The
2024 Trend Report focused on trends in knowledge and information, and how they impact on (and are impacted by) the wider world. It was primarily aimed at helping to support futures thinking within libraries and library associations, as well as to support individual library and information workers in their reflection on the future.
However, the Trends identified also have implications for IFLA as the worldwide organisation for libraries, with a mission to enable the global library field to realise its potential. As we move towards IFLA100,
With this survey, we want to understand which trends will have the most important consequences for which elements of IFLA's work. The goal is to inform our work going forwards, integrating the ideas of the Trend Report into our planning and action.
In this context, the 2024 Trend Report highlights 7 Trends, which could have both positive and negative implications:
- Trend 1: Knowledge practices are changing, and the future holds both opportunities and challenges for equity in knowledge systems
- Trend 2: AI and other technologies are transforming society, and how we create, share and use information
- Trend 3: Trust is being renegotiated, especially in government and media
- Trend 4: Skills and abilities are becoming more complex, but also essential
- Trend 5: Digital technologies and their benefits are unevenly distributed
- Trend 6: Information systems are using more resources, impacting the planet
- Trend 7: People are seeking community connections – spaces to share are key
Meanwhile, the
IFLA Strategy identifies four key areas of work for IFLA:
- Impact area 1: Libraries are connected and energised through vibrant, global professional communities - this is our work to support our members and volunteers as well as our Congress
- Impact area 2: Libraries are recognised, represented and valued as partners - this is our work to advocate for libraries and build partnerships
- Impact area 3: Libraries are enabled to deliver meaningful change at all levels - this is our work to provide training and support for stronger national and regional library fields
- Enabler: Futureproof IFLA, ensuring that our governance, projects, and partnerships are effective, transparent, and innovative
After some contextual data, we ask you to choose up to three combinations of
Trends and
Impact Areas that you feel are most significant, and explain what you see as being the key issues we should be taking into account.
For example, you might think that Trend 4 (skills are becoming more complex) will affect our work on Impact Area 1 (vibrant professional communities). You could then suggest that we need to look at how IFLA's professional units can update our approaches to education and training to ensure that librarians gain the skills needed for a digital world.
Alternatively, you could also connect Trend 3 (trust is being renegotiated) with our Enabler (future proofing IFLA), asking what it takes for an international association like IFLA to be truly transparent and trustworthy. We've put together an overview of other possible combinations and questions
here, which you can use for inspiration if you wish.
We welcome your ideas by 30 November 2025, and will subsequently prepare a short report for consideration by the Governing Board, as well as our website. Responses are welcome in English or in your own language. We may use auto-translate as appropriate to enable analysis.