The City of Johannesburg is hosting the annual Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) conference from 5 to 9 October 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre, bringing together library and information professionals, sector leaders and delegates from across South Africa, as well as international guests.
LIASA, the professional body representing the country's library sector, is led by President Charlie Molepo, who welcomed the opportunity to hold the conference in Johannesburg and praised librarians for continuing to serve communities despite challenging circumstances.
The conference provides the City with an important platform to showcase Johannesburg's libraries as more than places to borrow books. They are increasingly community hubs that support learning, digital access, skills development, job seeking and social inclusion.
University of South Africa (Unisa) librarian Victor Mbuqe said the conference provides professionals with an opportunity to reskill and prepare for a changing sector, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) begins to influence the future of libraries.
“Being present at the conference is an opportunity to reskill and relearn. The future of libraries is moving in the direction of AI," he said.
Unisa is a strategic partner of the City, with recent initiatives including an open day at Alexandra Library, where libraries were used as service centres for learning programmes.
Guest speaker Dr Justin Cohen encouraged information professionals to view AI as a thinking partner that can augment human capacity, accelerate knowledge-sharing and support community development.
The conference also highlighted the wider social and economic value of public libraries. Across the country, libraries provide free Wi-Fi, study spaces, digital access and support for unemployed people applying for jobs. Specialised initiatives, including toy libraries and services for people with visual impairments, further demonstrate how libraries respond to community needs.
For Johannesburg, hosting LIASA 2026 provides an opportunity to position the City as a centre for knowledge, innovation and lifelong learning, while strengthening relationships with professionals, academic institutions and other partners. It also allows the City to share its library experience, learn from other municipalities and provinces, and explore new ways of using technology to improve services.
As libraries evolve, the conference reinforces their role in building informed, digitally connected and resilient communities - supporting the City's broader objectives of inclusive development and improved access to opportunities.
Written by Dr Karabo Semenya
07/10/2025
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