CFP: National Diversity in Libraries Conference, August 10-13, 2016 @ UCLA

October 13, 2015

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Deadline: November 30, 2015

The National Diversity in Libraries Conference (NDLC ’16), co-sponsored by the UCLA Library and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), will take place on the UCLA campus on August 10-13, 2016. The NDLC ’16 Program Committee invites you to submit a proposal that addresses the conference’s theme of Bridges to Inclusion, highlighting issues related to diversity and inclusion that affect staff, users, and institutions in the library, archive, and museum (LAM) fields. NDLC ’16 aims to articulate the value of and develop strategies for diversity and inclusion in LAMs in order to improve organizational excellence and community engagement.

NDLC ’16 Tracks and Topics

NDLC’16 seeks conference presentations in all areas of diversity, including but not limited to the following topics:

·         Collections and Access

Global and multicultural collections, different languages and formats, archives, oral histories, traditional knowledge, data, government information, digital collections, subject headings and controlled vocabulary, accessible spaces and equipment, assistive technologies, accessible catalogs, access services, preservation, etc.

·         Programming, Outreach, and Advocacy

Cultural programming, outreach to diverse populations, teaching and learning, reference and research, instructional design, assessment, community collaborations, services to special populations, health education, financial literacy, marketing, social media, apps, advocacy, community and learning spaces, emerging technologies, digital humanities, makerspaces, institutional repositories, online learning, etc.

·         Personnel, Management, and Organization

Recruitment and retention, staff development and training, administration and management, leadership development, mentoring, organizational culture, conflict resolution and mediation, bias and prejudice, harassment, unions, cultural competencies, institutional change, public policies, diversity programs, diversity plans, etc.

·         Challenging Topics

Difficult patrons, vulnerable users, book challenges, controversial displays, contentious collections, digitization of traditional knowledge, free speech, trigger warnings, censorship, intellectual freedom, privacy and confidentiality, policies, cultural competencies, other legal issues, etc.

Ideal sessions will: provide insightful information and practical skills and strategies; facilitate constructive conversations around critical issues, including an exploration of potential solutions; highlight new research in the field; showcase exemplary programs; examine the successes and failures of initiatives designed to improve diversity and inclusion; or offer approaches for substantive change on limited resources.

Session Formats

All sessions are 75 minutes in length. They can take the following formats:

·         Workshop A session with facilitator(s) that provides an in-depth introduction to a topic and/or practical skills and techniques.

·         Roundtable A facilitated discussion between presenters and audience participants on a particular topic or broader issue. Should include multiple viewpoints and diverse voices.

·         Panel Presentations may cover a specialized topic from different perspectives or a general topic in-depth. Should provide sufficient time for audience questions.

·         Individual Paper/Presentation Proposals that are not already part of a set panel. May be assigned to a panel with similar topics.

NDLC ’16 will also accept proposals in formats other than those listed, especially if they provide a new way to engage the audience.  A call for poster proposals will go out in early 2016.

Submission Guidelines

All proposals must be submitted on the NDLC ’16 website: http://ndlc.info. Proposal form will be available beginning on October 23, 2015.

You will be asked to provide the following information:

·         Primary contact: name, title, institutional affiliation, e-mail address, and phone number

·         Additional participant(s): name, title, affiliation, and email address

·         Proposal title

·         Brief abstract for the conference program (up to 75 words)

·         Detailed description, including learning outcomes, for proposal review (up to 250 words)

·         Program track

·         Session format

Deadline

All proposals must be received by midnight PST on November 30, 2015. Notifications of proposal selection will be made by February 1, 2016. 

Selection Criteria

All proposals will be reviewed by the NDLC ’16 Proposal Review Subcommittee. Proposals are evaluated on quality and clarity of content, relevance to conference themes, and ability to engage the audience.

Presenters may be invited to use a format other than the one(s) selected or co-present with others who have proposed similar topics.

Additional Requirements

All selected program presenters must be registered for NDLC ‘16 in order to present. Presenters are responsible for paying the conference registration fee, travel, and lodging. (UCLA will offer economical conference housing that includes meals.)

Non-Commercial Policy

NDLC programs are non-commercial educational learning experiences. Under no circumstances should a session be used for direct promotion of a speaker’s product, service, or other self-interest.

Questions

Questions may be sent to the NDLC ‘16 Program Committee at ndlc@library.ucla.edu.