Ignite Talk

Leave no one behind – bring languages to the front.

Leave no one behind is one of the central aims of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). A slogan that is in many ways also at the core of library work all around the world. Libraries reach out to citizens in all corners of society and welcome all, trying not to “leave anyone behind”. Though much has been done, more can still be done to welcome multilingual citizens.

In the talk I will share experiences of how multilingual citizens – mostly children and young people – have contributed to collaborative language and culture programs at libraries, schools and NGO‘s in Iceland and Denmark. I will also present the library platform, Language Loving Libraries, where library professionals can share and develop ideas of how to take advantage of multiple languages while working towards the SDG.

Host

Kristin R. Vilhjálmsdóttir

Kristin R. Vilhjálmsdóttir is experienced within the field of teaching as well as library development, with 10 years as a teacher in Denmark and 12 years as intercultural project manager at Reykjavik City. Since 2020, she has been based in Århus with her company Kulturkompasset (The Culture Compass) as an independent consultant and educator. She facilitates and develops projects as an external collaborator for schools and libraries in Denmark and Iceland. She puts an effort into making as many pathways as possible for libraries and schools to work together in helping children and their languages flourish.