Session

Democracy and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin.

An equitable, inclusive world cannot exist without solving climate challenges and working on societal SDGs in a democratic society.

Many libraries, as public institutions, are involved in this important work with their communities. However, it can be difficult for libraries to take a stand and be “balanced” in a polarized world, especially with little available guidance.

In this session, we will explore and identify promising directions for how libraries can carry out this work.

Maximum capacity: 50 people

Host

Ton van Vlimmeren

President of European Bureau for Libraries Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA); co-founder Public Libraries 2030.

Ton van Vlimmeren was previously the director of the Utrecht Public Library and active in the networks of the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He is currently the president of EBLIDA, the European Library Association, co-founder of Public Libraries 2030 in Brussels, and a board member of a social housing corporation.