Wednesday, May 07, 2025

CFP: South Carolina Library Association Annual Conference (October 27-30 - Columbia, South Carolina) - The Power of Us: Libraries in Action

The South Carolina Library Association is soliciting session proposals for this year’s conference.  Our conference theme is The Power of Us: Libraries in Action.

Conference URL: https://www.scla.org/conference

“The Power of Us: Libraries in Action” celebrates the transformative role of libraries as dynamic centers of community engagement, learning and innovation. This theme recognizes that the true power of libraries lies not just in their collections, but in the collective action of library workers, patrons, students and communities working together to create positive experiences for library users. The South Carolina Library Association is committed to providing a platform for many voices and perspectives that support libraries. 

 

The conference will be held October 27-30, 2025, at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, South Carolina. 

 

*Pre-conference sessions will take place at Richland County Public Library in Columbia on October 27. 2025. 


We welcome proposals that:

  • Highlight successful partnerships between libraries and local organizations
  • Demonstrate the impact of libraries on literacy, education, and/or workforce development
  • Showcase innovative programs and services that respond to student and community needs
  • Share strategies for advocacy and community engagement
  • Present solutions to contemporary challenges facing South Carolina libraries
  • Feature technological innovations and digital initiatives
  • Address professional development and leadership in libraries
  • And more!

 

Submit your session proposal today!

https://forms.gle/TEMXTMqWPrq7C1Yk6 Submissions close June 1, 2025.


Please direct questions to Conference Chair, Dr. Cromartie at scla1stvp@gmail.com

 


MLA 2025 Annual Conference Call for Proposals (Michigan Library Association) - October 29-31, 2025 Lansing, Michigan

CFP URL: https://www.milibraries.org/call-for-proposals

MLA 2025 Annual Conference Call for Proposals (Michigan Library Association) - October 29-31, 2025 Lansing, Michigan


Submissions are welcome through Friday, May 16, 2025.

Click here to view these guidelines as a PDF.

 

Submit a Proposal

 

The Michigan Library Association invites proposals for breakout sessions at the 2025 MLA Annual Conference to be presented in person, October 29-31, 2025, at the Lansing Center located in downtown Lansing. The Michigan Library Association Annual Conference is the premier professional development and networking event for Michigan library staff, students, and trustees.

We invite any of the above groups as well as subject matter experts and first-time and returning presenters to propose breakout sessions aligned with our theme of Library Kaleidoscope: Shifting Perspectives. By offering a range of sessions, attendees will be able to find new ways of looking at situations, programs, services, and more. What is possible when you rotate your kaleidoscope? What new combinations will you see?

Session Proposal Guidelines

Speakers must be able to present in-person at the conference hosted October 29-31, 2025 at the Lansing Center. Sessions may be placed anytime during the conference. Speakers are not required to attend the conference beyond their session.

Sessions are educational, generative, or inspirational in nature. Sales pitches of products or services will not be accepted.

MLA reserves the right to edit or combine session proposals before acceptance.

Contact information must be provided for all speakers.

You do not need to be an MLA member to submit.

Evaluation Criteria

The MLA Annual Conference workgroup will use the following criteria in assessing the viability of including a program in the schedule. The work group retains the right to reject, modify, or combine proposals.

  • Purpose:  Does the proposal clearly identify a goal and takeaways for the audience?
  • Audience:  Is the target audience clearly identified?
  • Practicality:  Is the topic appropriate for a conference breakout session in content and target audience?
  • Engagement:  Will the presentation and presenter(s) keep the audience’s focus and attention through clear speech, engaging visuals, useful and relatable content?
  • Timeliness/Relevance:  Is the topic of current interest, bringing new ideas and a fresh perspective to its intended audience and theme?
  • Qualifications:  Does the speaker(s) have sufficient or relevant experience to present on the proposed topic?
  • Theme Adherence: To what extent does the proposal fit with the theme of shifting perspectives?

