Transforming Social Connections through Libraries(7 August)
Ahead of the IFLA’s WLIC 2026 in Busan, Republic of Korea, a one-day satellite conference will be held in Seoul, featuring a stimulating program in a variety of formats, including keynotes, panel sessions, ignite talks, and learning circles.
| Theme | Transforming Social Connections through Libraries |
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| Date | Friday, 7 August 2026 |
| Venue | Seoul Book Bogo, 1 Ogeum-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea |
| Spoken Language | English |
| Registration Fee | KRW 35,000 / approx. EUR 23 |
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 08:00 - 08:25 | Registration & (Coffee Socialization) |
| 08:25 - 08:40 | Welcome from Organizing Committee and Host |
| 08:40 - 09:40 | Keynote From Scale Expansion to Sustainable Empowerment: The Evolutionary Trajectory and Future Transformation of Public Library Architecture in China by Dr Jianzhong Wu (former Director of the Shanghai Library and the University Librarian of the University of Macau Library) |
| 09:45 - 10:15 | 1) Panel: Dr Jianzhong Wu & Mr. Gene Tan (Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Strategy & Experiences, Singapore National Library), Donald Gilstrap (Dean and Professor of University of Alabama Libraries) |
| 2) Panel: Christine Tan Chui Peng | |
| Bio : Tan Chui Peng brings over two decades of experience at NLB, where she currently leads a network of 28 public libraries serving Singapore's diverse population of nearly 6 million. She has extensive experience in managing libraries in a highly urbanized and multicultural environment. Chui Peng is a member of the IFLA Metropolitan Libraries Section and was a Past President of the Library Association of Singapore | |
| 10:15 -10:45 | Reading Party |
| 10:45 - 12:00 | Ignite Talks |
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| 12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch |
| 13:00 - 14:30 | Learning Circle |
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| 14:30 - 15:30 | Ignite Talks |
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| 15:30 – 15:50 | Break |
| 15:50 – 16:25 | Presentation on Outdoor Library |
| 16:25 – 16:40 | Wrap up |
Abstract for Keynote
| Dr Jianzhong Wu | From Scale Expansion to Sustainable Empowerment: The Evolutionary Trajectory and Future Transformation of Public Library Architecture in China |
|---|---|
| Dr Wu Jianzhong worked in library science for over 30 years. He was appointed by the Shanghai government as a consultant after leaving the position as the director of the Shanghai Library. He was later invited by the University of Macau to serve as its librarian to promote the development of its library. As well as his roles heading major public and university libraries in China, Dr Wu was vice president of the Council of the Library Society of China, and head of a committee for academic research. He was elected to the governing board of IFLA in 2001 and edited the IFLA publication New Library Buildings of the World, 2nd Edition (2007). Dr Wu was born in 1956 in Shanghai and majored in Japanese studies. He obtained a master’s degree in library science from East China Normal University and was assigned to work in Shanghai Library after graduation. At age 29, he was appointed deputy director of Shanghai Library and worked in the position from 1988 to 1991. Later, Wu obtained a PhD degree from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom. |
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Ignite Talk Abstract & Speaker Biographies
| 1 | Appleyard, Andy (British Library) |
| Title : Lean Libraries: Building Smarter Storage the Toyota Way | |
| Biographies: Andy is the British Library’s Senior Director of Operations (North) and Commercial, the UK’s national library and home to more than 170 million collection items. He also oversees the Library’s £100 million development programme at its Yorkshire site, which includes the construction of a third high-density, automated, low-oxygen print storage repository, scheduled for completion by summer 2027. | |
| 2 | Au, Anna (Vienna University of Technology) |
| Title : The Public Health Value of The Public Library | |
| Biographies: Anna Au Ph.D. Candidate at Vienna University of Technology. She is a scientist hoping to reshape the public health profession with her thesis The Public Health Value of The Public Library. She is also a science communicator with the occasional dark sense of humour. | |
| 3 | Baek, Jeonghee (Yedaum Small Library) |
| Title : The Questioning Library: Experiment, Transform, Expand — The LILA Project — | |
| 4 | Carr-Wiggin, Merran & Guy, Julia (University of Calgary) |
| Find Your Library Story | |
