Would you like to host a session at Next Library Satellite Seoul?
At Next Library, collaboration sparks everything we do – and now we’re inviting you to help shape the very first Next Library Satellite in South Korea. What perspectives, stories, or practices do you want to bring to the table?
Whether it's a story to share, a practice to showcase, or a question you want to explore with others—we want to hear from you. Think big—or small. It might be an Ignite talk, a participatory workshop, an open discussion, or something we haven’t thought of yet.
We'll provide the stage, community, and energy you need, connecting you with like-minded innovators within and beyond the library field who are ready to engage.
Next Library Satellite Seoul takes place May 19–22, 2026. Together we’ll create a program of talks, sessions, and encounters that spark ideas and challenge what libraries can be. Share your expertise, your creativity, and your boldest experiments with us!
Themes of Next Library Satellite Seoul
All sessions should cover one or more of the 3 themes:
Theme 1. Beyond Open Doors: Inclusive Libraries
Libraries are often seen as "public spaces open to everyone." This perception of libraries as accessible places that anyone can visit and use represents one of their most important values. But can all people truly feel free and comfortable there? Might there be invisible forms of exclusion that we're overlooking?
Inclusion doesn't end with slogans or declarations. It requires concrete practices: carefully observing people's experiences, welcoming their stories with hospitality, and reflecting these insights in our spaces and collections. By paying attention to details—from pathways and spatial structures to language and signage, from programs to collections—we can create opportunities for more people to participate together.
What might libraries that embrace diverse bodies, languages, and cultures look like? Who else could libraries welcome? These questions might serve as a starting point for reimagining tomorrow's libraries.
Theme 2. Content, Experience, Exploration: Expanding What Libraries Offer
The experiences and content that broaden our perspectives are becoming increasingly diverse. We now encounter new worlds not only through books but also through video and audio, games, and digital tools. Sometimes we continue our exploration through writing, conversations, and hands-on creation. Libraries are evolving into places and platforms that embrace these changes.
What new forms of content and experiences might future libraries hold? Can they encompass the processes of people seeing, hearing, touching, and creating together? Content that communities create collectively might transform libraries into entirely new spaces for learning and growth.
Ultimately, this leads us to consider: what kind of growth is possible within libraries? What content do people need to expand their own worlds and build their narratives? Have you experimented with or imagined new types of content and experiences for libraries? We're curious about your experiences and visions.
Theme 3. Why Place Still Matters: Libraries as Places
We live in an era where knowledge and content are accessible at our fingertips, anytime and anywhere. So why should libraries continue to exist as physical places?
Libraries are spaces we can stumble upon and step into by chance. They're places where unexpected encounters and discoveries happen, where people connect with people and ideas connect with ideas. As human beings, we learn through our senses—we need to touch, see, hear, and experience together. We naturally gather where others gather, seeking connection and shared understanding.
In an age of AI and misinformation, libraries serve as a democratic infrastructure where face-to-face conversations and genuine dialogue can still flourish. They are neutral, safe spaces where people can exercise curiosity, challenge perspectives, and engage in the kind of empathetic exchanges that build community. Here, casual conversations about everyday life can occur naturally alongside more in-depth discussions about democracy and society.
What creates a library's sense of place? What kinds of spaces and experiences are needed to make libraries meaningful in our society? How can libraries become shared living rooms, laboratories, or urban sanctuaries where offline connections matter more than ever? We'd love to have conversations with those who are imagining, creating, and operating libraries as places with these questions in mind.
Formats?
This year we expect to have:
- Ignite Talks
Enlighten us – but make it quick: Ignite Talks are short and fast-paced and each talk is 5 minutes with 20 slides. You are welcome to twist the Ignite format by not doing slides, but instead do a dance, a song, or perhaps a new format that you have invented? (just keep it to 5 minutes!!)
- Interactive Programs/Workshops
The sessions must be interactive and hands-on: we are looking for sessions that involve the participants in new ways!
- Open Format
Do you have something that doesn’t quite fit into a session but still deserves a place? Bring it along—we want to hear about it!
Deadline for proposals: 30th of November 2025 (6:00pm KST)
For now, we need to know the following:
- Describe your idea (max 150 words)
- What will attendees gain from your session?
- What theme(s) do you cover?
- Describe the format of your session.
- How many participants can attend in your session?
- Bio: Who are you and where are you from? (max 100 words)
- Contact information
- Is there anything you need from the organizers—such as space, materials, or technical support—to make your session work?
How to apply
Complete the template attached below and send it to nextlibraryseoul@see-art.org
What happens next?
Our team will review all proposals and get back to you at the beginning of the new year with the results. If your proposal is selected, we’ll be in touch again later with the practical details to help shape your contribution.
We’re excited to see your ideas and look forward to your submission!
Please note:
For each selected proposal, Next Library Satellite Seoul will provide conference tickets for one to two participants. It does not include accommodation, travel, or other financial support.
