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The Future Begins at the Library – Empowering Citizens to Shape Tomorrow #NextLibrary

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How do you imagine your community—or the world—in 2040 or 2050? Will it be better, worse, or much the same? What about the climate, health, peace, wealth, or your local parks and schools? What shapes your views—and are you ready for different futures?

These were the questions we brought to the international conference #NextLibrary in Aarhus, where more than 350 participants from 33 countries gathered. Together, we explored how public libraries can empower citizens to imagine and shape the future.

Exploring Futures Literacy
Futures literacy is the ability to think about the future in new and diverse ways—and to help others do the same. In our session, “The Future Begins at the Library – Empowering Citizens to Shape Tomorrow,” participants were introduced to two exciting toolkits developed for public libraries:


These tools offer practical methods like trend scanning, scenario building, and the use of literature and storytelling to inspire foresight, civic engagement, and climate action across generations.

> “Futures literacy is not about predicting tomorrow—it's about preparing minds today.”

Building Hope and Climate Action Across Generations
We often see a gap between generations: older adults want to pass on a sustainable world, while younger people feel anxious—sometimes angry—about inherited climate challenges. Our project, Together for the Future, builds a bridge between these perspectives.
Through storytelling and intergenerational dialogue, we encourage shared visions of a better future—anchored in real-life experiences of past crises and hopes for what’s next. This empowers both youth and seniors to act together.

From Global Goals to Local Action
Together for the Future continues the work from Sammen om Verdensmål (Together on the SDGs), using the strength of libraries to convene communities, support learning, and translate global goals into everyday action.

A key part of this effort is DB2030, a national library network committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and UGE17 – the national week of citizen action for the SDGs in Denmark.
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Meet the Hosts
Danish Library Association, Denmark
Libraries of the Future, Denmark
Shared Intelligence, UK

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