Call for Papers: Open Sessions

Metropolitan Libraries Section

Theme:

"Public libraries as place makers in today’s cities: urban development, resiliency and social equity"

[Deadline extended to: 19 March 2017]

IFLA’s Metropolitan Libraries Section invites you to submit a proposal for its programme at the 83rd IFLA World Library and Information Congress to be held in Wrocław, Poland, 19-25 August 2017.

Session theme

The Section intends to explore how public libraries of large urban areas all over the world are contributing to “placemaking”, to place identity and to the design of public spaces which promote the wellbeing and happiness of a community.

We are seeking 5-6 thoughtful, high quality papers (presentations of 10-15 minutes each), addressing how public libraries:

  • contribute to urban planning and design, as one the main assets of a lively neighborhood;
  • attract people as interesting places
  • innovate in environmental sustainability issues, i.e. adopt “green” procurement processes
  • contribute to local economic regeneration
  • provide services for the homeless, the poor and other disadvantaged users
  • manage crisis during disasters (flooding, earthquakes, etc.) and changing conditions
  • engage communities in planning services
  • contribute to the city’s diversity and intergenerational equity
  • contribute to the local community’s learning capacity

Submission Guidelines

Full abstracts (in any of IFLA’s official languages) of up to 500 words should be submitted for review by members of the Section.  The abstracts (and finished presentation) will be original, previously unpublished work.

Please submit abstracts as an attachment in MS Word to:

Corrado Di Tillio
E-mail: c.ditillio@bibliotechediroma.it

and

Siobhan Reardon
E-mail: reardons@freelibrary.org

The deadline for submitting a detailed abstract, including title and full author details (name, professional affiliation, postal address, email address) is 28 February 2017 19 March 2017.

Selection of papers by is based on the abstract, and presenters will be notified whether they have been successful by 31 March 2017.

Completed papers must be submitted no later than 31 May 2017.

It is understood that authors of successful papers will deliver them in person at the IFLA Congress in Columbus, at the author’s own expense.

In accordance with IFLA’s Open Access Statement all papers presented at the WLIC 2017 will be available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Authors of submitted papers will need to sign IFLA’s Author form. The papers and presentations will be made available through the IFLA Library.

Important Dates

19 March 2017. Submission of abstract
31 March 2017 Notification to authors
31 May 2017 Submission of full text

Submissions

All proposals must be received by 19 March 2017.

Please note

At least one of the paper’s authors must be present to deliver a summary of the paper during the program in Wrocław, Poland. Abstracts should only be submitted with the understanding that the expenses of attending the conference will be the responsibility of the author(s)/presenter(s) of accepted papers.

All papers that are presented at the WLIC 2017 will be made available online via the IFLA Library under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

Authors of accepted papers must complete the IFLA Authors’ Permission Form.

All expenses, including registration for the conference, travel, accommodation etc., are the responsibility of the authors/presenters. No financial support can be provided by IFLA, but a special invitation letter can be issued to authors.

Congress Participation Grants

List of opportunities for support is available on our Conference Participation Grants webpage.