For those who need language support, please contact us via nextlibraryseoul@see-art.org.
You can read more details about the Open Call in the FAQ.
Would you like to host a session at Next Library Satellite Seoul?
At Next Library, collaboration sparks everything we do – and now we’re inviting you to help shape the very first Next Library Satellite in South Korea. What perspectives, stories, or practices do you want to bring to the table?
Whether it's a story to share, a practice to showcase, or a question you want to explore with others—we want to hear from you. Think big—or small. It might be an Ignite talk, a participatory workshop, an open discussion, or something we haven’t thought of yet.
We'll provide the stage, community, and energy you need, connecting you with like-minded innovators within and beyond the library field who are ready to engage.
Next Library Satellite Seoul takes place May 19–22, 2026. Together we’ll create a program of talks, sessions, and encounters that spark ideas and challenge what libraries can be. Share your expertise, your creativity, and your boldest experiments with us!
Themes of Next Library Satellite Seoul
All sessions should cover one or more of the 3 themes:
Theme 1. Beyond Open Doors: Inclusive Libraries
Libraries are often seen as "public spaces open to everyone." This perception of libraries as accessible places that anyone can visit and use represents one of their most important values. But can all people truly feel free and comfortable there? Might there be invisible forms of exclusion that we're overlooking?
Inclusion doesn't end with slogans or declarations. It requires concrete practices: carefully observing people's experiences, welcoming their stories with hospitality, and reflecting these insights in our spaces and collections. By paying attention to details—from pathways and spatial structures to language and signage, from programs to collections—we can create opportunities for more people to participate together.
What might libraries that embrace diverse bodies, languages, and cultures look like? Who else could libraries welcome? These questions might serve as a starting point for reimagining tomorrow's libraries.
Theme 2. Content, Experience, Exploration: Expanding What Libraries Offer
The experiences and content that broaden our perspectives are becoming increasingly diverse. We now encounter new worlds not only through books but also through video and audio, games, and digital tools. Sometimes we continue our exploration through writing, conversations, and hands-on creation. Libraries are evolving into places and platforms that embrace these changes.
What new forms of content and experiences might future libraries hold? Can they encompass the processes of people seeing, hearing, touching, and creating together? Content that communities create collectively might transform libraries into entirely new spaces for learning and growth.
Ultimately, this leads us to consider: what kind of growth is possible within libraries? What content do people need to expand their own worlds and build their narratives? Have you experimented with or imagined new types of content and experiences for libraries? We're curious about your experiences and visions.
Theme 3. Why Place Still Matters: Libraries as Places
We live in an era where knowledge and content are accessible at our fingertips, anytime and anywhere. So why should libraries continue to exist as physical places?
Libraries are spaces we can stumble upon and step into by chance. They're places where unexpected encounters and discoveries happen, where people connect with people and ideas connect with ideas. As human beings, we learn through our senses—we need to touch, see, hear, and experience together. We naturally gather where others gather, seeking connection and shared understanding.
In an age of AI and misinformation, libraries serve as a democratic infrastructure where face-to-face conversations and genuine dialogue can still flourish. They are neutral, safe spaces where people can exercise curiosity, challenge perspectives, and engage in the kind of empathetic exchanges that build community. Here, casual conversations about everyday life can occur naturally alongside more in-depth discussions about democracy and society.
What creates a library's sense of place? What kinds of spaces and experiences are needed to make libraries meaningful in our society? How can libraries become shared living rooms, laboratories, or urban sanctuaries where offline connections matter more than ever? We'd love to have conversations with those who are imagining, creating, and operating libraries as places with these questions in mind.
Formats?
This year we expect to have:
Enlighten us – but make it quick: Ignite Talks are short and fast-paced and each talk is 5 minutes with 20 slides. You are welcome to twist the Ignite format by not doing slides, but instead do a dance, a song, or perhaps a new format that you have invented? (just keep it to 5 minutes!!)
The sessions must be interactive and hands-on: we are looking for sessions that involve the participants in new ways!
Do you have something that doesn’t quite fit into a session but still deserves a place? Bring it along—we want to hear about it!
Deadline?
Deadline for proposals: 30th of November 2025 (6:00pm KST)
How to?
For now, we need to know the following:
How to apply
Complete the template attached below and send it to nextlibraryseoul@see-art.org
What happens next?
Our team will review all proposals and get back to you at the beginning of the new year with the results. If your proposal is selected, we’ll be in touch again later with the practical details to help shape your contribution.
We’re excited to see your ideas and look forward to your submission!
Please note:
For each selected proposal, Next Library Satellite Seoul will provide conference tickets for one to two participants. It does not include accommodation, travel, or other financial support.
For those who need language support, please contact us via nextlibraryseoul@see-art.org.
You can read more details about the Open Call in the FAQ.