| Biographies: Merran is the Student Experience Librarian and Julia is the Digital Project Librarian GIS at the University of Calgary. Before becoming librarians, Merran and Julia earned BFAs in Acting and performed professionally on some of the biggest stages in Canada. They studied theatre, voice, text, and improv with experts from across the country. They use their theatre background to offer storytelling, research communications, and persuasive presenting workshops/coaching for a variety of audiences at UCalgary and beyond. | |
| 5 | Chourasia, Ruchi & Der Neelam Thapa (Dr. Hari Singh Gour University) |
| What Users Feel Matters: Rethinking Library Quality Beyond Space and Services | |
| Biographies: - Ruchi Chourasia is a Ph.D Research Scholar in Library and Information Science from India, pursuing my research work on service quality and user experience in academic libraries. My research work explores how libraries can become more responsive, engaging and user-centred in evolving educational environments. - Dr. Neelam Thapa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science, Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India. |
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| 6 | Coysh, Sarah (York University) |
| Show Me the Data: Dashboards and Library Stats | |
| Biographies: Sarah Coysh is Associate Dean, Research and Open Scholarship at York University Libraries, Toronto. Passionate about evidence-based decision-making, open scholarship, and library space design, she believes data and assessment can deepen our understanding of how libraries are used — and better support the knowledge creation needs of the communities they serve. | |
| 7 | Gilstrap, Don (University of Alabama) |
| Designing Library Spaces to Incubate Emergent Programing and Services | |
| Biographies: Don Gilstrap, MA, MLS, PhD, is Dean of University Libraries and Professor of Educational Leadership at The University of Alabama. He has been working on university library designs and renovations for over two decades in efforts to recreate physical environments that respond to emerging user needs. | |
| 8 | Glišović, Jelena (Serbian Library Association) |
| Navigating the Great Transformation: Cultivating Adaptive Leadership within the Serbian Library Association | |
| Biographies: Jelena Glišović (Belgrade, 1982) is President of the Serbian Library Association. She has led national and international initiatives in cultural heritage, sustainable resource management, and professional capacity building. Active in networks and conferences, she promotes collaboration and resilience, with a continuing focus on innovation and transformation in library practice. | |
| 9 | Hodge, Megan (Virgnina Commonwealth University Libraries) |
| Academic Libraries Aren't Just for Studying: Creative Programming to Attract, De-Stress, and Coach Students | |
| Biographies: Megan Hodge, Ph.D., is Head, Student Success at Virginia Commonwealth University. She oversees library initiatives related to the academic and holistic wellbeing of undergraduates, online learning, and curricular support for foundational general education courses. Her research focuses on first-generation students, student success, and assessment in academic libraries. | |
| 10 | Hounslow, Liz (Flinders University Library) |
| When Space Tells Stories: Designing Libraries for Belonging | |
| Biographies: Liz Hounslow is Academic Engagement Lead at Flinders University Library, South Australia. She leads teams focused on student success, research support, and digital transformation. Liz is passionate about designing inclusive library spaces, embedding cultural safety, and partnering with First Nations communities to foster belonging and connection for all users. | |
| 11 | Kamakura, Sachiko (Efa Japan) |
| Restoring Normalcy and Dignity: Libraries as Anchors in Post-Disaster Communities | |
| Biographies: Kamakura Sachiko is Program Manager at Efa Japan, an NGO supporting disaster-affected and conflict-affected communities through books and stories since 2004. After the 2011 earthquake, she launched a mobile library serving displaced communities in Iwate. She continues field work in the Noto Peninsula following the 2024 earthquake. | |
| 12 | Khan, Ayub |
| Libraries as vital cultural infrastructure that fosters innovation, inclusivity, and regeneration | |
| Biographies: Ayub Khan (MBE, FRSA) began his career in education and children’s services before serving as Principal Project Officer for the Library of Birmingham, one of Europe’s largest cultural capital projects. He was appointed MBE in 2013 for services to culture. A Past President of Libraries Connected and former President of CILIP, he has also served on the British Library’s Public Lending Right Committee and the IFLA Governing Board. A published author on library design and international consultant, he advocates for sustainable, innovative and inclusive cultural investment. | |
| 13 | Smith, Kelly Ann (RMIT University) |
| Transforming Consultation into Community: How Student Proposals Build Lasting Social Connections | |
