Call for Proposals
"Looking to the future of libraries," image generated by Canva's Magic Media, December 6, 2024.
Reshaping Information Literacy for an Uncertain Future: Sustainability, Adaptability, and Resilience
We are seeking presenters to lead engaging and interactive discussions about how librarians are adapting their teaching practices with an eye towards the future. Are we building sustainable and relevant information literacy programs that can keep pace with a rapidly changing information landscape in an increasingly uncertain world?
In particular, we’re seeking proposals that speak to the following topics:
Technology & Power: How do we incorporate digital and algorithmic literacies into our information literacy programs? How can we prepare our students to navigate a rapidly changing technological landscape characterized by an uneven distribution of power and resources? What are the ethical implications of new technologies and how do we engage students with ethical questions in our instruction?
Epistemic Justice: How do we design information literacy programs grounded in respect for different forms of knowledge and the pursuit of social justice? How can we incorporate and value student voice in our pedagogy and ensure inclusive classrooms and curricula for an evolving student population?
Civic Engagement: What does a problem-based approach to information literacy look like? How can information literacy initiatives prepare students to engage with pressing social issues, in their academic work and beyond? How can we expand the conversation to include important stakeholders beyond our institutions, including our local communities?
Mis/disinformation: How do we tackle pressing issues of mis/disinformation and propaganda? How do we collaborate with teaching faculty and others in our communities to facilitate critical media literacies?
We’re considering proposals in the following formats:
Breakout sessions or panels: These sessions will be 50 minutes long and consist of a presentation from the front of the room. We encourage presenters to incorporate audience interaction or hands-on demonstrations when possible. Panel discussions should include a maximum of three (3) presenters.
Roundtable discussions: These sessions are 50 minutes long and consist of a brief presentation from the facilitator to set the stage, followed by small or large group discussion among attendees. If you’d like to propose a roundtable discussion, please include a brief (5-7 item) bibliography of publications related to your chosen topic and several discussion questions (3-5 questions).
Lightning talks: These are short 5-7 minute presentations which serve as an optimal format for presenting work-in-progress, sharing successes (and things that didn’t work out as expected), or introducing attendees to a teaching tool, lesson plan or learning activity, or critical framework.
The Summit is a regional conference that draws attendance from university, community college, and school librarians from Illinois and neighboring states. Sessions typically have 20-40 participants.
The submission should include a 200-400 word description of your presentation and a brief explanation of what attendees should expect to take away from the session. Proposals for roundtable discussions should include a brief (5-7 item) bibliography of related publications and 3-5 proposed discussion questions.
We’ll also ask for a short (approximately 50-100 word) abstract of your session to include in the conference program. If you have questions or would like to discuss your idea for a proposal, feel free to reach out to the planning committee at infolitsummit@gmail.com.
For more information about the Summit, visit https://www.infolitsummit.org/