Libraries, culture and heritage institutions have stories to share and stories to tell.

Stories from the past and the future. Stories from diverse voices, from our communities and from around the world. How does your library find, curate, collect and share local stories and information? How can libraries and other cultural institutions respond to indigenous peoples’ aspirations of self-determination over their knowledge and information, ensuring whare taonga and Māori data is accessible to iwi? How do libraries tell the story of their impact and importance for users and communities?

Libraries ensure that people have access to the information they need when they need it.

What role should library and information services play in an era of misinformation and fake news? Who owns the information, who has access to it and what is the role of libraries in enabling digital inclusion and equity?

Libraries are essential to connect people with literature and information and to facilitate literacy.

The library is both a location and a concept that has endured for centuries to support the search for knowledge. How are libraries promoting and supporting information literacy, encouraging critical thinking, enabling digital literacy, engaging users in reading for pleasure and supporting life-long learning?

What does the future hold for the library, information, cultural and heritage sectors?

How can our sector benefit from the potential of mātauranga Māori knowledge, resources and people for the future environmental, economic, social and cultural benefit of communities? What impact will artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies have on library and information services? How might libraries turn the challenges of rapid and dramatic technological transformation into opportunities for new services, ideas and delivery? Climate change is our generation’s greatest challenge. How can our community and institutions support understanding and action on climate change? What creative and innovative possibilities are there to develop a strong and diverse workforce able to respond to future opportunities and challenges facing cultural and heritage institutions?

Libraries work to promote community engagement and transformation.

What exceptional and innovative strategies and actions are being taken to engage, support and transform communities? What initiatives, partnerships or innovations help remove barriers and engage people of all ages from diverse communities? What are the changing social pressures and well-being needs in our communities, and is our workforce ready to respond?