ASK A LIBRARY KEYNOTE SPEAKER: HOW ARE LIBRARIANS ADAPTING TO FUTURE OF WORK TRENDS?

Many library keynote speakers and librarian futurists like to chat about common topics of interest. Among them are:

• The future of libraries – How libraries are evolving and adapting to continue providing value in the digital age through new services, spaces, technology, and community roles.
• Community engagement – Strategies that library keynote speakers recommend for libraries to strengthen their role as community anchors and promote inclusion, diversity, literacy, digital skills, and lifelong learning.
• User experience – Creating welcoming, accessible, and engaging spaces and services centered around understanding changing user behaviors, expectations, and needs.
• Emerging technology – How libraries are utilizing AI, VR, 3D printing, makerspaces, automation, and other emerging tech to enhance access to information and user experiences.
• Advocacy – Making the case as library keynote speakers for the value and ROI of libraries in the modern era through stakeholder engagement, fundraising, and advocacy.
• Literacy and education – Libraries’ role in promoting early literacy, digital literacy, media literacy, and new models for informal education and learning.
• Equity, diversity and inclusion – Strategies to make libraries more inclusive through collections, programs, services, staff training and community partnerships.
• Privacy and ethics – Navigating privacy, censorship, neutrality, social justice, and ethical concerns related to information access and services. Increasingly trending among library keynote speakers.
• Leadership and innovation – Inspiring perspectives on leadership, workplace culture, staff development, change management, and fostering innovation.
• Collections – Developing, managing, and providing access to physical and digital collections in a changing information landscape.
• Partnerships – Opportunities for libraries to collaborate with other organizations and institutions to enhance resources and extend reach.
• Professional development – Skills, education, and competencies that library keynote speakers say are needed by staff to adapt to emerging community roles.