Agreements and Selection Notification

MLA will contact each presenter in writing with the workgroup’s acceptance decision.

MLA will send all individual presenters a Presenter Agreement indicating the date, time, and details of their presentation. This must be confirmed by the presenters and returned to MLA.

Handouts

Handouts are strongly recommended for every session.

Handouts will be added to the event website and mobile app. Examples of handouts may be, but are not limited to: presenter contact information, a list of additional resources, a copy of presentation slides, or related worksheets.

Printed handouts are not distributed on-site by MLA. Presenters may provide hard copies of handouts if desired at their own cost. We also encourage providing access to handouts directly in your presentation via QR code.

Deadlines and Due Dates

  • Friday, May 16, 2025: Final day to submit proposals. This deadline is firm and will not be extended.
  • Friday, June 20, 2025: Selection notifications distributed via email from MLA to all presenters.
  • Friday, July 25, 2025: Presenter agreements due to MLA office.
  • Monday, October 13, 2025: Handouts due for MLA website and mobile app
  • Wednesday - Friday, October 29 - 31, 2025: MLA 2025 Annual Conference, Lansing Center

Program AV & Room Setup

All presentation rooms will be supplied with an HDMI cord, screen, and podium with microphone at no cost to the presenter.

MLA will have laptops on hand for use, but presenters are encouraged to bring their own device.

Wi-Fi internet will be in each presentation room however, MLA cannot guarantee the speed and dependability of the services at any given time.

Remote mouse devices/pointers are the responsibility of the presenter. If presenters choose to bring their own computer that does not connect to an HDMI cable, they will be responsible for providing their own connection cables or adapter.

Rooms are typically sat theatre style. MLA will take every effort to make sure the presentation rooms are set up according to the needs of the presentation.

Disclaimers

All speakers must agree to the following statements:

  • I understand I will not be reimbursed or compensated for presentation time, mileage, or any other expense related to my participation in the conference.
  • I agree to adhere to MLA's Code of Conduct.
  • I will be responsible for registering and paying for the conference if I plan on attending other sessions or events beyond my allotted presentation time.
  • I will be required to provide my own computer or tablet during the presentation time.

Questions

Please feel free to contact MLA’s Program and Event Director Amber Sheerin or Conference Chair Lisa Waskin with any questions you may have prior to your submission.

Amber Sheerin, Michigan Library Association: asheerin@milibraries.org

Lisa Waskin, Superior District Library: lwaskin@superiordistrictlibrary.org

Sunday, May 04, 2025

Article Proposals for Katina Magazine #CharlestonConference #CHSConf

We're happy to invite community contributions to Katina, a digital publication dedicated to highlighting the vital role of librarians in society. Named in honor of Katina Strauch, the visionary founder of the Charleston Conference, Katina is written by and for the international community of librarians, vendors, and publishers.

We welcome proposals for articles in any of our three sections:

  • Resource Reviews – Critical evaluations of products and resources relevant to the information industry.
  • Open Knowledge – Discussions on the evolving roles of libraries and librarians in fostering an open knowledge ecosystem.
  • The Future of Work – Insights into career development and organizational strategies in the field.

Our readership spans library and scholarly communication professionals at all career levels, from early-stage librarians to senior leaders. We aim to provide engaging, informative, and accessible content that benefits the broader library and scholarly communications community.

Submission Details:

  • Articles typically range from 800–2,500 words.
  • Accepted contributions will receive an honorarium of $75.
  • For Resource Reviews, we invite nominations of reviewers (you can nominate yourself!) or product suggestions. This section could also feature short essays to share your perspectives, strategies, and experiences in evaluating and acquiring library resources. 
  • For Open Knowledge and The Future of Work, please submit your article proposal via this form.

Our editorial team will carefully review each submission and respond accordingly. We encourage prospective authors to explore Katina’s existing content to ensure alignment with our publication’s mission.

