Memories - Next Library

Memories

Our story

Aarhus Public Libraries have hosted biennial Next Library® Festivals since 2009. Next Library® Satellites were added in 2014. Get a glimpse of the historic highlights can be seen in the timeline below.

2025

Next Library 2025, Aarhus
May 24-27

We are gearing up for Next Library Festival 2025.

Stay tuned!

 

Next Library 2023, Aarhus
May 14-16

This year we’re able to meet in the real world. Get ready for sessions and keynotes about democracy, play, and sustainable development goals.

 

2023

2021

Next Library ONLINE FESTIVAL - June 3

A one-day online event following the sun’s orbit around all time zones. Keynotes by Peter MacLeod, Ryan Jenkins, and Rolf Hapel

 

VOICES OF NEXT LIBRARY, Online
APRIL 12-16

As a warm up for the Next Library on June 3rd we welcome you to share your stories, mistakes and get involved with the Next Library community!

2021

2019

Next Library 2019, Aarhus
JUNE 2-4

Three days of inspiration for 400 participants from 44 countries at Dokk1 i Aarhus. Keynotes by Herman Wasserman, Louise Bernard, Christopher Breedlove, Martin Brynskov, and Glòria Pérez-Salmerón.

Next Library Berlin

Next Library SATTELITE, Berlin
SEpTEMBER 12-15

400 participants from 39 countries met in Berlin, Germany for the second ever Next Library Satellite.

Keynotes by Richard David Lankes, Nina Simon, Stefan Kaduk, and Sandi Hilal.

2018

2017

Next Library 2017, Aarhus
JUNE 11-14

350 participants from 38 different countries met in Dokk1, Aarhus for four days of sharing and inspiration.

Keynotes by Peter MacLeod, HRH Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, Philipp Schmidt, and Deborah Jacobs.

NEXT LIBRARY 2015, Aarhus
JUNE 12-15

Five days of presentations, interactive sessions, networking events, and inspiring site visits marked the international opening of Dokk1 in Aarhus, Denmark. 350 participants from from 30 countries + special guests enjoyed keynotes by Deborah Jacobs, Erhardt Graeff, Donna Scheeder and Dimitris Protopsaltou.

2015

2014

Next Library Satellite, Chicago
JUne 20-25

The first ever Satellite with keynotes by Bo Stjerne Thomsen, Rahm Emanuel, John G. Palfrey, Jr., and Tina Sciabica.

NEXT LIBRARY 2013, Aarhus
JUNE 17-18

348 people from 38 different countries enjoyed the keynotes by Gerfried Stocker, Deborah Jacobs, Mark Jones, and Pat Losinski.

2013

2012

Next Library NORDIC CAMP 3, OSLO
September

At the last Nordic Camp 52 participants from Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark worked together for two days, discussing strategic challenges ranging from future competencies to change the library brand and to build the necessary partnerships.

NEXT LIBRARY NORDIC CAMP 2, STOCKHOLM
September

The second Nordi Camp took place in Stockholm. 
56 participants from til libraries in Reykjavik, Akureyri, Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm and Aarhus worked together for two days on co-creating trends, challenges and ideas for the Nordic Public Libraries.  
The take-off was a co-creation of trends which has impact on public libraries of the future.

2011

2011

Next Library 2011, Aarhus
June 16-19

Keynote by Jens Thorhauge. 

NEXT LIBRARY NORDIC CAMP 1: ICE CAmp, Reykjavik
June 20-23

Based on the learnings from the first camp in Helsinki this as the first of 3 Nordic Camps. 73 participants from Reykjavik, Kopavogur, Akureyri, Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm and Aarhus worked together for two days on strategic challenges ranging from ”How to build flexibility into libraries?” to ”How to merge the digital into the physical”.

2010

2009

Next Library 2009, Aarhus
June 19-21

This event was planned as an un-conference. The program was a mix of invited speakers, postersessions, speed-presentations and open sessions where co-creators and participants decided what should happen.
Before the conference the Next Library community was invited to post suggestions and ideas. Speakers and co-creators: Deborah Jacobs, Helene Blowers, Gene Tan, Ellen Walraven and Eppo van Nispen tot Sevenaer, Nate Hill, June Garcia, Erik Boekesteijn, Jaap Van De Geer, Geert Van Den Boogaard and many more. 

NEXT LIBRARY CAMP, Helsinki
NOVEMBER 17-18

In 2008, the city libraries in Helsinki, Stockholm and Aarhus entered a three-year cooperation on exchanging experiences, ideas and inspiration for innovation of libraries of the future.  

The activities should cover at least one 48-hour library camp a year as well as ongoing contact between members of staff and managers. This camp in Helsinki was the first experiment to try out what the camp format could do for  the development of network and new ideas. 

2008

2007

Elevations - The Networking library, Aarhus
June 10-12

A conference on strategic innovation, networking, co-creation, democracy & participation.  
The conference focused on that exact point of elevation that takes quality, relevance and knowledge to a higher level. Where engaging in strategic networking and userbased innovation make an important difference. Speakers: Teresa Peters, Christine MacKenzie, Rob Froud, Nancy Tessman, Samuli Kunttu and more.

Children's Interactive Library
may 2

Strategies and prototypes for the future Children’s Library. The exhibition “The Children’s Interactive Library” presented innovative prototypes and installations that support playfulness and tangibility. Speakers: Melanie Huggins, Marijke Troelstra, Karen Bertrams, Ingrid Bon, Jens Thorhauge, Kirsten Drotner, Bente Buchhave and Peter Gall Krogh

2006

2004

Transformations 2004

Transformations - The Library in Progress
june 13-15

conference on the Physical library – architecture, community values and knowledge mediation. Organized by the “Halmstad Conference Group” and Aarhus Public Libraries. Speakers: Deborah Jacobs, Joshua Ramus, Susan Kent, Alfred Pfoser, Jens Thorhauge, Ngian Lek Choh, Kaj Groenbaek, Winnie Vitzansky and Mogens Brabrand.

Scandinavia Meets the World
June 10-12

A meeting between culture- and library politicians, Nordic library leaders and professional colleagues plus a number of library executives from all over the world.

Speakers: Chris Batt, Maija Berndtson, Josephine Bryant, Christopher Chia, Glen E. Holt, Breda Karin, Andreas Mittrowann, Sue Sutherland and Jens Thorhauge / Denmark. 

2001

Festival 2025

Next Library is back! Get ready for inspirational talks, exciting site visits and ignite talks, interactive sessions, and lots of networking in 2025. 

Community

Next Library is more than a conference; it is a community that has grown to more than 1700 library leaders and innovators from 96 countries around the world.  

News

Stay updated on the latest news about upcoming Next Library Events, new discussions in the forum, articles to read an much more.

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