The aim of the Libraries in the Digital Age (LIDA) conference, co-organized by SC&I Library and Information Science Department faculty since 2000, is to bring together international library and information researchers, educators, students, practitioners, and developers to engage in research presentations and networking opportunities. This year, the conference was held May 12-19, 2025 in Dubrovnik, Croatia, exploring the theme “Navigating Disruptive Times: Embracing Uncertainty, Ensuring Credibility.” 

For the last 25 years, SC&I faculty have co-organized the event with the Departments of Information Sciences at the University of Osijek and the University of Zadar, both in Croatia. From 2016-2025, LIDA’s co-directors have been Sanjica Faletar, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, at the University of Osijek, Croatia; Professor of Library and Information Science Marie L. Radford; Teaching Professor of Library and Information Science Lilia Pavlovsky of SC&I; and Drahomira Cupar, Department of Information Sciences, University of Zadar, Croatia.

“This is LIDA's 25th anniversary year and Rutgers is honored to continue our sponsorship of this biennial, international conference,” said Radford. “Since its inception, Rutgers SC&I faculty have been deeply involved as leaders of LIDA as co-directors, contributing to the intellectual content and organization. These leaders include the late Distinguished Professor Emeritus Tefko Saračević (co-founder and co-director); the late Associate Professor Ross J. Todd; and incoming co-director for LIDA 2027 Professor Marija Dalbello. A highlight of LIDA is the gathering of library and information science researchers, practitioners, faculty, and students from many countries across the world. This year, we also celebrated the memory of Tefko Saračević, who passed away earlier this year."

Describing the reasons for choosing this year’s conference theme, LIDA’s co-directors wrote, “Globally, libraries and information institutions are encountering previously unimaginable challenges. Uncertainty grows, as we ponder the question ‘What’s next?’ In the wake of COVID-19, amid a tempest of political dichotomy and social unrest, information institutions face staff shortages, budget cuts, and reorganizations. As Generative AI applications and related technological developments proliferate, we foresee that they are poised to revolutionize all aspects of our professional lives. Traditionally, libraries were stabilizing forces in providing authoritative information, however this role is undermined by AI, censorship attacks, and diminishing financial support.  Ubiquitous information, including social media and the 24/7 news cycle, impact information credibility. Many now regard social media and online outlets as their source for news and interpretation of current events.”

This year over 120 participants from 19 countries, representing four continents, attended the conference. The event featured three keynotes; 35 accepted papers; 12 posters; three panels; one demonstration; one Ph.D. Forum; and one master’s and undergraduate student showcase. The full conference program is found here: https://lida.ffos.hr

SC&I LIS faculty, current students, and alums who attended, in addition to Radford and Pavlovsky, were Professor Marija Dalbello; Associate Teaching Professor Anselm Spoerri; and Distinguished Professor, Emeritus Nicholas Belkin; current Ph.D. student Neil Grimes; and Ph.D. alums Kaitlin Montague Ph.D.’25, Laura Costello Ph.D.’25, Coleen Cool, Ph.D. ‘97 (Queens College, NYC, Emerita) and Irene Lopatovska Ph.D.’08 (Pratt Institute, NYC).

The three keynote lectures were presented by Abebe Rorissa, Professor and Director of the School of Information Sciences and the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs of the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, whose presentation was titled, “The Content Divide: Contributing Factors and How Libraries and Other Stakeholders Can Help Address It”; Marijana Tomić, University of Zadar, who discussed “From Collections to Collaborations: Building Collaborative Laboratories for Humanities Research in GLAM Institutions”; and Andrew Cox, University of Sheffield, who addressed “The Enduring Importance of Library Values in the Era of AI.”

The conference included sessions dedicated to the memory of the late SC&I Distinguished Professor Emeritus Tefko Saračević; a celebration of 25 years of LIDA; papers, panels, and workshops related to the conference theme. Other conference highlights included tours of the beautiful medieval city of Dubrovnik, known as “the pearl of the Adriatic”; a trip to the Franciscan Monastery Museum & Library; and a special al fresco conference dinner at Restaurant Orhan, located in the heart of Dubrovnik.

LIDA Proceedings will be published in the Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science (CJILS/RCSIB), guest editor: Kornelija Petr Balog, with an anticipated publication date in 2025 or 2026.

Learn more about the Library and Information Science Department at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.