We would be delighted to consider your contribution and look forward to the possibility of working with you. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Best regards,

Leah Hinds
Executive Director
Charleston Hub

Managing Editor, Katina

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

CFP: Beyond the Numbers 2025 (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Missouri) - November 12-14, 2025

Beyond the Numbers - Wednesday-Friday, November 12-14, 2025
https://www.stlouisfed.org/research/beyond-the-numbers-conference


Call for Proposals Submission deadline: Friday, June 6, 2025
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis seeks submissions for its conference on economic information. This conference will bring together librarians, information professionals, data researchers, and data managers to improve understanding of economic resources and how to find, use, and share them.


We encourage users, educators, creators, curators, and managers of economic, business, and financial information to share their expertise with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable community of peers.

Presentation types include:

  •  Lightning talks: 5-7 minutes
  •  Short sessions: 20 minutes
  •  Sessions, Panels, Workshops:  45-minute full sessions (will consider up to 90 minutes max)

Please include the following information in your submission:
  •   Title:
  •   Presenter(s):
  •   Presenter affiliation(s):
  •   Presenter email(s):
  •   Presentation type:
  •   Abstract (250 words max):

Abstracts for each proposal should be no more than 250 words. Clearly state the aim of the presentation, the topic, and the specific knowledge attendees will gain.
All proposals will be reviewed by the conference organizing committee. Conference Organizing Committee - Beyond the Numbers 2025<https://events.stlouisfed.org/event/aaa3bca1-b7a2-4c43-a641-16f23b6901b9/conference-organizing-committee>

Please submit your proposals by Friday, June 6, 2025, via email to Scott.StLouis@stls.frb.org and copy research.event.services@stls.frb.org.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Library instruction and reference work using economic data: case studies, best practices, key concepts, ethics, et cetera.
  • Tools for working with data, ranging from extraction to cleanup to analysis and visualization: tutorials, best practices, what to avoid, et cetera.
  • New, misunderstood, or underused economic information tools and sources, such as: artificial intelligence, papers and data stored in institutional repositories, data on international economic and financial conditions, non-traditional sources of data for economics research, et cetera.
  • Best practices for promoting the FAIR data principles - findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reuse - including approaches to data archiving and preservation.
  • Open information for economics: sources, issues, trends, and developments.


Kind Regards,
Adrienne


Adrienne Brennecke, Manager
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

adrienne.j.brennecke@stls.frb.org 

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

CFP: 2025 Charleston Conference 2025 (In-person - November 3rd-7th, 2025 & Virtual - December 17th-21st, 2025

We're excited to open the call for proposals for the 2025 Charleston Conference, with options to present in-person or online: 


Do you have ideas, challenges, solutions, or information to share?


We’re seeking proposals on topics related to collection development and acquisitions, including, but not limited to, the following threads:
  • Analysis and Analytics
  • Collections/Collection Development
  • Library Services
  • Management
  • Preservation/Archiving
  • Scholarly Communication
  • Technology & Trends
  • Foundations: Information for those new to the profession/industry

Deadline for submissions is Friday, June 27.

There is a separate proposal form for preconference workshops and seminars. The proposal deadline for this process is May 16 (since preconferences are included on the conference registration form). Submit your preconference proposal here.

PLEASE NOTE: Conference sessions are meant for librarians, publishers, and vendors to discuss issues of interest to them all. They are not an opportunity for marketing products or services. All proposals must include at least one librarian or library worker at the time of submission. Conference sessions should include a diverse representation from the different viewpoints and stakeholders in the scholarly communications process.

About the Proposal Review Process:

A sub-group of our Conference Directors conducts the proposal reviews using a scoring rubric and rating system. The aggregate scores and comments are then used to decide which sessions are accepted, declined, or waitlisted based on space available in the agenda.