| Biographies: Kelly Ann Smith (MLIS, MTeach) is a Digital Learning Resource Specialist at RMIT University. She has a background in teaching, writing, research, and librarianship, with over 10 years’ experience in secondary and tertiary education. Kelly Ann is passionate about addressing systemic inequities, elevating student voice, and fostering evidence-based decision making. | |
| 14 | Tang, Qiong (Sun Yat-sen University) |
| Co-creation and co-imagination: How do HO!CLUB foster and transform social connections | |
| Biographies: Qiong Tang, PhD, a professor and vice dean of School of Information Management, Sun Yat-sen University, China. She is a member of the Advisory Committee on Copyright and other Legal Matters (CLM), IFLA. She has long been involved in research on the value and impact of libraries. | |
Learning Circle (Abstracts & Speaker Biographies)
| 1 | Bu, Junyu (Sun Yat-sen University) |
| Title : New Reading Spaces: A New Exploration of Community Libraries in China | |
| Biographies: My name is Bu Junyu. I am a PhD student in the School of Information Management at Sun Yat-sen University, China. My research field is Library Science, and my research interests include community library, public libraries, and grassroots libraries. | |
| 2 | Cook, Colleen (McGill University) |
| Title : Is the library still the most authoritative source of information for high school and undergraduate students? | |
| Biographies: Colleen Cook is Dean of Libraries Emerita and Professor in Information Studies at McGill University, Montreal. Her research interests center around program assessment and evaluation. Her dissertation in 2001 was the foundation for the LibQual+ survey instrument with 2.9 million respondents and used globally to justify, assess, and manage library building projects, collections content and access, and service programs. Her current research seeks to reground the theory of LibQual+ for contemporary libraries. | |
| 3 | Mitchell, Shawn (Toronto Public Library) |
| Title : Deconstructing Value: A critical exploration of public library evaluation | |
| Biographies: Shawn is a PhD student at Manchester Metropolitan University whose research critically examines public library evaluation practices. Alongside his doctoral studies, he serves as Director of Policy, Planning and Performance Measurement at Toronto Public Library, bringing extensive experience across public libraries and senior policy roles within Ontario and Canadian governments. | |
| 4 | Streams, Sharon (University of Washington) |
| Title : Sparking Connections through Libraries, Museums, and Community Archives | |
| Biographies: Sharon Streams is the founding director of the Center for Advances in Libraries, Museums, and Archives (CALMA) at the University of Washington Information School. Before joining the iSchool, she was an executive director at OCLC Membership and Research, where she led the WebJunction program. | |
| 5 | Scoulas, Jung Mi (University of Illinois Chicago) |
| Title : Turning Assessment into Impact: Strategies for Communicating Library Value | |
| Biographies: Jung Mi Scoulas is an Associate Professor and Assessment Coordinator at the University of Illinois Chicago Library. With a PhD in educational psychology, she specializes in assessment, with research focused on student learning, success, belonging, and engagement. Dr. Scoulas led two consecutive federally funded grants and has published extensively. | |
| 6 | Yin, Meng (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen) |
| Title : Reflections on what I have done and shall do for Digital Humanities (DH) with AI as a librarian | |
| Biographies: Meng YIN, now a Subject Service Librarian serving for the School of Humanities and Social Science in the Library of CUHK-Shenzhen, obtained her bachelor's degree in Chinese language and literature, her master's degree in religious studies, and once studied in a PhD program in Buddhist studies for three years. | |
| 7 | Joven, Keon Anjel (University of the Philippines Diliman) |
| Exploring Non-LIS Students’ Views of Librarians and Libraries: A Phenomenological Approach | |
| Biographies: Keon Anjel Joven is a junior undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Library and Information Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman. His interests include marketing, advertising, and management, and he intends to pursue a qualitative approach in his undergraduate thesis. | |
 BUS |
Jamsilnaru Station Bus Stop (Bus Routes 342, 3318, 3412) |
 METRO |
A short walk from Jamsilnaru Station (Line 2, Exit 1) ※approximately 160m |
Join the satellite meeting, “Transforming Social Connections through Libraries,” and
share your news, ideas, and experiences with fellow participants.
If you would like to participate in the satellite meeting,
please register through the link below.
(A small fee will be charged at the time of registration.
This fee will cover the cost of lunch provided to participants during the meeting.)
