For two decades, IFLA has been bringing the voice and experience of libraries to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). This is a pivotal moment for the WSIS process, ahead of an overall review and new strategic directions. And you can play your part!

The WSIS process has been a valuable one for libraries, providing space for broad-ranging discussions around how the internet should work, and explicitly underlining the importance of public access, education, science, culture and participation.

This year, the WSIS forum took place at the same time and venue as the AI for Good Summit looking to promote an ethical use of AI and emerging technologies within the WSIS framework, and just five months ahead of the review at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 16-17 December 2025. This will set directions for the next phase of its implementation.

While there are many outcomes and conclusions the forum, some of the most relevant ones for libraries include:

  • Linguistic/cultural diversity, and the preservation of indigenous knowledge were highlighted as areas where international cooperation can play a vital role to shape inclusive digital ecosystems.
  • WSIS mechanisms will intensify their focus on institutional strengthening, particularly within public administrations, to ensure digital policy implementation is locally grounded, context-sensitive, and future-ready.
  • As the call for human rights-based digital frameworks and ethical conduct grows more urgent. More efforts will be destined to support frameworks focused on AI and emerging technologies to safeguard human dignity, autonomy, privacy, and non discrimination in the digital era.
  • Special importance will be placed upon new governance models that preserve freedom of expression while protecting democratic institutions and the public interest.
  • The Digital Public Goods (DPG) concept will be integrated more deeply into WSIS implementation—particularly as DPGs offer a critical path toward equitable access to digital resources and knowledge systems. This includes open-source software, open data, and inclusive content repositories that can help developing countries build capacity and engage meaningfully in the digital economy.
  • Looking ahead, the WSIS architecture must continue working to close gaps, particularly with respect to creating a robust monitoring system, establishing clear targets for the Action Lines, and incorporating these into the existing WSIS framework to track progress in an ever-changing landscape.

Most discussions underlined two core foundations that are required to build digital societies that are both inclusive and knowledge-driven in nature: digital infrastructure and digital literacy. These are both areas in which libraries already have a big global engagement and participation.

How can libraries use this for advocacy?
  1. Reiterate the value of libraries as trusted existing digital infrastructure when engaging with national and local governments. Funding them is likely one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to scale inclusive digital development.
  2. Engage in partnerships with both library and non library stakeholders to pilot AI tools, guidelines and documents that uphold ethics, privacy, autonomy and non-discrimination.
  3. Position libraries as curators and distributors of Digital Public Goods (DPGs), from open educational resources to open data, as well as advocating for library networks and services to be recognised and funded as DPGs themselves.
  4. Participate in upcoming WSIS+20 and GDC consultations and propose library networks and associations to be engaged in monitoring the implementation of WSIS action lines in a more locally-grounded and context-sensitive way due to their closeness and earned trust within communities.
  5. Develop brief and concise informational resources and use them to participate at the UNGA High-Level meeting in December. Link local issues to global challenges (you can use the Global Digital Compact as a reference) and specify how libraries can address these challenges within the context of your country. Use success stories to amplify your message.
An immediate call for library advocacy participation

We call on all interested libraries and library associations to contribute to the annual report on:
“Progress made in 2025 in the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society at the regional and international levels”

The drafting of this report is led by the Commission of Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and IFLA sends a yearly contribution along with other stakeholders.
This matters for libraries as these and other guiding reports will pave the way for the next phase of the WSIS implementation phase where libraries have the potential to play a central role in many areas.

Click here to look at the ‘Implementing World Summit on the Information Society Outcomes’ twenty year review report, and the sections where libraries are mentioned as part of previous contributions.

How?

Submit a brief text (max 200 words) specifying the contributions of your library or association to WSIS Action Lines (which ones and why).
Mention any related key outcomes, like documents, projects or campaigns released in that context (include a link).
Highlight achievements, local trends and obstacles, as well as future actions or initiatives to be taken, regionally and/or internationally, and by all stakeholders, to improve the facilitation and ensure full implementation of the action lines and themes, especially with regard to overcoming the obstacles you have experienced.

Deadline: September 30, 2025 

The final submissions will be sent to the CSTD/UNCTAD Secretariat for the report and IFLA will make a summary of the submissions to be publicly available for the library community.
Please submit your messages to: [email protected] with the title CSTD/UNCTAD Submission.