Call for international papers and projects session (ALA Annual 2012)
CHICAGO - The American Library Association's International Papers Committee invites proposals for presentations to be made at the next ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif. Presentations will be delivered at the International Papers Session scheduled for June 23, 2012.
The International Papers Program provides librarians with an opportunity to exchange information about library services, collections and projects throughout the world. The program also serves to stimulate the interest of U.S. librarians in international library matters. Through its International Papers Committee, ALA’s International Relations Round Table (IRRT) invites librarians to submit a presentation proposal. The 2012 International Papers Program theme is: Expecting the Unexpected: Libraries Respond to Profound Change.
Increasingly, economic, political and human crises, along with natural disasters, constitute a recurrent reality around the world. The effect of large-scale disasters and economic disruptions are being felt far and wide and impacting libraries in diverse ways. Libraries are casualties of natural disasters, from earthquakes to hurricanes, as well as civil unrest and wars. Sudden cuts in library budgets have resulted in severe staff reductions, privatization and even closures.
The IRRT is interested in hearing from libraries around the world about how they have prepared for or coped with profound change. Possible topics may include—but are not limited to:
Organizational responses to extraordinary change in political environments
The role of libraries during financial crises or uncertain economic circumstances
Planning and/or responses to natural disasters or humanitarian emergencies
Presenters are encouraged to consider the theme from diverse angles.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Proposals, presentations and papers must be written and delivered in English, which is the working language of the program.
Proposals should include:
1. Title of the presentation
2. Name, title, institutional affiliation and full contact information (including a valid e-mail address) for each presenter
3. Abstract (300-500 words)
4. A short biographical profile of each presenter
Proposals should be submitted electronically (as a Microsoft Word or PDF attachment) to the International Relations Office via email to intl@ala.org with a copy to valergal@gmail.com and buenaventura.basco@ucf.edu.
Deadline for submitting proposals is Friday, Dec. 23, 2011.
SELECTION PROCESS
Four (4) official and four (4) alternate proposals will be selected.
Alternate proposals will be ranked and considered in place of official ones, in case substitutions are necessary. All proponents will be notified of the selection results by Jan. 27, 2012.
PRESENTATION FORMAT
This year, the International Papers Program has been extended from 1.5 hours to 2 hours total. Presentations should run about 20 minutes each, followed by a Q & A session. PowerPoints are common, but speakers who want to read a paper or refer to it are welcome to do so. In either case, presenters are encouraged to submit a formal paper (5,000-10,000 words), to be published on the International Papers Committee website.
You can view previous presentations listed on IRRT's International Paper Session Committee site. www.ala.org/irrt
