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In the age of open access, hyper connectivity, and the free flow of digital media, will librarians survive as information intermediaries? Will libraries survive as spaces for its collection, storage, organization, and dissemination?

Librarian and entrepreneur Santiago Villegas-Ceballos discussed some of the ways that Colombian libraries are deconstructing the “traditional” library and information commons, and the challenges they have faced in implementing a changing vision of the role of libraries and librarians.

Santiago Villegas-Ceballos is internationally recognized for his work in libraries as a consultant and lecturer in digital culture, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and actively shares his insights on social media (@medejean).

Hailing from Medellín, Colombia, Villegas-Ceballos studied library science at the Escuela Interamericana de Bibliotecología and engineering at the Universidad EAFIT, and he is currently pursuing additional coursework in information science at the Universidad Quindío. Both his academic and professional backgrounds have been key for his role in the development of high-impact regional projects such as Medellín Smart City (Medellín Ciudad Inteligente), Telemedellín, Ruta N, and the world-renowned public library system of Medellín. Currently, Villegas-Ceballos is a team leader for library projects in Outliers School Medellín and part of the team of entrepreneurs that run the Startups Academy initiative in Colombia.