Alexandre Vattemare Award for Creativity in Libraries

Given annually by Library Juice Press, the Vattemare Award recognizes contributions in the LIS field that are marked by originality, creative energy, and novel combinations of ideas. Considerations in selecting the awardee are their creation of new possibilities for libraries and library workers, the creation of new means of benefiting the community that the library serves, and the ultimate success of these efforts. The award is open to librarians, other library workers, and community members (in any country). The award may be given to an individual or a group, based on a particular project or creative work over an extended period.

The award consists of $1000 and a framed certificate.

Nominations should include a letter and sufficient materials for evaluation; more is better. Nominations are due on May 1st of each year. 

Materials may be sent to inquiries@libraryjuicepress.com.

Alexandre Vattemare, the remarkable 19th century ventriloquist and pioneer of library resource sharing, is the inspiration for the award.

Previous Winners

2018: Betsy Diamant-Cohen, in recognition of her work as the creator and Executive Director of the early literacy program, Mother Goose on the Loose.

Free Webinar: Librarians Without Borders Guatemala

The ALA International Relations Round Table invites you to join us for a free webinar in which USA-based librarians will share their experience participating in the Librarians Without Borders Guatemala program.

Joi Jackson, Karen García, and Allinston Saulsberry will discuss their experience preparing for the program, working in Guatemala, and the impact that the experience has had on their librarianship.

The webinar will be held on Monday April, 8th at 12:00pm CDT (10:00am PST, 11:00am MDT, 1:00pm EST).

Join the webinar via the Adobe Connect link at https://ala.adobeconnect.com/rmq8vdop58ey/

International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion (IJIDI) seeks Book Reviewers

The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion (IJIDI) reviews new non-fiction books on the intersection of equity, diversity, social justice, information, relevant to its readers. The IJIDI uses a diversity and inclusion lens to review books of interest to scholars, researchers and practitioners in the library and information science and related fields for the purposes of professional development, collection development, student education, and readers’ advisory.

The Journal editors are looking for prospective reviewers for upcoming reviews for the following titles:

1) Going Green: Implementing Sustainable Strategies in Libraries around the World
Abstract:  This publication examines aspects of reducing the ecological footprint in libraries’ workaday operations as well as the social role and responsibility of libraries as leaders in environmental sustainability. The theoretical background and practical applications of contributions made by worldwide libraries to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are discussed.

2) Relevance and Irrelevance: Theories, Factors and Challenges
Abstract:  Relevance drives our actions and channels our attention; it shapes how we make sense of the world and communicate with each other. Irrelevance spreads a twilight which blurs the line between information we do not want to access and information we cannot access. In disciplines as diverse as philosophy, sociology, the information sciences and linguistics, “relevance” has been proposed as a key concept. This book is the first to bring together the often unrelated traditions. Researchers from different fields discuss relevance and relate it to the challenges of “irrelevance”, which have so far been neglected despite their significance for our chances of making well-informed decisions and understanding others. The contributions focus on theoretical and conceptual questions, on specific factors and fields, and on practical and political implications of relevance and irrelevance as forces which are even stronger when they remain in the background.

Reviewers will receive a review copy of each book to read and keep. Reviews are expected 6-8 weeks after receipt of book. Non-fiction reviews are 1000-1200 words in length. Refer to the website https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/ijidi/bookreviews for book review submission guidelines.
 
IJIDI welcomes reviewers from diverse backgrounds and identities, including international reviewers and first time reviewers.

If you are interested in reviewing any of the above titles, and are able to review this title by June 2019, please email Norda at nordam@yorku.ca at least 2 pieces of writing samples and your qualifications for reviewing that particular title. To be considered for future book review assignments, complete the IJIDI Book Reviewer Profile form. 

If you have questions or have suggestions for book review titles (non-fiction) please contact: 

Norda Bell, Associate Librarian
York University
Scott Library, Rm 310, 4700 Keele St.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3
email:nordam@yorku.ca

It's time to Volunteer: Your IRRT Committees Need You

Dear IRRT members,

You’ve made a commitment to a global perspective for your library career by joining IRRT.  Now help move IRRT into the future by volunteering to serve on an IRRT committee. With 13 committees to choose from, IRRT provides you with the opportunity to contribute your expertise and talent in numerous ways.

The Executive Board will be filling dozens of committee vacancies this spring. To be eligible for appointment, you must be an ALA and IRRT member; attend both ALA Midwinter and Annual Conferences for the duration of your appointment; and actively participate in the projects and programs, which may include monthly virtual meetings.

Applications submitted by April 15 will get first consideration.

For more information about our 13 committees, visit http://www.ala.org/rt/irrt/irrtcommittees/committees.

To apply to serve on a committee, complete the form at http://www.ala.org/CFApps/volunteer/form1.cfm.

Thank you for your interest and commitment to helping ALA have a global impact!

Advances in Library Administration and Organization - Call for Proposals

ALAO seeks submissions for the “Technical Services in the 21st Century Library” volume that delve beyond examples and case studies to examine the changing role of technical services from the library management perspective.

Proposals in the following areas would be of particular interest:

• Telling the Technical Services story
• Assessment, Data driven decision making and data visualization in technical services
• New skills, new models of staff organization, reorganizations to meet changing library services
• Collaborations with other library or university departments
• Technical Services within a library consortium
• Technical services and Collection Development
• Aligning Technical Services with Library Mission and Vision
• Updating workflows to accommodate new ways of working, changing technology, and changing needs
• Linked data
• Library Management Systems and/or Integrated Library Systems
• Collection budgets including management of DDA/PDA programs, unbundling Big Deals, new acquisitions vehicles
• Valuing and assessing resources in terms of relevance for the community served
• Leveraging technical services for scholarly communications and university-produced research.
• Technical services Librarians as faculty
• Open-Education Resources or OERs
• Out-sourcing
• Space allocation
• Technical Services for special collections and archival collections

This will be the first volume of Advances in Library Administration and Organization (ALAO) to publish in 2020. 


