Bibliotheca Baltica 2026 Symposium on Reading, Libraries, and Cultural Sustainability
In our rapidly evolving world, we find ourselves navigating a landscape filled with written material, yet simultaneously witnessing a growing disconnection from traditional print media. Increasingly, we turn to social media, short videos, audiobooks and AI-tools for information and entertainment. This raises important questions about the nature and transformations of reading in today’s society: What does it mean to read in this digital age? How do changes in reading habits change libraries? Do reading and libraries remain integral to our learning processes? As new technologies take up more and more of our time instead of quality reading, are libraries under threat? How are the role and mission of libraries changing due to changes in reading?
The Bibliotheca Baltica 2026 Symposium, scheduled for November 5 and 6 in Helsinki, invites you to explore these pressing questions and more. Our goal is to engage in a meaningful dialogue about how evolving reading practices and digital innovations are reshaping our understanding of reading and libraries. We will examine the extent to which libraries can adapt to meet societal needs, the types of specialists required in libraries today, and the proactive steps we have taken and must take to remain competitive in the cultural and knowledge landscape of the future. Furthermore, we will address the critical role libraries play in combating the rising tide of disinformation, and what this has to do with changes in reading habits.
We welcome representatives from all types of libraries, as well as experts from academic institutions and information specialists, to participate in this vital conversation. Your insights and experiences are crucial as we assess the changes in library activities and the opportunities available to us in response to rapid socio-cultural shifts.
We invite contributions that focus on the following themes:
1. Reading Promotion as an Aspect of Public Culture Development:
- Changes in reading habits and the way in which they influence libraries
- Innovative initiatives by libraries to promote reading
- The role of reading in community mobilization
2. Reading Culture and the Growing Threat by Disinformation:
- How reading fosters information literacy and critical thinking
- Strategies for improving resilience against disinformation
3. The Role of Libraries in Strengthening Identity and Social Cohesion:
- The contributions of libraries to the development of civic society
- Promoting multilingualism and multiculturalism through information literacy
4. The Skills or Specialists Needed in Libraries Today:
- Challenges in training library professionals
- The importance of intersectoral cooperation and social partnerships
Join us in this exploration of the intersection between reading, libraries, and cultural sustainability. Your proposals will contribute to a richer understanding of these themes and help shape the future of libraries in our communities. We look forward to your submissions and to an inspiring symposium.
The submitted proposals should consist of:
– the proposed title
– a short summary (max 250 words)
– a short CV
Please send submissions prior to 10th April 2026 to Dr Jürgen Warmbrunn (juergen.warmbrunn@herder-institut.de)