Call for Papers: Independent Libraries Association Conference 2018
Posted October 31, 2017
Past, Present, Future: the People in Independent Libraries
Library of Innerpeffray, by Crieff, and the Leighton Library, Dunblane: Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd June 2018
The Independent Libraries Association’s annual conference continues the aim of bringing together those working in and around the independent library sector. 2017’s conference followed the theme of ‘collections’, the core of any library; but what are texts without their readers? In 2018 the conference will focus on people. The membership of independent libraries is growing healthily, but individual institutions often battle against perceptions of exclusivity and anonymity. People who use independent collections, as well as the people who make the collections accessible are all welcomed under this year’s theme. Papers on library founders, readers, members, subscribers, librarians, archivists, interns, volunteers, trustees, benefactors, partner institutions and/or the general public will all be considered. We are delighted to be holding the 2018 conference in Scotland, with joint hosts the Library of Innerpeffray, Crieff, and the Leighton Library, Dunblane. The Associations’ intention is to foster networking between all those who work in or around libraries, archives, and special collections.
We welcome 20-minute papers in any of the following areas, though proposals from anyone in the independent library movement are welcome:
- Famous Founders and/or well-known readers;
- Increasing reader numbers and serving the community;
- Borrower records and histories;
- Volunteers and their contributions;
- Crowd-sourced projects with students and the general public;
- Online communities and open-access projects;
- Architectural design to promote access;
- Free at the point of use? Membership and subscription schemes;
- Make do and mend: staffing an independent library.
We emphasise that papers do not need to be scholarly. The Association is committed to hearing a diversity of perspectives. Submissions should be sent to Jill Dye and Louisa Yates at [email protected] by 5pm on Friday 3rd February 2018. Please direct any queries to this address.