Interdisciplinary by Design: Envisioning Libraries in 2050

Abstract

When I imagine the library of 2050, I think about the world it will inhabit: one grappling
with cascading challenges of climate instability, health crises, technological
disruption, and deepening inequality. These are wicked problems—intertwined, dynamic
challenges that demand solutions cutting across disciplines, geographies, and perspectives.
Libraries have a critical role to play in this future. To truly make an impact, they stand at
the threshold of evolution and transformation. The library of 2050 could become a platform
for co-creation and connection—a place where ideas collide, perspectives integrate, and solutions
take shape.