Evaluation Criteria includes:

1. Practical Information
  • Does the proposal provide concrete, actionable takeaways for library or publishing professionals?
  • Does it offer tools, techniques, or case studies, rather than purely theoretical information?
2. Originality
  • Will attendees learn something new from this session?
  • Does the proposal introduce fresh insights, unique perspectives, or innovative approaches?
  • Has this topic been widely covered at other conferences before, or does it offer a novel take?
3. Timeliness
  • Does the proposal address an emerging trend or pressing issue?
  • Is it forward-thinking and relevant to today’s library and scholarly communication landscape?
  • Does it provide insights that are immediately applicable?
Diversity remains a core value of the Charleston Conference. Reviewers are asked to consider:
  • Does the session include a diverse representation of perspectives from different stakeholders in scholarly communication (e.g., librarians, publishers, vendors, researchers)?
  • If applicable, does the panel reflect diversity in terms of institution type, geography, career stage, or lived experiences?
  • Does the topic acknowledge or address issues of equity, inclusion, or accessibility in the field?
Since the acquisition of the Charleston Hub in 2023, Annual Reviews has intentionally kept themselves separate from this process in order to avoid any conflict of interest in the content for the conference. If you have any questions about the proposal review process, please contact Leah Hinds (leah@charlestonlibraryconference.com) or Beth Bernhardt (beth@charlestonlibraryconference.com).

--
Leah Hinds
Executive Director
Charleston Hub

Monday, April 21, 2025

Call for Conference Reports--Serials Spoken Here - Serials Review

For those of you who attended ER&L a few weeks ago or are attending the NASIG Conference in a few weeks, the “Serials Spoken Here” column in Serials Review is actively seeking contributors to submit conference reports. Coverage of any session is welcome, and conference reports are 750 words or less.

When you submit your conference report, please add your ORCID iD (https://orcid.org/). If you do not have an ORCID iD, please seriously consider creating one. This unique identifier will afford you the opportunity to keep track of your research output.

Writing for “Serials Spoken Here” is an excellent way to inform colleagues who were unable to attend conferences, as well as complete a publication goal that could count towards tenure and promotion or continuing appointment. Please get in touch with either me (Michelle Colquitt, mcolqui@clemson.edu) or co-editor Melissa Zilic (mzilic@depaul.edu).

This round of contributions will be due by June 15, 2025.

Thank you for considering this request.

Michelle Colquitt
Serials Spoken Here, co-editor
Continuing Resources and Government Information Management Librarian
Interim eResources Coordinator
R.M. Cooper Library
Clemson University

Friday, April 18, 2025

CFP: Pathways for Change: Strategic Programs for Cultivating Diversity in the Library Workforce

Call for Chapter Proposals

We are seeking chapter proposals for an edited volume published by Rowman & Littlefield. The chapters will be peer reviewed and publication date is tentatively expected for Spring 2027.

 

Working Title: Pathways for Change: Strategic Programs for Cultivating Diversity in the Library Workforce

 

Abstract submission deadline: May 9, 2025

 

Editors:

Tammie Busch, Elizabeth Kamper, Jacob Del Rio, and Lora Del Rio

Library & Information Services, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

 

Book Description:

Pathways for Change: Strategic Programs for Cultivating Diversity in the Library Workforce provides a replicable and scalable set of tools and techniques for librarians to cultivate a diverse workforce of future librarians. This will allow readers to learn about partnerships between libraries and schools, and techniques for reaching out to underrepresented populations at a formative age.

 

According to a member survey conducted by the American Library Association in 2017, 86.7% of members identified as white. Despite our ongoing quest for diversity and a growing number of initiatives, literature, and conversations related to diversity, the demographics of the professional librarian population have not significantly changed. This book will begin with a narrative about an IMLS grant that funded the development of the Diverse Librarianship Career Training and Education (DLCTE) Program, which was a response to the lack of diversity in the field of librarianship. This book will serve as a call to action, giving large- and small-scale examples of initiatives designed to spread awareness about the field of librarianship and broadly impact the library workforce.

