"The age of artificial intelligence (AI) marks the third transformation for libraries. The next four to five years will determine the future of libraries."
This statement was made by Cha Ji-ho, co-organizer of the 2026 Busan World Library and Information Congress, during a press conference held at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on July 9.
The World Library and Information Congress will take place from August 10 to 13 at BEXCO in Busan. Co-hosted by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, the Korean Library Association, and the National Committee, the event is expected to attract over 3,000 participants from more than 150 countries. The agenda includes keynote speeches and discussions on AI and library innovation, presentations of global library innovation cases, poster sessions, K-Culture experience zones, exhibitions, and cultural events. This will be the first time the congress is held in South Korea since the 2006 event in Seoul.
Participants at the press conference emphasized the need for libraries to serve as spaces that uphold public value and address the information gap as AI rapidly changes access to information.
Cha noted that libraries have evolved from a print-centric era to an information age and are now entering another transition into an "intelligence system" era based on AI. He highlighted the role of public libraries in reducing knowledge and information disparities, stressing the importance of examining how the knowledge system centered on public value will change in the AI era.
The congress is expected to focus on the public accessibility of knowledge as a key agenda item. Kim Sung-eon, an associate professor at Yonsei University’s Department of Library and Information Science, pointed out that as the level of AI technology utilization widens the information gap, libraries must become digital education spaces and hubs for AI training for citizens. He anticipates that discussions on the library's role as a community space connecting people through reading, discussions, lectures, and cultural programs will gain prominence at the event.
Actor Yoo Ji-tae, appointed as a promotional ambassador for the World Library and Information Congress, expressed concern that books and films are losing their unique value amid the rapid development of AI. He lamented that libraries and cinemas are often perceived merely as buildings rather than cultural assets. He stated, "If food shapes our bodies, culture nurtures our minds and spirits. Just as we learn emotions and life through good books and films, libraries are invaluable cultural assets that preserve our spirit and culture."
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, established in 1927 in The Hague, Netherlands, is an international organization that sets global standards for library operations and supports cooperation among member countries.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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