It will all be over by Christmas

Abstract

Purpose

We can slip into a dystopic future and despair, or we can show how libraries can help create a better, more sustainable world. The United Nations 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals are just as relevant as ever and provide a framework for action.

Design/methodology/approach

This article considers the events shaping the world in 2020 and explores the impact on libraries.

Findings

Three examples of new libraries in The Netherlands show to the world what libraries are and can be. They reinterpret the mission of public libraries and encourage us to hold to and champion our values of access to information and knowledge, literacy, learning and innovation.

Originality/value

The views are my own and do not represent an official IFLA view.

Citation

Mackenzie, C. (2021), "It will all be over by Christmas", Library Management, Vol. 42 No. 4/5, pp. 277-281. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-07-2020-0106