Libraries have always been more than buildings full of books. They are civic infrastructure, trusted knowledge systems, community memory, digital access points, and refuges for curiosity. But what will they become by 2036? Daniel W. Rasmus (Listening to the Future, University of Washington) will lead an engaging look at the forces reshaping libraries, from A.I. and misinformation to public space, intellectual freedom, community resilience, and the future of work and learning. Through the lens of scenario planning, attendees will explore how libraries can prepare for multiple futures rather than betting on a single forecast. The library is imagined not as a place trying to survive disruption, but as one of the institutions best positioned to help communities make sense of it.
