IFLA 2026
Busan, South Korea, welcomed the 90th IFLA World Library and Information Congress this August, the first time the congress returned to South Korea in twenty years, and a fitting stage for this year’s theme: Libraries Powering Transformation.
Bibliotheca was there at Booth A02, and the conversations we had with librarians from nearly 100 countries have stayed with us since. More than 3,000 professionals gathered in Busan, but the thread running through almost every conversation was the same one we hear from libraries everywhere: how to reach more people, remove barriers to access, and do more with the resources already on hand.
Why We Show Up for Libraries, Everywhere
For more than 55 years, Bibliotheca has worked alongside libraries as they’ve grown from quiet reading rooms into some of the most dynamic public spaces in any community. Today, we support more than 30,000 libraries across 100+ countries and territories, but the mission hasn’t changed since 1969: give libraries the tools to serve more people, more easily, with less friction between a patron and what they came for.
For more than 55 years, Bibliotheca has worked alongside libraries as they’ve grown from quiet reading rooms into some of the most dynamic public spaces in any community. Today, we support more than 30,000 libraries across 100+ countries and territories, but the mission hasn’t changed since 1969: give libraries the tools to serve more people, more easily, with less friction between a patron and what they came for.
What We Talked About in Busan
Extending Access Beyond Traditional Operating Hours
Conversations at the booth frequently
turned to lockers and extended-hours technology, with remoteLocker
generating significant interest. Library teams were eager to explore how it
could provide convenient access to holds and returns on patrons’ schedules – , whether
installed outside a branch or deployed at community locations closer to where
people live, work, and learn.
Freeing Up Staff Time for Higher-Value Work
Discussions around automation and materials handling revealed a common goal: enabling staff to spend less time on routine tasks and more time engaging with patrons and
supporting library programs. Solutions such as, DLA inventoryWand, sparked
conversations about simplifying inventory management and improving collection
visibility.
The self-service story also resonated
strongly with attendees. The selfCheck 3000 attracted interest
for its accessibility features and engaging on-screen experience, while the
compact selfCheck 2500 demonstrated how the same trusted
functionality can fit comfortably into smaller library spaces. Completing the
lineup, the cloudCheck tablet showcased a flexible, portable
self-service option that staff can deploy wherever service is needed.
Several solutions designed specifically
for the Asian market also drew attention. The selfCheck 3100A and
Standalone Bookdrop generated considerable interest from
libraries looking for accessible, barrier-free solutions that support patrons
with special needs while enhancing the overall patron experience and
streamlining operations. Our partner Telelift also presented its
solutions at the booth, highlighting automated material transport for more
efficient library operations.
Beyond the Booth
We were privileged to host an intimate Library Leaders’ Dinner in a traditional Korean barbecue setting, where conversations continued well beyond the conference floor. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with library leaders in a more relaxed setting and exchange ideas over good food.
Overall, our time in Busan reinforced a clear trend: libraries are investing in technology that expands access for patrons while freeing staff to focus on the work that matters most in their communities.
We were also proud to witness the IFLA/James Bennett Public Library of the Year Award 2026 being presented to Mesa Gateway, a library built on Bibliotheca technology. Read the full story here.
Bibliotheca has also become the exclusive global distributor of the IFLA award-winning Digital Book Kiosk, bringing this innovative technology to libraries and cultural institutions around the world. Read the announcement here.
Looking ahead
We’re grateful to everyone who visited our booth, shared their challenges, and gave us a glimpse into what libraries need next. These connections continue to inspire our work as we partner with libraries around the world.
Next stop: London for IFLA WLIC 2027, taking place 9–13 August, as IFLA celebrates its centenary year.
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