INFOS is one of the Slovak professional library events for all types of libraries with international participation. It is a professional library event with the longest tradition in Slovakia (since 1972). Since 2001, the symposium has been held every two years (if unforeseen circumstances such as a pandemic do not intervene).
An accompanying professional exhibition is part of the INFOS symposium with Slovak and foreign exhibition companies in the field of software solutions for libraries, discovery systems, databases and electronic information sources, distribution of domestic and foreign literature, document protection and technical equipment of libraries.
INFOS 2024 – The 41st year of the symposium is dedicated reflection of the current state of librarianship in Slovakia and abroad, an outline of the development of library science and practice in the near future and the naming of new challenges in the hypermodern era. This is referred to as a time of paradoxes - on the one hand, culture is the highest of the company's values, on the other hand, its funding is undersized. On the one hand, education is extremely important, on the other hand, we allow the possibility of promoting opinions contrary to science and knowledge, and we could continue like that. Society, including libraries and other fund and memory institutions, is in the vortex of the fourth industrial revolution and a complex of cultural and social changes. The aim of the symposium is to highlight new challenges in contrast with our reality and possibilities as library institutions and the profession as such. We consider it important to share experiences, innovations and ideas with each other. In individual areas (elements), we would like to reflect the following areas:
PROFESSION:
- Strategies for the development of library and information practice (at different levels – national, sectoral, institutional; concepts, possibilities, challenges and their contribution);
- An effective national library system (libraries of all types and their role within the structure) or how to find the key to functioning and collaboration;
- The issue of sharing basic library data (absence of a national collective catalog; register of digitized documents; sharing of information resources at the national level, etc.);
- Further education of librarians - uniform methodology for the development of competences and skills (problems of primary librarian education; accredited courses; digital competences, etc.);
- The problem of professional ethics and its application in practice; • Libraries - a place of open science and information... but? (copyright issues; equal access; resources and competences, etc.);
- Librarian = Superhero before burnout/extinction?
INNOVATIONS
- Artificial intelligence - limits in limitless possibilities - ethical dimension;
- AI in librarianship services (effective use of access to information for disadvantaged users; professional activities and their rationalization; personalization and efficiency in working with the user, etc.)
- Concerns vs. benefit (examples of good practice in the use of technological innovations in libraries);
- Sharing digitized resources - dream, vision, reality? • Yes, it makes sense - libraries in the digital age.
CLIENT
- Client needs and requirements vs. our capabilities and limitations;
- Digital services of the state - libraries as an "extended hand";
- More is not better… or how to distribute power in relation to public services;
- Looking for islands of silence or new experiences?
- Is the library really a place for everyone or just a slogan?
- The library - your better side (we believe that it is not the only one) - marketing and its use in everyday practice.