The Library Futures poster presentation at ALA 2025 assembled the resources produced by a new community of practice that brings together library workers, advocates, and researchers. The community problem solves, experiments with bold ideas, and creates new resources that increase awareness of key issues impacting digital libraries. Featured projects in the session included:
- A zine presenting a fresh framework for thinking about how digital lending supports and sustains modern libraries. With a focus on lending, owning, accessing, and networking—core functions of libraries—the zine illustrates how digital lending advances these goals.
- A guiding document for libraries collecting musical scores and sound recordings that helps them understand how these digital materials can be accessed and preserved in the current legal landscape. The resource helps libraries overcome the confusion created by the lack of contract exemption laws and digital first sale.
- A zine that invites greater awareness and support for prison library workers and highlights structural challenges incarcerated library workers and patrons face directly from their own words.
In addition to these and other projects, the poster highlights information about the theory of learning and connection that informs the community’s structure and development.
Download the Thinking Together poster!
