Call for Papers

Management of Library Associations Section
& New Professionals Special Interest Group

Theme:
Strategies for Library Associations: Include New Professionals now!

Theme and scope of the session

In these days library associations are under pressure. Faced with multiple challenges, tight budgets and a lack of new members represent, above all, the most urgent warning signs that call for transformation. It seems vital to revisit the associations’ message to their (non)members and to think about their roles and responsibilities within an ever-changing LIS profession and the larger society. But are library associations sufficiently equipped to respond to these challenges?

One thing is for sure: In the strategy of strengthening library associations more attention must be paid to attract and facilitate New Professionals. They are a true force for change. Can you imagine your library association as inspiring, surprising, empowering? Not yet? Then it is high time to include New Professionals! How else will you know what your changing field of professionals demands?

The session will give background to a series of strategies and approaches on how to include New Professionals in the work of library associations; it will also offer interactive opportunities to explore new librarians’ views on library associations and vice versa.

We are inviting new and established professionals to submit proposals built around one of the following areas of interest:

Outreach to members and non-members

  • attraction and retention of members
  • the return on investment for New Professionals

Professional communication inside and outside of library associations

  • new and innovative forms of knowledge sharing
  • working collaboratively across the generations - online and onsite

Leadership as a New Professionals issue

  • library associations preparing a new generation of LIS professionals for leadership positions
  • managing New Professionals vs. New Professionals in management positions

The flow of professions

  • the profile of librarianship and the impact of the private sector and neighboring professions
  • ‘librarian identity’ among new and established professionals

We especially encourage proposals by teams of new and established professionals and people practicing the profession in non-traditional areas.

Proposals should include

  • Title of the proposed presentation
  • Outline of proposed presentation (300 words maximum)
  • Name of presenter(s) with employer or affiliated institution, plus full contact details (including telephone, email and fax, if available)
  • Short biographical statement regarding the presenter(s) (300 words maximum)
  • Indication if you are first-time presenter(s)

Important Deadlines

Please e-mail your proposal by February 1, 2012 to:
Régine Horinstein
E-mail: dg@cbpq.qc.ca.

Proposals will be reviewed by a sub-committee of members of the Standing Committee of Management of Library Associations Section, and the New Professionals Special Interest Group.

The selection of papers is based on the abstract. Presenters will be notified by March 10, 2012 whether they have been successful.

They will be expected to submit final versions of their papers by May 15, 2012.

At least one author will be expected to attend the IFLA conference to deliver the paper.

The session will be conducted in English. All proposals and presentations will be required to be in English. Final papers can be submitted in one of the official IFLA working languages. If the paper is in any of other official IFLA languages than English, an accompanying translation in English must be attached. All papers will be uploaded on the websites of IFLA and NPSIG.

Contact

For more information, please contact:
Régine Horinstein
E-mail: dg@cbpq.qc.ca or
Sebastian Wilke
E-mail: sebastian.wilke@ibi.hu-berlin.de.

Submissions

All proposals must be in before 1 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