"The age of artificial intelligence (AI) marks the third transformation for libraries. The next four to five years will determine the future of libraries," said Cha Ji-ho, co-organizer of the upcoming 2026 World Library and Information Conference (WLIC), during a press briefing held at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on July 9.
The WLIC will take place from August 10 to 13 at BEXCO in Busan. Co-hosted by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the Korean Library Association, and the National Committee, the event is expected to attract over 3,000 participants from more than 150 countries. The conference will feature 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 conference is held in South Korea since the 2006 event in Seoul.
During the briefing, attendees emphasized the need for libraries to serve as spaces that uphold public value and bridge 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.
At the WLIC, the public accessibility and value of knowledge are expected to be key topics. Kim Seong-eon, an associate professor at Yonsei University’s Department of Library and Information Science, pointed out that as the level of AI technology utilization varies, the information gap is widening. He argued that libraries should become digital education spaces for citizens and hubs for AI training. Kim anticipates that the role of libraries as community spaces that connect people through reading, discussions, lectures, and cultural programs will become increasingly important, leading to related discussions at the conference.
Actor Yoo Ji-tae, appointed as a promotional ambassador for the WLIC, expressed concern that books and films are losing their intrinsic 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."
Meanwhile, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is an international organization established in 1927 in The Hague, Netherlands, dedicated to setting international standards for library operations and supporting cooperation among member countries.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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