Literacy and Reading Section
& National Libraries Section

The Literacy and Reading and the National Libraries Sections are seeking proposals for a program to be held at the IFLA Conference in Puerto Rico in August, 2011. 

As the United Nations Decade of Literacy winds down in 2012, it is a good time for libraries to assess their ongoing initiatives for advancing literacy.  The program will showcase innovative and effective library-based literacy programs from diverse parts of the world.

Proposals are requested for as many as ten tabletop presentations which will be given simultaneously.  After an opening plenary keynote address, audience members will rotate to three different fifteen-minute presentations of their choice.  Presenters will therefore be asked to repeat their presentation three times for three different sets of people. 

Proposals chosen for presentation will be specific about how libraries have tackled issues related to literacy in their particular setting.  They should be grounded in theory, research, and/or practical applications.  Because these projects will be presented in an informal, small group setting, speakers should plan some visual accompaniment such as a poster that can be set up on the table.  Presenters may also want to bring brochures or flyers to hand out.  People submitting successful proposals will be asked to write a brief paper summarizing their literacy program for publication in the IFLA Proceedings.  All chosen presenters will be listed in the official conference program.

Proposals should provide the following information:

• Name and institution of speaker(s)
• Brief biographical information
• Proposal title
• Brief (300 to 500 word) description of project and presentation format
• Language of presentation

Proposals should be sent to Elena Corradini at ecorradini67@gmail.com by December 1, 2010.    Please indicate IFLA Proposal on the subject line.  Finalists will be notified by January 15, 2011, and will be expected to submit final versions of their papers in one of the official IFLA languages by May 15, 2011.

For more information, please contact Ivanka Stricevic (Chair of Literacy and Reading Section) at ivanka.stricevic@zg.t-com.hr. 

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.

Congress Attendance Grants

The Puerto Rico National Committee and IFLA have worked hard to secure funds for Conference Participation Grants. Please check our Conference Participation Grants webpage for the most up-to-date information.