In the last few years Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gone from being a futuristic talking point to being embedded in our daily lives through the apps and services that we use. In this talk, futurist Martin Hamilton takes a look at how librarians and information scientists are using AI right now, and how examples of leading-edge practice show us where the sector as a whole might be able to make use of the technology. He also considers potential perils and pitfalls by looking at what could happen when AI goes wrong.

New techniques require new knowledge,new insights, new skills and, maybe, a new mindset. In a short, interactive presentation Eric Kokke explores what it takes to be future proof. Are you ready?

At the ILO Library, the pandemic changed their user engagement strategy overnight. Librarians had to rethink how to deliver more services remotely, while maintaining high quality. This transformation, although painful in the beginning, actually opened the door to new opportunities in 2021. Cardoso reflects on the experience, outcomes and lessons learned in serving a global clientele not only of ILO staff in Geneva and at field offices but also external researchers, students and the general public. She shares how the library coped with culture change and what new adventures for the ILO users lie ahead as the library re-opens its physical space.

How automation in Danish libraries has increased the amount of time librarians can be involved in community engagement and development of the library space, rather than being tied to more mundane activities.

The use of machine learning is not yet widely adopted by libraries, but pioneering attempts have been made in recent years. Bohyun Kim discusses several examples of the recent experiments with machine learning by libraries and archives and discusses some of newly-emerging issues related to making the past collections more accessible and usable, and collecting, curating, and preserving today’s information and knowledge in a meaningful manner for the present and the future.