Libraries are much more than places to store books: They are spaces for reading, meeting and learning, places where cultural and language education, knowledge and participation come together. Their importance was recognised early on – it is no coincidence that the ‘Swiss People’s Library’ (today’s ‘Bibliomedia’) was established in Switzerland over a century ago to promote reading and education nationwide. Historically, tasks included promoting reading, countering low quality literature and supporting reading in other (national) languages. Libraries have always been closely linked to schools and education, often concretely as school libraries that support and complement classroom teaching.
What does this relationship look like today, in a time of profound societal and digital change? What roles do libraries play in both formal and informal learning?
In this issue of literacyforum.ch, professionals from library science, research and education share and discuss new experiences, perspectives and approaches. The focus is on connecting libraries with other spaces for promoting reading, strategies for the library of the future, and the role of library staff. How is the profession evolving as librarians increasingly engage in pedagogical work? Which core competencies remain essential for professional identity and what new requirements are emerging for training and further education?
Articles from various language regions and countries address these questions. They illustrate how libraries today perceive themselves as active agents of education and culture, as places of access, meeting, and independent learning. More
Mariana Steiner reports on how teacher education institutions and intercultural libraries jointly address the challenges of multilingualism and diversity, developing new forms of intercultural educational work.
Céline Cerny and Anaïs Mougin address inclusion in libraries, reporting on professional development for library staff working with visually impaired children and introducing the ‘Stories to touch’ project, a multisensory reading promotion initiative that broadens access to literature.
Viktoria Milde and Sandra Steiner Matt explore the role of library staff as the key factor for successful school libraries, showing that a school library cannot be sustained successfully without competent professionals.
Markus Fritz, taking the example of South Tyrol, explains the structural conditions which ensure the success of school libraries, ranging from staffing issues to curricular integration.
Boris Miedl focuses on how libraries support the development of media and information literacy, and implications for professional practice.
Fabio Mercanti reflects on the Italian-speaking cultural context, examining how traditional concepts of reading and education have evolved with digital transformation, and how libraries, policy makers and schools can respond.
Sunniva Evjen provides an international perspective, offering insights into Scandinavian library research. She shows how public libraries balance neutrality and social engagement, remaining open and accessible even in times of conflict.
Ornella Monti, Roberta Zariatti and Smilla Rizzo, draw in their article on the example of the Locarno-based Library of the Department of Education and Learning of SUPSI, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland. They illustrate how a research library can contribute to an inclusive culture in the area of neurological special needs, for example with the provision of materials in plain language or Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
Rounding off the issue, Petra Hauke highlights the role of libraries in Education for Sustainable Development, seeing them as learning spaces for societal transformation, where ecological, social, and cultural sustainability can be experienced.
All these articles show that libraries today extend far beyond their traditional role as media lenders. They are places of education and encounter, mediators of knowledge and culture, and spaces of openness and democratic participation.
We hope this issue will enrich discourse about the role and future of libraries, not only within library and information science, but also in schools, education, and society, fostering exchange between librarians and all those committed to promoting reading and education.
Carlotta Binder and Wolfgang Sahlfeld
