Libraries as Incubators for Civil Society: Strengthening Trust, Democracy, and the Future.

The IFLA Division B Sections and Special Interest Groups are proud to announce their joint session – Knowledge Café in the 89th World Library and Information Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Following the acceptance of the proposal by the WLIC 2025 Programme Committee, the Government Information and Official Publications Section, the Government Libraries Section, the Law Libraries Section, the Library and Research Services for Parliaments Section, the Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group, and the Women, Information and Libraries Special Interest Group will jointly hold a knowledge café on how the libraries and information institutions represented in Division B serve and help the development and the democratic vitality of civil society.

By promoting access to reliable information, empowering informed decision-making, and fostering democratic engagement, these libraries serve as vital pillars in building trust and safeguarding the future of democratic institutions. This session will also explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in shaping trust and ensuring the integrity of information within these contexts. Additionally, it will examine how these institutions can advance equitable access to information for all members of civil society, with a particular focus on empowering women as pivotal contributors to sustainable and inclusive global development.

For more information, check the IFLA WLIC 2025 site regularly, and the Division B units’ pages.