How to submit
If you are interested in contributing to this volume, send a proposal including author details and estimated length of final submission to Samantha Hines at shines@pencol.edu by April 15, 2019.

Submission deadlines
Proposal deadline:  April 15, 2019
Notification of acceptance sent by:  May 31, 2019

About the Advances in Library Administration and Organization series
ALAO offers long-form research, comprehensive discussions of theoretical developments, and in-depth accounts of evidence-based practice in library administration and organization.  The series answers the questions, “How have libraries been managed, and how should they be managed?” It goes beyond a platform for the sharing of research to provide a venue for dialogue across issues, in a way that traditional peer reviewed journals cannot.  Through this series, practitioners can glean new approaches in challenging times and collaborate on the exploration of scholarly solutions to professional quandaries. 

IFLA World Library and Information Congress participation grants

Planning to attend the IFLA World Congress in Athens, Greece, this year?

With generous support from a variety of sources, grants and awards are available every year to help delegates attend IFLA World Library and Information Congress, providing financial support to cover congress registration and/or other costs (travel, accommodation, daily expenses). While some grants focus on certain regions or career stages, others are open to all. Be sure to read through the descriptions, check the eligibility criteria for each of the grants and apply for the most suitable one for better success!

IFLA is pleased to announce an expanded range of conference participation grants this year, including a special grant in honour of Margreet Wijnstroom, the first female Secretary General of IFLA. In addition, the International Librarians Network (ILN) generously provides opportunities to librarians in need of support to attend the Congress in Athens.

Some recent calls for grant applicants include:
  •    IFLA WLIC Participation Grants 2019
  •    New Professionals WLIC Attendance Grant 2019 (NEW!)
  •    Margreet Wijnstroom Grant for attending the IFLA WLIC 2019 (NEW!)
  •    International Librarians Network IFLA WLIC Grant 2019 (NEW!)
  •    Dr. Shawky Salem Conference Grant (SSCG) 2019

Find the full list of grants on the IFLA WLIC 2019 website.

Best Student Research Paper Award 2019

Since 1950, through 67 volumes, Libri: International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies has been a leader among scholarly journals in the international library and information science world. As part of its strategy to remain one of the premier library and information science journals, Libri is issuing a call for “Best Student Research Paper of 2019.” This competition supports Libri’s goal of publishing the best articles from the next generation of library and information science professionals. We are proud once again to recognize the very best article with this special award.

Students who are currently enrolled for a Masters or PhD or who have completed their Masters or PhD during the 24 months preceding the closing date of the competition[1] are invited to submit articles with clarity and authority. There is no stated theme. Research papers should address one of the significant issues facing today’s librarians and information professionals. Case studies, best practices, and pure research papers are all welcome.

• Length: approx. 5,000 – 7,000 words (excluding the abstract and list of references) 
• Language: English 
• Deadline: June 30, 2019

The best paper will be selected by an independent panel consisting of selected members of the Editorial Board, the Advisory Board and other international experts. Submissions will be judged on the basis of

• originality of thought and observation 
• depth of research and scholarship 
• topicality of problems addressed 
• the international readership of the journal 
• the quality of the composition

The article will be published in the 2019:4 issue. The author of the winning article will be honoured with an award of 500.00 € and with a complimentary subscription to Libri for 2020.

If the quality of competition warrants, some papers may be designated as honourable mention and the authors will receive complementary subscriptions to Libri for 2020.  All winners will receive access to e-prints of their winning submission.  

Manuscripts should be submitted to http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/libri. When submitting a paper for the Best Student Research Paper Award, please choose “Best Student Research Paper Award” at the drop-down menu “Manuscript Type.”  

Author instructions and further indications of the scope of papers suitable for publication in Libri are available at the Libri site at http://www.degruyter.com/view/supplement/s18658423_Instructions_for_Authors_en.pdf.

 All submissions should include a cover sheet confirming:

• the name of the institution where the student is or was enrolled 
• the degree for which the student is or was enrolled 
• the dates when the student is or was enrolled 
• the degree/course/module for which the paper was prepared 
• the date when the paper was written

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[1] Exception: Senior information scholars returning to school for additional degrees outside the field of library and information science are not eligible for this award.

Building Best Pactices to Serve Women & Girls - Call for Proposals

The Women, Information, & Libraries Special Interest Group in partnership with Libraries without Borders invites you to submit proposals for our session around Building Best Practices to serve Women & Girls at the IFLA World Congress in Athens, Greece, August 24-30th.

We are looking for proposals that outline concrete examples of how you have successfully or unsuccessfully reached out to and supported women and girls in your local community, gotten them into your spaces, attended your events, and what you have learned from those experiences. We are hoping for a wide variety of experiences from serving women and girls in cities, rural areas, indigenous communities, refugee camps, and everything in between.  We plan to build off these experiences during the session to publish a series of best practices and thematic kits to train actors around the world in empowerment of women and children across the globe.

Read the complete call here: https://2019.ifla.org/cfp-calls/women-information-libraries-sig-with-libraries-without-borders/

 

Submit your abstract before March 10th to women.information.libraries@gmail.com.