A Reference Renaissance 2010: Call for Proposals
August 8-10, 2010 in Denver, Colorado
http://www.bcr.org/referencerenaissance/index.html
The inaugural “Reference Renaissance” conference in 2008 was a truly amazing and inspirational event with over 500 people attending. Building on this success, and the exciting array of new approaches to reference that are emerging, we invite your participation! As we move into a new decade of the 21st century reference services continue to undergo rapid, revolutionary change, as well as facing the challenge of difficult times with human and financial resources becoming scarcer. It is up to each and every one of us to rev up the Renaissance and to Invent the Future. We must choose to be change agents, being proactive rather than reactive. Reference Renaissance 2010 will be a reaffirmation of the importance of reference and information services which encompass not just traditional forms such as in-person point-of-service, telephone, and e-mail, but also chat, Instant Messaging, Text Messaging (SMS), blogs, wikis, Twitter, library pages on MySpace and Facebook, and virtual reference desks in Second Life.
Reference Renaissance 2010: Inventing the Future will explore all aspects of reference service in a broad range of contexts, including libraries and information centers, in academic, public, school, corporate, and other special library environments. This two-day conference will incorporate the multitude of established, emerging, and merging types of reference service including both traditional and virtual reference. It presents an opportunity for all reference practitioners and scholars to explore the evolving nature of reference, as an escalating array of information technologies blend with traditional reference service to create vibrant hybrids, new staffing models, and possibilities that allow us to take reference services to the next level. And remember, summer is prime time to visit the beautiful flower strewn mountains of the Rockies.
Submissions of papers, panels, and workshop proposals are welcomed that analyze issues, identify best practices, advance organizational and technological systems, propose standards, and/or suggest innovative approaches that will reveal as well as invent the future of reference in this exciting and unfolding landscape. The conference will be organized around the following interest tracks. Please note that the sub-bullets are intended to be suggested topics, not to be a comprehensive listing.
Virtual Reference
* E-mail, chat, IM, SMS, Second Life, etc.
* Interpersonal aspects of reference service across different types of service
* Comparison of VR modes
* Software and hardware development
Meeting Our Users Where They Are
* Comparison of different modes (locations, configurations, etc.) of service delivery
* Social networking applications (such as blogs, wikis, Facebook, MySpace, etc.)
* Case studies in virtual outreach
* Satellite (or outpost) reference, roving reference
Staffing & Managing User Services
* Assessment/evaluation (including guidelines and best practices, benchmarking performance, service quality, accuracy, effectiveness, question tracking systems, and efficiency)
* Hiring, training and motivating staff in an era of rapid change (including performance issues)
Collaboration, Consortia and Sustainability
* Sustainability and budgeting issues
* Reference consortia issues
* Marketing initiatives
New Roles and Future Directions for Reference Librarians
* Community outreach (to local government, businesses, groups…)
* New approaches to instruction
* Innovations and experiments
* Predictions for future
Wild Card (including, but not limited to, controversial issues, comparisons, other innovative topics – be creative!)
TYPES OF SUBMISSIONS:
Papers (500 word abstracts): include reports and research studies on any aspect of reference, user studies, evaluation projects, innovative practical applications, theme papers, or theoretical developments. In addition, works in progress and student papers are invited. Submissions should include: 1) the official cover sheet, 2) a separate page consisting of the paper’s title plus a 500 word abstract that summarizes the paper but NOT your name or contact information. Papers will undergo a blind review by the program committee.
Panels: include proposals for 1.5 hour long sessions on topics such as reference innovations, implementation of new technology, evaluation projects, reports by practitioners on current initiatives, theme panels, and contrasting viewpoints on controversial or hot issues. Innovative formats are sought, especially those that encourage audience participation, such as: roundtable discussions, debates, forums, or case studies. Submissions should include: 1) the official cover sheet, 2) a separate page consisting of the panel title plus a 500 word abstract describing the panel but NOT your name or contact information. Panels will undergo a blind review by the program committee.
Reports from the Field: These proposals will be for 30 minute sessions on working projects, new services, new approaches to reference instruction, or developments-in-progress. Submissions should include: 1) the official cover sheet, 2) a separate page consisting of the title of the report as well as a 250 word overview.
Workshops: These proposals will be for 1.5 hour sessions on working projects, new services, new approaches to reference instruction, or developments-in-progress. Workshops are to be interactive, with audience participation and activities (including small group, individual, worksheets, discussions, case studies, etc.) included. Submissions should include 1) the official cover sheet and 2) a separate page consisting of the workshop title as well as a 250 word overview.
Pecha Kucha: join the conversation by submitting a proposal for a Pecha Kucha. Any topic relating to reference librarianship is most welcome, except for product pitches, which are not permitted. Pecha Kucha talks are exactly 6 minutes and 40 seconds with exactly 20 slides. Read more about this format at http://www.pecha-kucha.org/what Submissions should include 1) the official cover sheet and 2) a separate page consisting of the workshop title as well as a 250 word overview of the topic
DEADLINES:
April 1, 2010 – Deadline for All Submissions
May 7, 2010 – Notification of Acceptance to Speakers
TBA – Deadline for print proceedings for accepted proposals
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Submissions should be sent in electronic format (as an e-mail attachment as a Word document or pdf)
The official cover sheet can be downloaded from http://www.bcr.org/referencerenaissance/2010/call.html and complete proposals should be emailed to Justine Shaffner jshaffner@bcr.org
Information on conference registration and hotel reservations will be forthcoming on the conference website or email jshaffner@bcr.org to get on the conference mailing list.
