CLA Fall 2019 Virtual Conference - Submit Today!
“Catholic Librarianship: Building a Culture of Encounter”
This virtual conference will be held online for two days in October 2019 (Thursday-Friday, October 17-18, 2019).
We strongly encourage proposal submissions from librarians active and working in all settings (academic, school, public, special, etc.), archivists, as well as MLIS graduate students, retired librarians or volunteer librarians in parishes or small school libraries. Speakers must be available on at least one of the dates listed above, and have the use of a computer with a camera and a microphone. Zoom software is the primary tool that will be used to conduct the conference, but ancillary tools can also be added (Prezi, Powerpoint slides, etc.) if desired. Instruction and support in the use of Zoom will be provided prior to the event.
This conference will examine the nature of librarianship itself, especially as it operates in this century – a period of continuing social, economic, and technical change. How do our traditional professional values, and indeed our faith, help us to achieve our goals, despite the disruptions in our culture? Do we have the courage, compassion, and indeed the tools to support the needs and wants of the people we work with and serve? Can we use our skills to counteract the current culture of indifference and polarization in order to work towards a culture of compassion, dialogue, helpfulness and fruitful encounter with others? What strategies for engagement and encounter have you witnessed or employed in your own work?
Proposals may address (but are not limited to) such topics as:
This virtual conference will be held online for two days in October 2019 (Thursday-Friday, October 17-18, 2019).
We strongly encourage proposal submissions from librarians active and working in all settings (academic, school, public, special, etc.), archivists, as well as MLIS graduate students, retired librarians or volunteer librarians in parishes or small school libraries. Speakers must be available on at least one of the dates listed above, and have the use of a computer with a camera and a microphone. Zoom software is the primary tool that will be used to conduct the conference, but ancillary tools can also be added (Prezi, Powerpoint slides, etc.) if desired. Instruction and support in the use of Zoom will be provided prior to the event.
This conference will examine the nature of librarianship itself, especially as it operates in this century – a period of continuing social, economic, and technical change. How do our traditional professional values, and indeed our faith, help us to achieve our goals, despite the disruptions in our culture? Do we have the courage, compassion, and indeed the tools to support the needs and wants of the people we work with and serve? Can we use our skills to counteract the current culture of indifference and polarization in order to work towards a culture of compassion, dialogue, helpfulness and fruitful encounter with others? What strategies for engagement and encounter have you witnessed or employed in your own work?
Proposals may address (but are not limited to) such topics as:
- Using technology to create new kinds of meaningful encounters with patrons and colleagues
- Maintaining authentic interaction with patrons when responsibilities have multiplied and time and energy are in short supply
- Reclaiming our roles of guidance and accompaniment, which have been eroded by the false promise of Internet browsing
- Using re-training of library staff (ex: rolling out a new ILS or service) as an opportunity to bring people together and strengthen bonds
- Helping students who were raised in a digital age to appreciate and encounter the Word
- Effectively employing interactive communication tools (chat, texting, social media, video conferencing, etc.) to humanize online classes
- Encouraging students to read and go beyond sound bites and memes
- Listening as a method to counterbalance polarization
- Making Catholic materials more discoverable in online catalogs and other research tools
- Developing collections that help your patrons encounter other worldviews
- Modeling civility and encouraging dialogue while still evangelizing
- Using the Catholic intellectual tradition as a way to encounter truths
Key Dates:
• Proposal Deadline: July 25, 2019
• Notification of Accepted Proposals: August 2, 2019
• Confirm schedule: August 30, 2019
• Zoom Training: First two weeks in September
• Conference Rehearsal: Last week of September 2019
If you have additional questions regarding proposals, contact the CLA Office at cla2@cathla.org or (225) 408-4417.
• Notification of Accepted Proposals: August 2, 2019
• Confirm schedule: August 30, 2019
• Zoom Training: First two weeks in September
• Conference Rehearsal: Last week of September 2019
If you have additional questions regarding proposals, contact the CLA Office at cla2@cathla.org or (225) 408-4417.
