Building Global Libraries Summit 2025: The Flagship Event Fo

February 10, 2025

New Delhi : The Global Library Summit (GLS) 2025 was held recently at the India International Centre and South Asian University (SAU) Campus on Library Diplomacy: Uniting Nations Through Library Cooperation. The first-ever international summit organized by South Asian University in collaboration with LIS Academy Bengaluru attracted more than 200 delegates, 16 speakers from abroad, and around 130 paper presentations. This, indeed, marked an important milestone toward building global library collaboration.

Distinguished Speakers and Thought Leadership

By this most reputed, eminent expert in the field of library and information science, and eminent policymaker, the summit was graced. The inaugural session had a Chief Guest, Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, NETF, NAAC, and NBA, and was presided over by the President of South Asian University, Prof. K.K. Aggarwal

Other speakers of this high caliber present there included:

Prof. Pankaj Jain, Vice President (Academic), SAU

Dr. A.P. Singh, Director General, National Library

Mr. Akash Patil, Director, DAIC

Prof. Devika Madalli, Director, INFLIBNET

Prof. P.V. Konnur, President, LIS Academy

Dr. P.R. Goswami, Director, GLS

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Honors and Recognitions

There, Prof. K.K. Aggarwal’s presence at the summit was worth it as he was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by LIS Academy Bengaluru. In his presidential address, he focused on the need for librarians in sculpting societies and declared digitization as the supplement to traditional libraries instead of a substitute. He advocated the role of interdisciplinary education in developing global citizenship. He also launched the GLS 2025 Conference Souvenir.

In his inaugural address, Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe highlighted the critical roles of libraries in realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the integration of technology into libraries, and how libraries can become global hubs of knowledge. He also explained how libraries contribute to global cooperation and unveiled a “Book of Abstracts” for GLS 2025.

Major Discussions: Library Diplomacy, Equity, and Global Cooperation

A major attraction of the summit was the keynote address by Prof. Devika Madalli, who spoke on the ONOS initiative. She said: “It can significantly contribute to equitable access to knowledge through international cooperation and cultural diplomacy.”

Dr. A.P. Singh and Mr. Akash Patil further stressed the need for libraries towards fulfilling their goal of closing the information gap as far as rural and underserved communities are concerned. Prof P.V. Konnur pointed out the role of GLS in the same direction, that it created the opportunities of collaboration between library professionals and libraries associations. Meanwhile, Dr. P.R. Goswami highlighted how GLS could serve as a soft power projection tool and library diplomacy, reiterating its significance in global knowledge-sharing initiatives.

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Publications and Academic Contributions

The summit also witnessed the pre-launch of a significant academic work titled “Mapping Feminist International Relations in South Asia: Past and Present,” edited by Dr. Shweta Singh (SAU) and Dr. Amena Mohsin (University of Dhaka).

The other two important books launched were:

“Tune Your Brain” by Dr. Latha Suresh

“Eye That Discerns” – a poetry collection by Prof. Jagtar Singh

Grand Conclusion and the Future of Global Library Networks

The three-day summit concluded gloriously with a grand valedictory session that was witnessed by eminent dignitaries:

Prof Uma Kanjilal Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU: Chief Guest

Dr Ajit Kumar Director General, DPL: Guest of Honour

Prof Sanjay Chaturvedi Vice Chancellor (Outreach) SAU

Dr Madhusudhan Rapporteur General DU

Prof Pankaj Jain VP (Academic) SAU

Dr PV Konnur President, LIS Academy, Bengaluru

Prof Shailendra Kumar Technical Director, GLS

Global Library Summit 2025 promised to establish a future contact point for collaboration in this sector, emphasizing the urgent need for the international library community to come together in facing the coming challenges of the digital age. This is Global Library Summit 2025 by which libraries will inevitably be transformed into very fluid spaces for knowledge sharing, technology integration, and ever-increasing international cooperation.