LIBER Journées for Library Directors 2026

Events

27 May 2026 - 29 May 2026 Copenhagen University Library/Royal Danish Library Copenhagen

27
May
2026

29
May
2026

Event information

The fifth edition of LIBER’s Journées leadership programme exclusively for library directors will take place in 27 – 29 May 2026, at the Copenhagen University Library/Royal Danish Library.

The LIBER Journées is a tailored scientific programme designed for 20-25 Library Directors who are already in leadership positions in their institutions and who are looking ahead at delivering strategic change as libraries and institutions redefine themselves in an ever-changing information and social environment.

The LIBER Journées brings participants together with eminent global speakers for a stimulating, interactive, and strategic programme, addressing major challenges that face us all. This seminar concentrates on strategic matters and challenges which may be illustrated by operational matters and practical examples.

Questions? Please contact Working Group member Najmeh Shaghaei via email at: nas@bib.sdu.dk

Dr Najmeh Shaghaei

Head of Libraries, University Library of Southern Denmark

Contact

Application

Stay tuned – the call for applications will be opened in November 2025!

Theme

Theme of 2026 Journees is Charting the Future? Strategic leadership of research libraries.

The present times are increasingly characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity in economical, political, societal, cultural and ecological terms. In this “VUCA world” library leaders are challenged to position their library in its specific environment in a way that allows it not only to stay relevant for its stakeholders, but also to develop and to grow, while the available financial and human resources are stagnating or decreasing and political, social and cultural pressures and conflicts increase. So, how do we act as directors and leaders of libraries? Can we somehow chart the future and innovate our strategies accordingly or do we have to drive by sight?

The 2026 edition of the Journées deals with this topical complex, putting strategic leadership in the focus. This approach allows us to deal with key topics and important issues of research libraries today, but always from a leadership perspective.

Photo by Ava Coploff on Unsplash

Speakers

The LIBER Journées 2026 speakers will be announced soon.

Costs

The fee for 2026 LIBER Journées will be announced soon. LIBER will not charge VAT on these costs.

Selected candidates are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.

Previous Seminars

2024 Journées Overview
- 2024 LIBER Journées Programme
- View the 2024 LIBER Journées Strategic Vision.
Theme of LIBER Journées 2024 was Trusted Leadership in Challenging Times. The speakers were:
- Reinhard Altenhöner, Deputy General Director of Berlin State Library (Germany)
- Ujala Satgoor, the Library Director of the University of Cape Town (South Africa)
- Günter M. Ziegler, President of Freie Universität Berlin (Germany)
- Tamara Szabo, Managing Director, Co create Development (Hungary)
- Oksana Brui, the President of the Ukrainian Library Association (Ukraine)
- Leslie Diana Jones, Associate Professor for Public Services, Harvard Law School Library, Chair of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee (USA)
- David Trefas, Head of Modern Collections at the Basel University Library, President of the Basel Public Library Commission (Switzerland)
2022 Journées Overview
- 2022 LIBER Journées Programme
- View the 2022 LIBER Journées Strategic Vision.
The 2022 Journées programme attracted a range of eminent speakers and 15 library directors from 12 different countries attended.

The speakers were:
- Fecher, Benedikt (The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG))
- Hauber, Mark E. (University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, USA)
- Jolly, Liz (The British Library)
- Mendez, Eva (The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain)
- Missingham, Roxanne (The Australian National University)
- Smit, Anja (Utrecht University)
- Szabó, István (National Research, Development and Innovation Office, Budapest)
- Thornton, Ann (Columbia University, USA)
Watch the 2022 Journées Video:
2017 Journées Overview
2017 Journées Overview
The programme attracted eminent speakers from around the globe (Europe, North America and Asia) and 19 Library director participants from 14 different countries.

The 2017 LIBER Journées directors, speakers, facilitators and organisers at Sciences Po (image by Clementine Baude, CC BY).

The speakers were:
- Alain Beretz (Director General for Research and Innovation in France);
- Sarah Thomas (Vice President for the Harvard Library and the Roy E. Larsen Librarian of Harvard College);
- Bruno Patino (Dean of the School of Journalism, Sciences Po, and Digital Services Director at France Télévision);
- Marc van den Berg (Deputy Director General of the National Library of the Netherlands);
- Wolfram Horstmann (Director of Gottingen State and University Library);
- Caroline Brazier (Chief Librarian at the British Library);
- Peter Sidorko (University Librarian at the University of Hong Kong).
2015 Session Overview
2015 Session Overview
- An account of the 2015 edition of the Journées Programme is available here (as published in the SCONUL Focus journal).

Event information

Application

Theme

Speakers

Costs

2017 Journées Overview

2015 Session Overview