Call for Proposals: Entrepreneurs & Libraries Conference
Fall, 2023
Conference Theme:
Refresh & Refocus: Libraries’ new trends in supporting entrepreneurs
Date: Wed, Nov 1, 2023
Time: 2pm-5pm Eastern
Venue: Zoom (online)
The Entrepreneurs & Libraries Conference explores how libraries and library workers support entrepreneurship in their communities and campuses. Entrelib continues to be a gathering place for academic, public, and special library workers, as well as entrepreneurial ecosystem partners, via our free online events. The event will be free and hosted on Zoom
The conference’s theme Refresh & Refocus relates to the ever-expanding work that libraries of all types are doing to serve entrepreneurs in their communities and contexts. It also acknowledges that library staff approach this work with a wide range of knowledge, and access to resources. This event seeks to provide a forum for expanding library understanding about the diversity that exists among these “entrepreneurials,” their needs, and both proven and emerging ways libraries can support and sustain entrepreneurs in their journeys. It also seeks to provide an opportunity for individual staff members and their libraries to assess where serving these populations fits in their institution’s priorities and how best to align their staff and resources to serve these engines of economic growth. In 2021 more than 5.4 million new business applications from entrepreneurs were filed, surpassing the record of 4.4 million set in 2020. A recent study of 1,500 adults making a work-life change found that 33% of respondents had explored starting their own business and that 27% had considered becoming a consultant or freelancing.
Examples of topics of interest include:
- How libraries position themselves in entrepreneurial ecosystems
- Studies of information/resource needs and practices of entrepreneurs.
- Services focused on serving specific populations: teens, senior adults, immigrants, blue collar/trades, individuals impacted by systemic racism, rural populations, economically disadvantaged.
- Examples of effective community partnerships and how to establish and maintain them.
- While acknowledging the value of community partnerships, we are interested in “home-grown” programs developed internally by libraries leveraging the library’s staff and resources.
Proposals are not limited to the topics above, the conference is interested in receiving a wide range of proposals that embrace the conference theme. We are especially interested in proposals that provide new perspectives on not only how libraries support entrepreneurs (refresh) as well as programs to provide convincing arguments for why these services should be a priority (refocus).
We will be accepting the following 2 formats of presentations:
1. Presentation (15 minutes)
This session will include 3 longform presentations, 15-minutes each.
The Programming committee invites proposals from the community for 15 minute presentations. These workshops should include an interactive component to engage participants.
The Programming committee will give priority to submissions that are applicable to and engaging for multiple types of information professionals, (public, special, academic,etc.).
2. Lightning Talk (7 Minutes)
This session will include 5 lightning talks, 7-minutes each.
The Programming committee invites proposals from the community for 7 minute lightning talks. The Programming committee will give priority to submissions that are applicable to and engaging for multiple types of information professionals, (public, special, academic,etc.).
To submit a proposal please fill out the submission form . To learn more about the conference, please visit https://entrelib.org/
Proposal submission deadline: August 14th , 2023
Preview the proposal submission form. Tip: Download or make a copy to draft responses before submitting.
Proposals will be reviewed by the Programming Committee using a self-designed rubric.
If you have any questions, please contact the Entrelib Fall Conference Committee co-chairs Kellee Forkenbrock (kforkenbrock@
