Hitting the Mark

Hitting the Mark: Libraries Outside Their Comfort Zone 

 Its subtitle, Outside the Comfort Zone – Libraries in a Time of Change, posed a clear question to which no single answer was expected: Are libraries adequately responding to the current social and environmental challenges, or are they retreating into familiar activities and established approaches? As Tomáš Řehák, director of the Municipal Library of Prague, emphasised in his opening remarks, society is increasingly splitting into closed opinion bubbles yet libraries remain one of the few trusted public places where these different worlds can meet and engage in meaningful dialogue. 

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Hitting the Mark conference

To succeed in this role, we must be able to work with uncertainty and respect different points of view. Researcher Zuzana Harmáčková showed how creating future scenarios can help us better understand the present and prepare for a range of possibilities, while consultant Jana Tikalová stressed that library services must genuinely reflect the diversity of society as a whole. Drawing on the Breakfaststory initiative, Lucie Hyblerová outlined how periods of crisis can help us focus on meaningful activities without losing hope. Zuzana Holá then presented a practical example of beneficial cross-sector cooperation: the partnership between the Vodafone Foundation and dozens of libraries to develop digital literacy among older people. 

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Hitting the Mark conference

Other sessions at the conference featured powerful stories challenging stereotypes and demonstrating the resilience of community. Zuzana Kráľová introduced a theatre project for young people, including those in institutional care, while journalist Lukáš Houdek shared tips on turning even heated discussions into dialogue through listening and understanding. Librarian Janka Klazarová showed the audience how a volunteering idea can grow into an event for thousands of people through the Coolturní léto project in Bílovec. Entrepreneur Filip Molčan added an inspiring insight into the world of IT business, showing how employees’ health or social disadvantages can be turned into their greatest strength. 

This year’s Hitting the Mark conference thus offered a wide-ranging view of how libraries and individuals can respond to the complex world around us. The message emphasised that change is not something to fear but to meet with openness, empathy, and the courage to step beyond established practices.