The Open Library is a new series of academic conferences organized by the Institute of Information and Communication Research at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. The first edition will take place on October 15th of this year. Our goal is to create a space for interdisciplinary reflection on the contemporary and future role of libraries in a dynamically changing world. We want to focus on the library as a „third place” – an open, inclusive space that fosters encounters, dialogue, and participation in culture. We will pay particular attention to the role of libraries in building interpersonal relationships, strengthening social bonds, and combating the exclusion of various social groups. New technologies and technological developments will also be an important area of discussion: digital knowledge resources, information tools, artificial intelligence, social media, and their impact on the functioning of libraries and user practices. However, we are interested not only in technology itself, but above all in its importance for people, communities, and communication.
The first edition of the conference will be held under the motto „A space for building social relationships.” We will focus on the library as a space for encounter, dialogue, and building interpersonal bonds. The conference will address issues related to the transformation of library functions in the context of technological development, the digitization of resources, and new forms of communication. We are interested in how modern information tools and organizational solutions influence the relationship between institutions and their users.
We invite researchers, practitioners: librarians, educators, information service designers, and anyone interested in information, culture, and society to join us in reflection, exchange experiences, and present research findings. The conference is open and interdisciplinary – it combines academic perspectives with practical experience, creating a space for discussion about libraries as institutions of the future: accessible, socially engaged, and close to people. The conference provides a forum for the exchange of research findings, practical experiences, and best practices in library science, information science, social communication, sociology, cultural studies, and related disciplines.