Call for Proposals, Second Empirical Studies in Libraries Summit
Posted January 15, 2026
Description
We are pleased to announce the upcoming Empirical Studies in Libraries
Summit (ESiLS), a forum dedicated to showcasing and discussing the
latest research and findings happening in and about libraries. This
summit aims to bring together scholars, practitioners, and students who
are engaged in empirical studies that advance our understanding of
library practices, user behaviors, the impact of libraries on their
communities, and more!
We invite proposals for presentations, workshops, posters, and panel
discussions that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:
> Innovative methodologies in library research
> User experience and satisfaction studies
> Data-driven decision-making in library services
> Impact assessment of library programs and services
> Information-seeking and user behavior studies
> Collaboration between libraries and community organizations
> The role of libraries in promoting digital or information literacy
> Case studies highlighting successful empirical research in libraries
Qualifications
Target Audience: We encourage researchers as well as practitioners in
academic, public, special, and all other libraries to submit proposals.
Doctoral students are especially encouraged to apply. To further our
commitment to inclusivity, proposers will have the option to disclose
whether or not they are members of marginalized communities during the
submission process. We aim to amplify the voices of those from these
communities and strongly encourage their participation in submitting
proposals.
Proposal Guidelines
Submission Format: Proposals should be submitted by February 2, 2026.
Proposals should include: Title, Authors, Abstract and Session Type.
(Submit here: https://forms.gle/SVZqHN2gPD4dDeie7)
Review Process: All submissions will undergo a blind peer review process
by the organizers of the conference. Proposals will be evaluated based
on their originality, relevance to the Summit’s focus, methodological
rigor, and potential impact on the library community. Session proposals
that do not include empirical data collection will not be accepted.
Session proposals that are not accepted may be offered the option to
convert their session to an asynchronous poster.
Notification of Acceptance: Authors will be notified of the acceptance
of their proposals by February 9, 2026.
Note 1 – Originality: We encourage submissions of original content
relevant to ESiLS and encourage submitters to be intentional in where
they submit proposals for professional engagement. ESiLS does not accept
presentations that have been presented elsewhere, or that are
accepted/slated for presentation elsewhere. (If you are submitting
multiple places, that is fine–though you may need to choose which to
present at if accepted at more than one.) Any use of prior material
should be cited by a reference to the source of that prior material,
including one’s own work. Questions about this? Email the organizers!
Note 2 – EBLIP: Presenters at ESiLS will have an opportunity to publish
papers based on their work in the journal Evidence Based Library &
Information Practice (EBLIP) for the journal’s December 2026 issue.
EBLIP is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal that has been published
since 2006. Submissions will be on/around June 1, 2026, and may fall
into one of the following categories: research article, review article,
commentary, or a “using evidence in practice” article. All submissions
must follow the journal’s author guidelines. Submission of a manuscript
does not guarantee that it will be accepted for publication. Quite a few
articles came out in the Dec. 2025 issue that started at ESiLS 2025!
(See: https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/eblip/index.php/EBLIP)
>> Submit your proposal here: https://forms.gle/SVZqHN2gPD4dDeie7
Questions about the Empirical Studies in Libraries Summit may be sent to
the organizers at [email protected]. Additional information is available on
our website at https://www.esils.org