World Library and Information Congress: 75th IFLA General Conference and Assembly

"Libraries create futures: Building on cultural heritage"

23-27 August 2009, Milan, Italy

Call for Papers

Bibliography Section

Theme: "Promoting and Preserving National Bibliographies, our Testimony of Cultural Heritage"

National bibliographies play a vital role in recording the published cultural heritage of their countries. However, following the exponential growth and availability of information resources on the Web their role is being questioned. In order to preserve their future, ensure them higher visibility and sustain them while meeting this challenge, new policies and initiatives will need to be taken.

How can collaborative initiatives between National Bibliographic Agencies and other cultural heritage organizations that provide authoritative bibliographic descriptions for parts of the national collection, make national bibliographies more decentralized and international in scope? How can national bibliographies benefit from such collaboration?
How much do national bibliographic agencies contribute to the development, implementation and updating of formats, standards and languages used in recording and providing access to bibliographic information and resources, that can be shared with other cultural organizations?
What ongoing projects are underway or planned that assist national bibliographies as they pass from traditional formats and processing to a system that allows them to work in a digital environment?

Submissions

Please submit a detailed abstract in English (at least 500 words) of the proposed paper that is consistent with the above suggested themes, and relevant author/s details by 15 January 2009 via e-mail to:

Glenn Patton
Bibliography SC, session organizer
E-mail: pattong@oclc.org

The selection of papers will be based on the abstracts and authors will be notified whether they have been successful or not by 16 February 2009.

Completed papers must be an original submission not published elsewhere. They will be due by 1 May 2009 to allow time for review and preparation of translations. The author(s) should indicate his/her personal full contact details and include a summary curriculum vitae with the paper.
Papers should be no more than 20 typed pages in length and written in any of the IFLA official languages.
In preparing the paper, please follow the IFLA recommendations and general guidelines.
A maximum of 20 minutes will be allowed for a summary delivery of the paper during the Section's Open Programme in Milan.
Members of the Bibliography Standing Committee will work with authors to ensure a quality and timely paper.

Selection

Full abstracts should be prepared following the template provided below. Each abstract will be blind reviewed by members of the Bibliography Standing Committee. Abbreviated abstracts or late submissions will not be considered.

Purpose of the paper

What are the reason(s) for writing the paper (or the aims of the research)?

Design/methodology/approach: How are the objectives achieved? Include the main method(s) used for the study. What is the approach to the topic, and what is the theoretical or subject scope of the paper?

Findings

What was found in the course of the work? This will refer to analysis, discussion, or results.

Research limitations/implications (if applicable)

If research is reported on in the paper, this section must be completed and should include suggestions for future research and any identified limitations in the research process. Practical implications (if applicable): what outcomes and implications for practice, applications and consequences are identified? All papers should have practical applications. What changes to practice might be made as a result of this research/paper?

What is original/value of the paper

What is new in the paper? State the value of the paper and to whom.

Please note that the expenses of attending the Milan conference (including travel, conference fee, and any other expenses) will be the responsibility of the author(s)/presenter(s) of accepted papers.