Theme: "Sustained Engagement and Innovation: Strengthening Libraries for the Future"
The Library Leadership Summit 2026 is a director-level platform dedicated to strategic dialogue, peer learning, and leadership capacity building for senior library executives from across Africa.
The Summit is a crucial step to co-create forward-looking strategies and collaborative frameworks for the future of libraries in the digital age.
Venue: Cape Town, South Africa
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Background and Rationale
University and public libraries are central to advancing teaching, research, innovation, and lifelong learning.
However, the landscape of higher education and public knowledge institutions is rapidly evolving. This evolution is driven by technological disruption, shifting user expectations, and ongoing funding challenges.
In this dynamic environment, library leaders must collaborate, innovate, and advocate more strategically to ensure that libraries remain relevant, equitable, and sustainable.
The Summit aims to bridge a critical gap in regional director-level leadership platforms by convening senior library executives for strategic dialogue and capacity building.
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Key Objectives
- Provide a dedicated forum for library executives to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities in library leadership and management.
- Foster cross-institutional collaboration through shared resource platforms, inter-library loan schemes, and co-developed projects.
- Examine transformative trends such as AI, digital transformation, data ethics, sustainability, open science, and open education.
- Strengthen leadership, governance, and management competencies, with pathways toward accredited leadership development.
- Position libraries as strategic partners in national innovation systems, digital economies, and sustainable development agendas.
See the full Sub-Themes on the Programme page.
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Target Participants
- University Librarians and Library Directors
- Deputy Directors, Assistant and Associate Librarians
- Vice-Chancellors, Deputy Vice-Chancellors (Academic/Research), and Rectors
- Directors of Public Libraries and Knowledge Resource Centres
- Representatives from Ministries of Education, Science, ICT, National Archives and Culture
- Development Partners, Publishers, and Library Technology Vendors
Join the dialogue to shape the future of African libraries.
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