AM26 Theme

Crossing Boundaries:  Advancing Global Dialogue and Well-being
through Information Research and Practice

Globally, societies are confronted with intensifying political polarization, inequities of access to information resources, eroding public trust, and widening disparities in economic, health, and educational opportunity. Rapid technological transformations, including the widespread adoption of digital platforms and artificial intelligence, are changing the ways information is produced, shared, used, and curated. At the same time, cultural memory institutions, public information services, and knowledge infrastructures are under increasing pressure to address global challenges such as sustainable development, social resilience, and equitable growth. In this context, the role of information research and practice goes beyond generating new knowledge, to connect communities, preserve culture, bridge divides, and ultimately advance human well-being.

The theme of the 2026 ASIS&T Annual Meeting, “Crossing Boundaries: Advancing Global Dialogue and Well-being through Information Research and Practice,” reflects these imperatives. Hosted for the first time in Asia, the meeting highlights the association's growing global influence and its commitment to promoting cross-regional, cross-linguistic, and cross-disciplinary dialogue. Crossing boundaries encompasses not only geographic and spatial movement, but also collaboration among researchers, practitioners, educators, policymakers, and communities, as well as the circulation and stewardship of information across diverse sociocultural and institutional contexts. It also underscores the proactive role of information and memory institutions such as libraries, archives, and museums, in fostering mutual understanding and shared responsibility. The theme emphasizes that information scholarship and professional practice have a critical role in advancing equitable access to information, encouraging inclusive participation, supporting sustainability, and improving quality of life for individuals, communities, and societies.

The 2026 ASIS&T Annual Meeting will take place in Asia as an in-person event. There will be a virtual satellite meeting allowing for an option for virtual participation to ensure broad international engagement.