 

In addition to this narrative, this book will feature a collection of chapters or case studies, each exploring how a specific library has implemented a program or activity that strives to introduce librarianship to underrepresented populations. The book will empower current librarians to create library advocates by redefining and de-mystifying the profession and introducing them to modern practices in librarianship.

 

Sample chapters or case studies may include (but are not limited to):

Mentorship for underrepresented library staff/students/etc.

Library programming or events focusing on: Library career awareness, creating library advocates, etc.

Paid internships for either school age or post high school students

Recruitment or retention efforts for underrepresented library staff

Examples of failed projects, programs, etc. that provided learning opportunities to library faculty and/or staff

Professional development opportunities

Scholarships and student awards

Community partnerships to enhance library visibility and/or student involvement

 

Don’t see your topic/idea here? We encourage you to contact Elizabeth Kamper, co-editor, at ekamper@siue.edu to discuss how your idea may fit within this book’s scope.

Editors will be holding two 1-hour open sessions for folks interested in applying to ask questions, share ideas, and get feedback. These sessions are scheduled for:

Session 1: April 18 at 11am (Central) 

Register here:

https://siue.zoom.us/meeting/register/2KmvNqZPQU2W3LKR0J3g_g

Session 2: April 21 at 1pm (Central)

Register here: 

https://siue.zoom.us/meeting/register/jZg5oV74QImoRbufLiTV6Q

Session 3: April 30 at 3pm (Central)

Register here:

https://siue.zoom.us/meeting/register/zPK0SVZBTJ-NM0HAaeumbA

 

Tentative publication timeline:

Abstract submission deadline: May 9, 2025

Notification/feedback regarding submission: June1,2025

First drafts due: September1,2025

Second drafts with editor’s comments due: March1, 2026

Peer-Review: March – June 2026

Final drafts with peer-review edits due: October 1, 2026

Tentative publication date: Spring 2027

 

Submission Process:

An email with an attached word document (.doc or .docx) is required for proposal submission. The document should be written in Calibri or Times New Roman, 12 pt., and include:

A working title

Names of all contributing authors & their respective institutions

Contact information for the primary author

Estimated final word count

A brief (350-500 word) description of your proposed chapter

 

Attach your chapter submission proposal to an email with the subject line: Chapter Proposal Submission_(PrimaryAuthor’sLastName)

And send to: ekamper@siue.edu

 

Proposals DUE: May 9, 2025

 

Questions? 

Elizabeth Kamper, co-editor 

ekamper@siue.edu

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

CFP: Open Science and AI (International Open Science Conference - Hamburg, Germany - October 8th & 9th, 2025)

The International Open Science Conference 2025 (https://www.open-science-conference.eu/) will be held on October 8-9 in Hamburg. This year’s conference will have a special focus on the intersection between Open Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The rapid integration of AI and corresponding tools into scientific research poses both new challenges but also opportunities for Open Science practices and the generation of valuable research knowledge that contributes to solving social, economic, environmental, and digital challenges. This requires a reflection on how this can be aligned with transparency, accessibility, reproducibility, and reusability as core principles of Open Science to ensure robust and reliable research. 

 

At this year's Open Science Conference, contributions on the following topics (but not limited to) are welcomed:

 

  • Use of AI in support of Open Science (data analytics, science communication, etc.)
  • Leveraging Open Science to enhance the use of AI in research (Open Source LLMs, high-quality data for AI training, trustworthy AI, eXplainable AI etc.)
  • Ethics and research integrity in the context of Open Science & AI
  • Legal perspective on the integration of Open Science & AI (intellectual property, licences)
  • Meta research regarding the convergence of Open Science & AI
  • Training and capacity building for effective interplay between Open Science & AI
  • Infrastructures and tools supporting the synergy of Open Science & AI

 

We invite you to submit a contribution for one of the following calls:

 

  • Call for solution sessions
  • Call for discussion sessions
  • Call for posters / demos

 

 

**The submission deadline is May 23.**

 

For more information about each call and how to submit, please visit: https://www.open-science-conference.eu/calls2025