CSL-SYNERGASIA: Conference | Designing Belonging: Libraries as Inclusive and Open Public Spaces | 01/12/2025 | 09:00-17:00 | Book Castle, National Library of Greece (SNFCC)

CSL - SYNERGASIA

Designing Belonging: Libraries as Inclusive and Open Public Spaces

Book Castle, National Library of Greece (SNFCC)

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The Committee for the Support of Libraries (CSL) organizes the International Conference “Designing Belonging: Libraries as Inclusive and Open Public Spaces” which will take place on 1 and 2 December 2025 at the National Library of Greece premises at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.

Conference Abstract

In an era marked by digital saturation and increasing social fragmentation, libraries are called to redefine themselves as open, inclusive spaces where people come together to engage in shared activities that foster meaningful human connection. In this framework the upcoming conference will dive into matters that focus on community development and social inclusiveness in a way that libraries through co-design rebrand themselves as community hubs of socialization and innovation. The conference will also highlight innovative practices that position libraries as hubs for alternative and lifelong learning, spaces where curiosity thrives beyond formal education. It will also emphasize to the importance of universal design and accessibility, showcasing inclusive strategies that welcome diverse users, including individuals with disabilities and marginalized communities. Ultimately, the conference presentations propose a vision of the library not merely as a repository of information, but as an open, evolving space for human connection, equity, and democratic participation.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussions with distinguished experts from Germany, Finland, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Greece, and to exchange ideas on the socially inclusive role of libraries.

The detailed Conference program is available here.

INFO

Book Castle, National Library of Greece, SNFCC

Conference language: There will be simultaneous interpretation from English to Greek and vice versa.

Certificate of attendance: Available upon request

Recording: The conference will be recorded.

Registration: Free. Separate online pre-registration is required.

(Registration for the workshops on the second day does not automatically include registration for the conference on the first day.)

About the Committee for the Support of Libraries

The Committee for the Support of Libraries (CSL) was founded in 2003 by representatives of Greek and international organizations to contribute to the development of libraries in Greece. Being committed to free and open exchange of information, the Committee’s main goal is to contribute to the modernization and development of Greek libraries and information centers in their efforts to provide quality services to their users/clients.

Useful Links

Synergasia

Committee for the Support of Libraries