Call for Papers

Information Technology Section
& the Public Libraries Section
& the Asia and Oceania Section joint with the Library and Research Services for Parliaments Section

Theme:
Technology facilitating access to information: libraries for development

The Information Technology Section, the Public Libraries Section,  the Asia and Oceania Section and the Library and Research Services for Parliaments Section are seeking proposals for papers to be presented at a session during the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Cape Town, South Africa 15-21, August 2015. 

Libraries (and research centres) play a central role in facilitating access to information, particularly in supporting community-based solutions to meet the information needs around development. We are seeking papers that illustrate significant information technology projects that realize the principles of the Lyon Declaration in:

  • Helping citizens exercise their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights
  • Ensuring accountability and transparency and good governance and empowerment
  • Illustrating practical application of technology supported by libraries in fostering development goals through access to information
  • Measuring progress on public and private commitments on sustainable development.
  • Information technology enabling citizens to communicate and exchange information with government

The Lyon Declaration was launched at the IFLA congress in Lyon in August 2014.  This session provides an opportunity to share information technology projects that support the goals of this declaration.

Papers presenting innovative projects, experience, initiatives or services with a strong collaborative cross-border or international dimension are preferred.   Papers should reflect the conference theme, "Dynamic Libraries: Access, Development and Transformation".

The program will feature up to five presentations of 15-20 minutes each with additional time for questions.  

For information on IFLA’s general guidelines for papers see: http://conference.ifla.org/past/2013/general-guidelines-for-authors-of-papers.htm

Papers should be in one of the seven IFLA official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Russian and Spanish

However, abstracts should be in English.

Important dates and submission details

15 February 2015:  Deadline to submit proposals/abstracts. 

Proposals should include:

  • The title of the proposed presentation
  • Abstract of proposed paper (no more than 300 words)
  • Name(s) of presenter(s) plus position and/or title
  • Employer / affiliated institution
  • Contact information including e-mail address, telephone number
  • Short biographical statement of presenter(s)
  • Language of final presentation

Send proposals by email to with a subject heading of IFLAACCESS and your name to: 

Edmund Balnaves
Email: ebalnaves@prosentient.com.au

Gert-Jan Lodder
Email:g.lodder@tweedekamer.nl

31 March 2015: Proposals will be reviewed and successful candidates will be notified.

30 May 2015: Deadline for selected presenters to submit formal paper (for inclusion on the IFLA conference website and the Section’s website). Details regarding the format and length of the final paper will be sent to candidates whose abstracts are accepted.

Submissions

All proposals must be in before 15 February 2015.

Please note:

At least one of the paper's authors must be present to deliver a summary of the paper during the program in Cape Town. Abstracts should only be submitted with the understanding that the expenses of attending the Cape Town IFLA conference will be the responsibility of the author(s)/presenter(s) of accepted papers.

Authors of accepted presentations will be requested to agree to publication of their paper in the IFLA library under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported licence (CC BY 3.0) to their work.

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 or the sponsoring sections, but a special invitation letter, e. g. in order to obtain a visa, can be issued to authors/presenters if that is required.

Congress Participation Grants

List of opportunities for support is available on our Conference Participation Grants webpage.

Last update: 17 December 2014