Call for Papers — Open Sessions
Reference & Information Services Section
- 20 January 2019, 18:03
Theme: "Debating the Impact and Reach of Reference & Information Services"
The Theme of the IFLA WLIC is “Libraries: A Dialogue for Change” so the Reference & Information Services Section will be holding a professional debate.
The following three topics will be debated in our session:
1. Artificial Intelligence technologies, including machine learning, robotics, predictive analytics, and semantic/cognitive search, will reduce the need for reference desk services.
2. Reference and information services will be less important when all content is open access.
3. Libraries and information services can’t change the impact of fake news.
We are seeking proposals that outline all of the following for one of the statements above:
1. Outline the main points in favour and against the statement
2. Address what are the key questions for libraries and librarians to discuss about the statement
3. How has technology impacted the issue identified in the statement?
4. If libraries serve as open, free, democratic and inclusive places, what roles need to change or be modified to respond to this issue?
The session will involve two short 15 min presentations on each topic. One in support of the statement and another disagreeing with the statement. We will notify proposers whether they will be arguing for or against the statement and provide enough time for you to solidify your argument. Audience participation will be involved in determining which presentation on each topic was the most convincing. We hope to create a lively engaging session that will spark conversation on the above topics.
Submissions
All proposals must be received by 29 March 2019.
Please submit a 650 word proposal via this link to our online form
Important deadlines:
– 29 March 2019: Deadline for submitting Proposals
– 8 April 201: Successful Speakers will be notified, and IFLA forms completed by RISS and the Speakers
– 29 April 2019: Deadline for Abstract of Argument – to be approximately 300 words
– 28 May 2019: Deadline for submission of completed Argument (A short paper outlining key points/issues with references). This paper should be no more than 1000 words in length and should be in one of the IFLA official languages. The conference language is English. If the Argument is in any of the other official IFLA languages than English, an accompanying translation in English must be attached.
– 14 June 2019: Deadline for submitting any PowerPoint slides that will be used in the presentation.
Both abstracts and full papers should be submitted as an MS Word file by email. Proposed papers must be original and not have been published elsewhere.
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.