If Librarians Ran Europe — The Amsterdam Summit of The Europe Challenge
The transformative power of libraries will take centre stage at If Librarians Ran Europe – The Amsterdam Summit of The Europe Challenge. This landmark summit will bring together participants from all over Europe, including library professionals, policymakers, and community leaders, to explore how libraries can address Europe’s most pressing challenges—social isolation, inequality, disinformation, and climate crisis.
A key highlight of the summit will be the launch of the publication How Libraries Survive Thrive – A Guide for Librarians… and Everyone Else in Europe!, which showcases libraries’ transformative impact. The publication features conversations with #BookTok star Jack Edwards, renowned library architect Francine Houben, American sociologist and Palaces for the People author Eric Klinenberg, and many others.
In addition, we reveal the six winning entries from the How A Library Changed My Life writing competition, which attracted nearly 300 submissions from across Europe and beyond. These stories, selected through a rigorous process by an independent panel from the European Review of Books and members of The Europe Challenge team, represent a diverse geographical spread, including winners:
- Camilla Macpherson from the Netherlands/United Kingdom;
- Abdallah Alghoul from Palestine/Greece;
- Sheryl Man Wai Sze from Hong Kong/United Kingdom;
- Luis Eduardo Torres Sánchez from Mexico/Greece;
- Svitlana Rykychynska from Ukraine/United Kingdom;
- Louise Scollay from Scotland.
The summit’s programme is designed to inspire and provoke thought, featuring inspirational dialogues on themes like democracy, climate, mental health, and library policy. Thought leaders will challenge attendees to envision libraries leading Europe’s democratic renewal.
In addition to these dialogues, the summit will offer a Living Libraries Marketplace where participants can engage directly with the innovative initiatives developed by the 57 Europe Challenge teams.
The event is free to attend but by invitation only.
If Librarians Ran Europe – The Amsterdam Summit of The Europe Challenge – is organised by the European Cultural Foundation in collaboration with OBA Public Libraries Amsterdam and the Municipality of Amsterdam.
