The session, organised by RELINDIAL – Religions: Libraries and Dialogue Special Interest Group (sponsored by the Social Science Libraries Section), was titled “Facing the future: working together to improve the interreligious dialogue” and was held on Wednesday the 18th of August 2021. The programme – due to the concept of our SIG – fitted well into the IFLA’s sub-theme Libraries Enable.

The session was moderated by SIG’s Convenor Donatus Düsterhaus, who shared the information about RELINDIAL, its work and plans. There were three presentations by colleagues from Africa, America and Europe.

• The first presentation came from Ubong Ottong from the University of Calabar in Nigeria. Libraries as the Impetus for Religious Tolerance in Nigeria U. Ottong talked about the country of Nigeria and there was a focus on a study that examined the influence of libraries on religious tolerance in Nigeria.

The Presentation Description is available on the WLIC website for participants with the subscription, the video of the presentation is published on the event page.

• The second presentation was done by Margot Lyon who is Director of Business Development at Atla (American theological Library association). She presented ideas about Religion in the Public Square: Best Practices and Opportunities for Libraries and Religious Literacy. In her paper, she provided an overview of best practices and programs related to the broad topic of Religion in the Public Square and how these activities can frame, inspire and connect initiatives and opportunities related to religious literacy and libraries.

The full paper with Session transcript (12 pages) is available on the WLIC website for participants with the subscription.

• The third contribution came from Nada Dimitrikevic and Suzana Tanasijevic from Serbia. They talked about manuscripts of the old Serbian church. Revival of the past for the future – preservation of old Serbian church manuscripts and printed books.

The Presentation Description is available on the WLIC website for participants with the subscription.

During the Question and Answer Session, we had more than 20 participants.

The SIG RELINDIAL is planning a webinar series this autumn about themes related to the interreligious dialogue in libraries in the world. For more information please follow our social media accounts on Facebook & Twitter.