Call for Papers

National Libraries Section

Theme:
National libraries and open data: new discovery and access services

Program Theme and Focus

In line with the 2012 IFLA conference theme “Libraries Now! - Inspiring, Surprising, Empowering”, the National Libraries Section is seeking papers on the topic: National libraries and open data: new discovery and access services.  A two hour session will investigate how and where national libraries’ activities in the field of open access may inspire re-use of bibliographic and other data in innovative and exciting ways.  By opening up access to their data, libraries will encourage wider use of information by groups previously not seen as core library users or stakeholders.  Open access will empower users and improve sharing data among libraries.

Has your open data contributed to the development of new information discovery tools?  We invite you to share your experience, questions and ideas for the future in this fast-moving field.

Proposals for papers may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Practical experiences in opening up bibliographic data and results / take-up in the Linked data arena
  • New information discovery tools
  • Open data: what data and why?
  • Open data: return on investment or financial loss?
  • Legal and privacy issues surrounding national libraries and open data
  • Demonstration of new tools using open data from national libraries
  • Partnerships outside the library? Where and how?
  • National libraries and open access publications: collection, management and strategy

Proposals

Proposals for presentations should be in English and include:

  • title of the paper;
  • detailed abstract of the paper (no more than 500 words), if possible accompanied by some references such as URLs and bibliographies;
  • speaker's name, address, telephone and fax numbers, professional affiliation, e-mail address, and a brief biographical statement of no more than 50 words.

E-mail proposal should be send to Irina Lynden lynden@nlr.ru no later than February 15, 2012 and indicate “IFLA 2012 Helsinki proposal” or the equivalent in the subject line.  Successful proposals will be identified and presenters notified by March 1, 2012.  Papers will be required for approval by the Chair and Secretary of the National Libraries Section no later than May 30, 2012.

Presenters will have 20 minutes at the program in Helsinki to deliver their presentation, followed by time for questions and discussion.

Final Papers

Presenters will be expected to submit the final version of their paper (no longer than 10 pages, in Microsoft Word, including a short abstract) by April 30th 2012 (this gives time to remind people and review as the full papers must be at IFLA HQ by June 1st).  More information »

More Information

For additional information on this call for papers you may contact Irina Lynden at lynden@nlr.ru or Martyn Wade (Chair, IFLA Standing Committee of the National Libraries Section) at m.wade@nls.uk.

Submissions

All proposals must be in before 15 February 2012.

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 Finnish National Committee and IFLA have worked hard to secure funds for Conference Participation Grants. Up-to-date information is available on our Conference Participation Grants webpage.

Last update: 13 January 2012