Program Tracks
Over the past few years and continuing to the present, our libraries and staff have encountered significant challenges, both unexpected and anticipated. The Forum aims to further explore together how these challenges have affected library work and employees, how have we responded, how can we mitigate the effects of similar crises in the future, etc.
We welcome various perspectives, examples, solutions, and results. We especially welcome proposals on library work related to:
Confronting Challenges: Responding to Immediate Threats
- Addressing fast-moving changes and events that impact staff and services
- Examples: effects of, or advocacy due to, socio-political upheaval (budget cuts, censorship, protests, pandemic); perspectives on working within a “risk society”
Reinforcing Infrastructure for Resilient Libraries
- (Re)Structuring operations and services that can withstand impacts from governmental and administrative policies, campus transitions, economic outlook, personnel changes, and environmental risks
- Examples: succession planning and impacts of leadership changes and retirements; disaster planning and climate justice; growing endowments; supporting open scholarship
Standing Up for Yourself and Others
- Supporting the needs of library staff, particularly those experiencing oppression(s), undergoing crises, or facing concerns about their current positions and their futures, Standing up for yourself or others
- Examples: recruiting and retaining staff; creating thriving work environments; addressing job security and stability; lessons learned from remote and hybrid working; wellness, mutual aid, and finding balance; carving spaces for mentorship and community-building
Creating Welcoming & Secure Spaces
- Ensuring inclusivity, security and privacy in physical and online spaces
- Examples: inclusive and accessible design; representing the diversity of campus communities; reaching out to underserved communities; developing codes of conduct that protect against discrimination and harassment
Harnessing Disruptive Technology
- Evaluating impacts of new and disruptive technology
- Examples: vetting tools and systems; social media disinformation; authentication; ethical considerations of technology and tools such as generative AI
Showcasing Collaboration and Sharing Expertise
- Spotlighting projects, initiatives, or programs focused on cooperation across the UCs or with other partners
- Example: case studies or practical advice on how to plan and implement a project; groundbreaking initiatives or results; replicable or scalable programs
The above tracks may include proposals that touch on a variety of topics including, but not limited to, digital projects, access services, acquisitions, collection strategies, open educational resources (OER), open access initiatives, scholarly communications, diversity/equity/inclusion in library work, data services, cataloging & metadata, UX and user research, instructional design, communication and outreach.
Proposal Types
We are accepting the following proposal types:
Interactive workshops (half-day or full-day)
Hands-on training and learning sessions that require synchronous audience participation and provide real-time feedback to the audience on their work.
Critical conversations* (90 mins)
A less formal space for discussing a pressing topic or issue. Facilitators present the issue and bring a list of questions to promote discussion and, if applicable, generate strategies. Critical conversations will not be recorded.
*Do you have suggestions for critical conversation topics? Would you like to facilitate a critical conversation? Enter your role and ideas in the submission form.
Panel discussions (75 minutes)
Several talks presented by 3-4 presenters on a common topic. May include a facilitator who encourages panelists to reflect on each other’s presentations through thoughtful questions. The audience is given ample opportunity to ask questions.
Presentations (15 minutes)
Focused talks, usually delivered by one person. Will be matched with presentations on similar topics.
Lightning talks (5 minutes)
Brief presentations to give an overview of a project, introduce an idea, or call for collaborators on a topic of interest. Time for questions is limited and interested parties are expected to follow up directly with the presenter.
Proposal Submission
Please submit your proposal at: https://forms.gle/PeBGxykUnB1LDAme9. Abstracts for lightning talks should be no more than 150 words. Abstracts for other proposal types may be up to 300 words. These submissions will serve as abstracts for the program if the proposal is accepted.
We are accepting responses until April 30. You will be notified of our decision by the end of July. Should you have any questions, please reach out to Carla Arbagey at carla.arbagey@ucr.edu.
Proposal Selection Criteria
A limited number of proposals will be selected for the forum. Proposals will be evaluated on the following:
- Quality and clarity of proposal
- Relevance to the conference theme
- Originality and timeliness of the topic
- Implications and applications for current and future practice