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| Chancellor Cindy L. Miles |
The summit, Libraries From Now On: Imagining the Future, will bring together thought leaders from the library community, from a broad spectrum of educational organizations, federal agencies and foundations that work with libraries to begin a national conversation about the future and libraries. Fewer than 80 participants nationwide were invited to attend the summit.
“Libraries are a vital resource for educating our students to become informed and educated citizens, and I’m delighted to be part of the discussion on ways they can continue to serve students in the future,” Miles said.
Barbara Stripling, president of the American Library
Association, commented, “Libraries are a reflection of their
communities. As societal trends change, so must libraries transform
themselves in order to provide services, resources, and learning opportunities
that enable their community members to thrive in a changed
environment. Every type of library—public, school, academic, and
special —is impacted by societal and technological trends, but in different
ways. Innovative thinking is required for libraries to transform
themselves, and this innovation is best nurtured through collaborative thought
and action.”
Four keynote speakers will challenge the Summit participants to imagine a library of the future.
Dr. Stephen Dubner, an American journalist, best known
for his book Freakonomics and his provocative blog, will focus on how to
think differently about the future.
Joel Garreau is the Lincoln Professor of Law, Culture and
Values at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State
University. His books "Nine Nations of North America" and
"Radical Revolution" look at social and human change that might be
expected in the future and will be the topic of his presentation.
Dr. Renu Khator, chancellor and president of the
University of Houston, will focus her remarks on the future of formal and
informal learning and education.
Thomas Frey, well known futurist speaker, is the
executive director of the DaVinci Institute and author of "Communicating
with the Future." Mr. Frey will discuss expectations for the
future of technology and its impact on society.
Joan Frye Williams, a librarian consultant and futurist,
will conclude the Summit with a summary of the key points she heard throughout
the two days.
Recordings of all Summit presentations will be available
following the event, along with a report on the Summit discussions. Members of
the library community will also be invited to join an ongoing discussion about
important trends that will impact us in the coming years, and how we can best
position ourselves to thrive in that future.
The Summit will serve as a “kickoff” to the planned
Center for the Future of Libraries, which will be established by the American
Library Association in the summer of 2014. The Summit is supported with a grant
from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and contributions from the
Library of Congress.
For more information about the Summit, speakers,
participants, and the Center for the Future of Libraries, go to the Summit Community on ALA Connect.
