In August I had the privilege of attending the 90th World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) in Busan, South Korea. With more than 3,000 attendees from around the world, it was a fantastic opportunity to connect with librarians and information professionals, share experiences and gain a broader perspective on the issues facing our profession.
There was a strong turnout from Asia and Oceania, any many representatives from Korean libraries. Our hosts were incredibly welcoming and generous in sharing their culture and experiences. It was also wonderful to see first-hand how highly libraries are valued and supported in South Korea.
The theme for WLIC 2026 was “Libraries powering Transformation”, and AI featured heavily throughout the programme. There were discussions about how libraries are using AI, including to help address staff shortages and provide training and upskilling opportunities. There were also important conversations about the challenges, including the environmental impact of AI and the need to think carefully about the data being used to train these systems.
One of the things that really stayed with me was the reminder that AI is learning from the carefully curated collections and knowledge that libraries have built over many years. It made me think about where the information behind the tools we use comes from, whose knowledge is represented and whose voices might be missing.
This connected strongly with a keynote exploring whether AI and intelligence should be considered a public good or a private privilege. It prompted me to think about the role of libraries in a future where access to expertise and intelligence may become just as important as access to information.
For me, this also has a strong connection to Indigenous knowledge. Māori knowledge has never been confined to books or a single institution. It is held and shared through people, whakapapa, whenua, te reo, kōrero, wānanga and communities. Libraries are one part of a much wider knowledge ecosystem. As AI increasingly shapes how knowledge is accessed and understood, we need to keep asking: whose knowledge is included, who controls it, and how do we make sure cultural context and diverse voices are not lost?
Another session that stood out was “Libraries Under Attack and the Global Fight for Intellectual Freedom.” Librarians from South Korea, the USA, Brazil and Ireland shared experiences of censorship, surveillance and other threats to intellectual freedom. While circumstances differed, there were some familiar themes, including the growing influence of interest groups. These are issues that are increasingly relevant to us here in Aotearoa too.
Overall, WLIC was a hugely valuable experience, both professionally and personally. It gave me the chance to step outside my usual environment, reconnect with a country I have lived in previously, meet librarians from around the world and reflect on our profession from a wider perspective.
What struck me most was how similar many of our challenges are, despite differences between countries and library systems. We are all grappling with questions about who has access to knowledge, whose knowledge is represented, who has the power to shape it, and how libraries can remain trusted and relevant as the world changes.
I’m grateful to Te Rōpū Whakahau for supporting my attendance through the Toiroa grant. WLIC 2026 reminded me that while our tools and technologies will continue to change, the heart of what we do remains the same: connecting people with knowledge, supporting informed communities, preserving diverse voices and keeping knowledge accessible to all.
Photo: My finished product of chapssaltteok. There was a cultural zone where delegates got to try and participate in traditional Korean culture.