Call for Papers — Open Sessions

Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section

• 12 February 2019, 14:14

Theme: "Navigating Your Own Professional Development: Effective Use of the 2016 IFLA Guidelines for Continuing Professional Development "

IFLA’s Global Vision highlights the intrinsic value of a strong and united library field powering literate, informed and participative societies. Active, engaged and well-prepared library and information professionals are central to both the achievement of IFLA’s mission and, ultimately, to the delivery of exemplary services to library users around the world.

The 2016 IFLA Guidelines for Continuing Professional Development: Principles and Best Practices (available in many languages), prepared and published by the Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section (CPDWL), set out clear principles for preparing library workers to meet the needs of 21^st century libraries and their users.  The Guidelines document positions continuing professional development as a shared responsibility, but with primary responsibility residing with the individuals themselves. The objectives are clear:  we embark on continuing professional development to enhance services to users, to further our own careers and to advance the profession.

“Best practice places responsibility for ongoing learning, based on regular assessment, on the individual practitioner. It demands actions to correct current performance gaps and to prepare for future responsibilities. There are several imperatives: one to support the employing organization’s goals for excellent service, another to further one’s own career development, and ultimately to contribute to profession-wide growth and improvement.”

(IFLA Guidelines for Continuing Professional Development: Principles and Best Practices, 2016)

While the Guidelines consider the different roles of learners, employers, educators, trainers and the professional associations, this session at the IFLA WLIC focuses on the learner. This session will showcase the perspectives of individual staff members as they navigate the use of the IFLA CPD Guidelines.   Four individual librarians or other library workers will speak about their own personal journey using the Guidelines to document their learning needs, grow their careers and further the IFLA vision.

Submission Guidelines

Proposals for short, insightful presentations (10 minutes) are invited from library and information professionals across the world whose professional development has been guided by or aligns with the Guidelines.  Preference will be given to individuals whose submissions document how their personal learning has advanced their careers, improved the quality of service delivered to their users and contributed to the achievement of IFLA’s vision.

Presentations and abstracts should be in English.

Please email your proposals by 15 March 2019 to:

[email protected] and [email protected]

Proposals should include:

1. Title of proposed presentation
2. An abstract (500 words maximum)
3. Name(s) of presenter(s)
4. Position(s) of presenter(s)
5. Employer or affiliated institution of presenter(s)
6. Email address
7. Telephone numbers
8. Short biographical statement(s) regarding the presenter(s)

Important Dates

15 March 2019:  Deadline submission of abstract

30 March 2019:  Successful candidates will be notified

15 June 2019:  Deadline submission of full text

Please note:

At least one of the paper’s authors must be present to deliver a summary of the paper during the program in Athens. 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 2019 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 author(s)/presenter(s) of accepted papers.

Congress Participation Grants

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