Empowered by the 32nd EBLIDA Conference

Abstract

As the vice-president of BETH, I was privileged to represent BETH in the32nd EBLIDA (the European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations) Annual Conference in the Torre do Tombo National Archives in Lisbon, Portugal from 9th to 10th April 2024. This conference was also a joint convention with NAPLE (National Authorities on Public Libraries in Europe) and RL:EU (Resourcing Libraries: Connecting Libraries to EU Resources) so it was wonderful to be able to attend all three events in one go, alongside over 150 participants from all over Europe. This year’s EBLIDA Conference was particularly interesting and relevant to me as their chosen theme was "Charting the Future of Libraries". At last year’s BETH conference, we discussed the challenges of ecclesiastical libraries in Europe, so it was an excellent opportunity to hear a diverse range of perspectives, from library professionals to policymakers, educators, and advocates, creating a rich tapestry of insights and ideas. As I reflect on the discussions, keynotes, and workshops, a few points emerge that resonate deeply with the evolving landscape of libraries and librarianship.