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Call for Papers

Metropolitan Libraries Section

Theme:
Learning Library, Connected Community Powering an informed & involved community through user-driven library innovations

Background:

The Metropolitan Libraries Section aims to promote a vibrant, dynamic and thriving network of metropolitan and public libraries in urban areas where long term relationships among member libraries are established and opportunities created to exchange ideas and experiences on key trends, issues and challenges.

The constant need to ensure libraries remain relevant in an increasingly online world and to keep up-to-date with new strides made in technology and social media; the notion of libraries as meeting places and centre for vibrant community life; the need for planning in times of constant change; rising customer expectations and needs amidst lack of or declining funding and resources - all these trends pose both a challenge as well as an impetus for libraries to continually seek new means of value creation for the communities they serve.

Implementing service innovations that engage and empower the communities libraries serve therefore becomes key to enable libraries to continue to remain relevant and value creating in an increasingly online world.

This Open Session therefore looks for stimulating presentations that showcase libraries with inspiring service innovations, from idea generation to successful implementation that have enriched, empowered and engaged their communities. Through this session, the Metropolitan Libraries Section is keen to create a forum for knowledge & best practices sharing and networking where new cooperation and partnership opportunities may emerge or ongoing conversations to learn from one another can be created and nurtured.

Aim of the Open Session

This is a 2-hour program that showcases best practice examples from libraries around the world to inspire and recognize public library practitioners.

The program will feature:

  • An invited keynote speaker will discuss the main theme and set the context for the ensuing presentations
  • 3 - 4 presentations (20 minutes each) from around the world showcasing public libraries, their projects and successes that reflect the theme "Powering an informed & involved community through user-driven library innovations" will be made, with plenty of time for questions and opportunities to share other equally inspiring stories thereafter

Papers and presentations in English are preferred although a simultaneous translation service has been requested for this session.

Submission guidelines

The proposals must be submitted in an electronic format and must contain:

  • Title of the paper.
  • Author(s) of the paper.
  • Abstract or summary of the paper (200-400 maximum words).
  • Speaker's info: name, address, employer or professional affiliation, email address, biographical note (50 words)

All submissions should be sent to:

Christine Mackenzie
Chair
Metropolitan Libraries Section
Email: cmackenzie@yprl.vic.gov.au

and

Sharon Thien
Secretary/Treasurer
Metropolitan Libraries Section
Email: sharon_thien@nlb.gov.sg

Important Dates:

  • 12 March 2010 19 March 2010: Deadline for submission of proposals and abstracts.
  • 22 March 2010: Notification of acceptance by the Review Committee of the Section.
  • 30 May 2010: Deadline for submission of full text of the paper

Full papers must be due by 30 May 2010 to allow time for the review and preparation of translations. If speakers cannot produce a full paper, they must at least prepare a powerpoint presentation with a substantial abstract, including references such as URLs and bibliographies, by this date.

IFLA's first preference continues to be a full paper however, and each full paper must be an original submission not published elsewhere, and no more than 20 double spaced A4 pages in length. The paper should be in one of the IFLA official languages.

Submissions

All proposals must be in before 19 March 2010.

Please note

All expenses, including registration for the conference, travel, accommodation etc., are the responsibility of the authors/presenters. No financial support can be provided by IFLA, but a special invitation can be issued to authors/presenters if that is required.

Last update: 14 March 2010