THE DIGITAL SHIFT 2015: LIBRARIES CONNECTING COMMUNITIES
A Virtual Event presented by Library Journal and School Library Journal
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Each year since 2010, Library Journal and School Library Journal have produced an innovative full-day, virtual learning event tackling the challenges presented by the digital transition’s impact on libraries and their communities. Last year’s event, Libraries @ The Center drew 6,500+ registrants and 3,500+ live attendees.
As planning begins for our October 14, 2015 event, The Digital Shift: Libraries Connecting Communities, we’re seeking program proposals that relate to these areas of focus:
How to submit a successful proposal
We’re looking for discussions and presentations that will help our attendees get up-to-date insights on new technologies and services; understand the latest developments in the tech and publishing industries and how they impact libraries; and/or offer practical strategies to overcome critical challenges to accomplishing libraries’ missions.
- Provide a clear description of what attendees will learn. Whether your proposed session seeks to explain an emerging trend or teach a critical skill, you must provide a direct, concise description of what attendees will learn. We cannot emphasize this enough—be very clear in your proposal about what you will be presenting.
- Focus on lessons learned, NOT the benefits of your product or service. Product pitches will be rejected. Lessons learned from building or running your product, however, can be invaluable.
- Skip the jargon. The more buzzwords and industry jargon you use, the less we think you have something interesting to say.
- Aim for diversity. Please review our commitment to diversity before submitting your proposal.
Questions? Please contact Barbara Genco.
Creation, Curation, and Connection
We are looking for programs on how school, public, and academic libraries connect people to content and the ways libraries and their users are embracing digital tools to create, curate, discover, and deliver information.
This includes everything from hosting music by local musicians and self-published ebooks by local authors; reviews in the OPAC and readalikes at the checkout; engaging maker programs for the entire family; data-mining library resources and making researchers’ data sets available by open access; and much more.
If you’re putting a new twist on the traditional library mission, we want to hear about it.
Outreach and Engagement
Some of the most exciting projects are leveraging the power of libraries to convene and connect people: from one kind of library to another in innovative collaborations; libraries as a whole to other stakeholders in the civic enterprise; one user to another, facilitating much needed conversations on pressing social issues; and of course, from users to resources for everything from health information and workforce development to early literacy resources.
We are looking for programs on how libraries of all types are using digital tools to facilitate connections and help support strong communities.
Fast Learning
New this year are rapid-fire 10-minute presentations on a wide range of topics around school, public, and academic librarians engaging technology. Quick hits of practical tools help cover the most professional development ground in the shortest time and allow a sampler approach to those seeking the right entry point to the digital dialog.
If you have a proposal for a session you’d like to see on the #TDS15 program, whether it’s based on one of the above topics or something else related to the broad theme of “Libraries Connecting Communities,” we’d love to hear from you!
Session formats
The virtual event format requires access to a reliable internet connection and the appropriate OS/Browser combinations. Presenters must deliver their Powerpoint presentation decks in a timely manner.
We are accepting proposals for the following formats:
- 25-minute panel discussions – these are presentations, discussions (or debates) with 2-4 participants, including a moderator.
- 10-minute “Fast Learning” presentations – these are (usually) solo presentations focused on practical solutions to specific challenges (eg: case studies, best practices) or visionary ideas with practical applications.
Important Dates
- Proposals due: May 12, 2015
- Notifications of acceptance: Mid-June
- TDS15 Registration Opens: July 20, 2015
