Call for Proposals

We are seeking presenters to lead engaging and interactive discussions about media and information literacy, library instruction, and interdisciplinary collaboration. We are especially interested in breakout sessions and panels related to this year’s theme: 

Tuning In: Navigating Capacity, Collaboration, and Cognition in Information Literacy. 

At this year’s Summit, we’re interested in exploring our “bandwidth” for information literacy and considering the topic from a wide range of perspectives. 

• Individuals’ cognitive and emotional bandwidth for processing the vast amounts of information we encounter as students, researchers, and as citizens. How can interdisciplinary work on cognition and perception inform our understanding of information literacy? How do our students’ circumstances outside of the library classroom shape their capacity for building information literacy skills?

• Individual and organizational bandwidth in the workplace. How do the material realities of budget cuts and staffing shortages shape our institutions’ information literacy programs? How do we assess and build capacity for new programs? How might we approach fine-tuning and rethinking our careers to be more fulfilled as individuals or make the most impact within our profession?

• Critical perspectives on tools and partnerships that seek to enhance our bandwidth. To what extent can tools like generative AI create capacity in the library or the broader information ecosystem? How do we engage with new technologies strategically? Can we build capacity through collaboration? What does that collaboration look like in practice and how do we sustain it over time? 

The Summit is a regional conference which will be held in person at the College of DuPage. Breakout sessions and panels will be 50 minutes long and should include audience interaction or discussion. Panel discussions should have a three person maximum. Hands-on lessons and demonstrations (and/or practical takeaways) are encouraged. Sessions typically have 20-40 participants. 

The submission should include a 300-500 word description of your presentation. Please include learning outcomes and a brief explanation of why people should attend your session and what they will take away. A shorter abstract for publication in the Summit programming will be required as well. If you wish to propose more than one session, please fill out a form for each topic. 

Priority deadline to submit proposals: February 15, 2024 | Midnight