Guadalajara International Book Fair

Training for professionals´

International Librarian Symposium

Activity with pre-registration and cost

Libraries as Spaces for Digital Transformation

Digital transformation has profoundly impacted every sector of society, and libraries are no exception. Traditionally conceived as physical spaces dedicated to the preservation and lending of books, today’s libraries face both the challengeâ€”and the opportunity of reinventing themselves in an environment where access to information is increasingly mediated by digital technologies.

In this new context, libraries are becoming centers of open access to digital knowledge, promoters of information literacy, and inclusive spaces for lifelong learning. The digitization of collections, the implementation of virtual platforms, the use of artificial intelligence to enhance services, and the integration of technologies such as augmented reality have become key tools to expand their reach and relevance in contemporary society.

However, this process also brings significant challenges: the digital divide, digital preservation, data protection, and the need to train library staff in digital competencies. Therefore, more than merely adopting technological tools, digital transformation in libraries requires a cultural, institutional, and strategic shift.

Libraries must take an active role in educating users to develop critical thinking skills, assess the reliability of sources, and avoid falling prey to manipulation, bias, and algorithms that fuel misinformation and polarization. It is essential to teach users about the possibilities, opportunities, and advantages of technology, as well as its limitations and risks.

Since its inception, the International Librarian Symposium has stood out as a forum where professionals in library and information sciences share experiences, identify needs, propose approaches and policies that foster the continuous development of libraries, librarians, users, and information itself.
For this reason, the upcoming edition will address topics such as:

Information literacy
Lifelong learning
Digital divide
Digital competencies
Inclusive spaces
Training
Infrastructure
Artificial intelligence
Digital services
Technologies

Accordingly, the International Librarian Symposium to be held on December 1, 2, and 3, 2025, within the framework of the thirty-ninth Guadalajara International Book Fair will focus on the theme “Libraries as Spaces for Digital Transformation.” The event will promote reflection on the role of the library as a living organism in which digital transformation is increasingly present.

Sergio López Ruelas
President, Organizing Committee

2025 Program

Monday December 01

09:30 to 10:00

Opening Ceremony

Salón de Profesionales, Área Internacional, Expo Guadalajara

Participants: Jaime Federico Andrade Villanueva, Marisol Schulz Manaut, María Elena Saucedo Lugo, Sergio López Ruelas

10:05 to 11:05

Inaugural keynote lecture

Salón de Profesionales, Área Internacional, Expo Guadalajara

Participant: Ferran Burguillos

11:10 to 11:40

Presentation of the self-directed course “ALFIN without borders”: An open educational resource for latin america

Salón de Profesionales, Área Internacional, Expo Guadalajara

Participants: Anne Barnhart, Irma Leticia Hernández García, Eduardo Ruvalcaba

12:10 to 14:10

Panel discussion: New challenges for libraries in the digital age

Salón de Profesionales, Área Internacional, Expo Guadalajara

Panel: New challenges for libraries in the digital era. Libraries are undergoing profound transformation in the digital era, which presents multiple challenges ranging from technological to social and ethical. In recent years, libraries of all kinds have implemented changes in their services and collection management to meet user demands and to take advantage of the opportunities and challenges posed by digital transformation, including the emergence of artificial intelligence. These challenges also create opportunities to reinvent the role of libraries as key nodes in the knowledge society, serving as agents of digital, informational, and media literacy.

Participants: Iris González, Federico Hernández Pacheco, Ramón Masis Rojas, César Moreno

Moderator: María del Carmen Oliveros Sánchez

Tuesday December 02

09:30 to 10:30

Keynote Lecture

Salón de Profesionales, Área Internacional, Expo Guadalajara

Participants: Tiago Emmanuel Nunes Braga, Michelli Costa

10:35 to 11:15

Cultural Talk

Salón de Profesionales, Área Internacional, Expo Guadalajara

Participant: Paco Ignacio Taibo II

11:45 to 14:10

Panel discussion: Information management in the digital age

Salón de Profesionales, Área Internacional, Expo Guadalajara

Panel: Information management in the digital era. The dynamic digital universe has prompted libraries to implement a series of structural changes to manage their services and collections and to become vibrant community centers, equipped with the infrastructure necessary to provide users with access to information across diverse media, formats, and sources: databases, the internet, generative artificial intelligence, and more. Libraries also serve as educational centers, supporting individuals in developing digital, informational, and media literacy skills, essential for participating knowledgeably, responsibly, safely, and ethically in the public sphere. This reality demands new competencies for librarians, enabling them to adapt quickly to constant change, acquire expertise in emerging technologies, manage data, and develop information literacy skills, among others.

Participants: Suyin Ortega Cuevas, Jorge Alejandro Peña Landeros, Antonio Sánchez Pereyra, Rebeca Pérez Quesada, Julián Figueres

Moderator: Ginnette María Guillén Jiménez