Changes
in social structures, behaviors, values and organizations are inevitable and
libraries are not immune to those changes. Embedded in their unique
communities, libraries are social change engines. At times, they are driving
the change, and at others, they reflect and respond to the social changes
affecting their communities. The IRRT 2020 Chair’s program will be a panel of
library innovators who identified a problem within their community and
responded through outreach, services, programming, or other actions and are
able to talk about the impact of the response. The panelists, representing
national, public and academic libraries around the world, will share their
experiences leading social change or cultivating sensitivity to marginalized
groups in their communities.
The Chair's Program Committee seeks proposals from speakers to be part
of a panel that will describe and share the following:
Panelist
presentations will discuss their individual library’s role in leading and
responding to social change and the impact this work has had on their
city/region/country. The best proposals will speak to specific actions taken by
their libraries.
Examples of topics (presentations are NOT limited to these topics;
creativity is encouraged):
●
Providing programming or services promoting gender equality and
empowerment. For example, reproductive education programs, or training to
develop entrepreneurial skills.
●
Providing programming or services that cultivate sensitivity and
understanding to marginalized groups.
For example, a Human Library that creates safe spaces for dialogue and
understanding.
●
Providing programming or services that support access to information
for immigrants, migrants and refugees. For example, establishing mobile
libraries within marginalized spaces, and creating an inclusive and equitable
space.
●
Creating partnerships, programming, or services that contribute to a
culture of welcoming for migrants, refugees and other marginalized groups. For
example, serving as a meeting and activity point for welcoming initiatives.
●
Fighting poverty and hunger, allowing all to live with dignity, by
supporting community needs. For example, developing a community garden or
helping to develop skills.
IFLA’s Library Map of the World
Sustainable Development Goals Stories provides additional examples of topics of interest for presentations.
Presentation
Format:
Each panel presentation will be between 10-15 minutes. Applicants
are encouraged to consider creative and effective presentations to connect
attendees with the topic and to share information that will let attendees know
how they could implement similar solutions/programs for their library
communities.
Deadline:
All proposals must be submitted by
January 31, 2020 for consideration. Applicants will be notified by early
March if their submission has been accepted for presentation at the conference.
Submission
Guidelines:
Proposals should include two
separate documents.
1.
The first document should include:
○
Title of the presentation
○
A 150- to 250-word biography of the presenters/panelists (If program
is accepted, biographies will be used in program advertising.)
○
Name, title, institutional affiliation, and full contact information
of the presenters/panelists
2.
The second document should not have any identifying information. This
document should be an abstract of 300-500 words which addresses all of the following:
○
describe the library and its community
○
Identify the social problem or issue and its background
○
describe how the library addressed the problem
○
discuss the impact on the library’s city/region/country/community
The American Library Association (ALA) International Relations Round
Table (IRRT) Chair's Program Committee invites proposals for participation in a
panel presentation that will take place at the annual ALA conference in
Chicago, Illinois. The panel presentation will be featured in the IRRT
Chair's Program session. Each year, the IRRT Chair's Program features speakers
presenting on a specific theme related to international relations and the
library. This year, the theme for the IRRT Chair's Program is: Libraries as Social Change Engines
Changes
in social structures, behaviors, values and organizations are inevitable and
libraries are not immune to those changes. Embedded in their unique
communities, libraries are social change engines. At times, they are driving
the change, and at others, they reflect and respond to the social changes
affecting their communities. The IRRT 2020 Chair’s program will be a panel of
library innovators who identified a problem within their community and
responded through outreach, services, programming, or other actions and are
able to talk about the impact of the response. The panelists, representing
national, public and academic libraries around the world, will share their
experiences leading social change or cultivating sensitivity to marginalized
groups in their communities.
The Chair's Program Committee seeks proposals from speakers to be part
of a panel that will describe and share the following:
Panelist
presentations will discuss their individual library’s role in leading and
responding to social change and the impact this work has had on their
city/region/country. The best proposals will speak to specific actions taken by
their libraries.
Examples of topics (presentations are NOT limited to these topics;
creativity is encouraged):
●
Providing programming or services promoting gender equality and
empowerment. For example, reproductive education programs, or training to
develop entrepreneurial skills.
●
Providing programming or services that cultivate sensitivity and
understanding to marginalized groups.
For example, a Human Library that creates safe spaces for dialogue and
understanding.
●
Providing programming or services that support access to information
for immigrants, migrants and refugees. For example, establishing mobile
libraries within marginalized spaces, and creating an inclusive and equitable
space.
●
Creating partnerships, programming, or services that contribute to a
culture of welcoming for migrants, refugees and other marginalized groups. For
example, serving as a meeting and activity point for welcoming initiatives.
●
Fighting poverty and hunger, allowing all to live with dignity, by
supporting community needs. For example, developing a community garden or
helping to develop skills.
IFLA’s Library Map of the World
Sustainable Development Goals Stories provides additional examples of topics of interest for presentations.
Presentation
Format:
Each panel presentation will be between 10-15 minutes. Applicants
are encouraged to consider creative and effective presentations to connect
attendees with the topic and to share information that will let attendees know
how they could implement similar solutions/programs for their library
communities.
Deadline:
All proposals must be submitted by
January 31, 2020 for consideration. Applicants will be notified by early
March if their submission has been accepted for presentation at the conference.
Submission
Guidelines:
Proposals should include two
separate documents.
1.
The first document should include:
○
Title of the presentation
○
A 150- to 250-word biography of the presenters/panelists (If program
is accepted, biographies will be used in program advertising.)
○
Name, title, institutional affiliation, and full contact information
of the presenters/panelists
2.
The second document should not have any identifying information. This
document should be an abstract of 300-500 words which addresses all of the following:
○
describe the library and its community
○
Identify the social problem or issue and its background
○
describe how the library addressed the problem
○
discuss the impact on the library’s city/region/country/community
