Resource Sharing

12.45 – 13.45

Lunch

13.45 – 15.15

Session III: National / Public Library System

15.15 – 15.30

Tea Break

15.30 – 17.00

Session IV: Technologies for Libraries

9:30 To 11.00

Session V: Capacity Building and User Engagement

11.00 – 11.15

Tea Break

11.15 – 12.45

Session VI: Case Studies & Best Practices

12.45 – 13.45

Lunch

13.45 – 14.45

Panel Discussion: Library Diplomacy

14.45 - 15.30

Valedictory Program

15.30 onwards

Visit to South Asian University