Reference and Information Services Section

The Reference and Information Services Section's (RISS) 2-hour Open Session is entitled: Generation Google needs us: new roles for visibility in the digital age for information & reference services

Main themes to be explored during the Session include

• How to help patrons who don't know they need help? Reaching out to the digital generation.
• Re-humanizing the Information service: are reference librarians the missing link? Embedding information services in the digital age.
• How do we transform our users' computer savvy into the ability to use and evaluate information efficiently, effectively, and ethically?
• What information skills will be needed in 2012 and beyond?
• How will the relationship and collaboration between librarians and users change?
• How do we transform and integrate reference and information literacy into new models of instruction and service?

During the session we aim to have between 4 and 6 speakers, presenting a paper in advance of the Conference - see important dates below - but also giving a 15 to 20 minute summary during the RISS Session. You can select any theme from our Call for Papers, although we would retain the option to ask for changes if there was serious overlap with the other speakers.

The annual IFLA Conference attracts nearly 4,000 delegates from over 100 countries. Speakers, therefore, have the opportunity to address a large and diverse audience, plus any papers given are published on the IFLA website and may appear later in the IFLA Journal.

Important dates

31st January 2012: Deadline for submitting Proposals for Papers plus a very brief biography of the Speaker

February 2012: Successful Speakers notified, and IFLA forms completed by RISS and the Speakers

1st April 2012: Deadline for Abstract of Paper - to be approximately 150 words

1st May 2012: Deadline for submission of completed Paper to RISS. The paper should be no more than 3000 words in length. The paper should be in one of the IFLA official languages, but the conference language is English. If the paper is in any other official IFLA language than English, an accompanying translation in English must be attached. Proposed papers must be original and not have been published elsewhere.

Mid- June 2012: Deadline for PowerPoint presentations from Speakers

The papers will undergo a review process by the RISS Standing Committee and four to six papers will be selected for the Open Session.

The Proposals should be sent to:

Jane Weller
Secretary RISS
Hampshire Libraries
United Kingdom E-mail: jane.weller@hants.gov.uk

These will then also be considered by the Chair, Judy Ng, National Library Board, Singapore, and fellow Committee members.