We are pleased to announce the release of the Call for Papers for National Libraries Now 2021, an international digital conference on 16-17 September 2021 developed by a team of curatorial staff from the British Library, the National Library of Jamaica, and the Royal Library of Belgium. National Libraries Now 2021 aims to provide a space for staff working with collections to share ideas and explore the challenges often unique to national libraries.
National libraries are responsible for collecting and preserving the published output of their countries and international publications of research interest, with library professionals tasked to build and promote these cultural heritage repositories of knowledge and creativity. However, curatorial roles within these institutions face unprecedented change in what is considered national heritage, the digital availability of collections, and an increased focus on social responsibility.
Bringing together professionals from national libraries worldwide, this conference will explore the state of national library curation now, interrogating the complex challenges we face in building and interpreting collections, and the practical approaches that are being taken to address them. What does it mean to work in a national library now? What new possibilities are there for international collaboration? We will be especially interested in addressing the subject of inclusion, and how it manifests itself both in our profession and in the collections for which we are responsible.
The aim of the conference is to bring together library professionals working directly with collections in national libraries to share current practice and new approaches to curatorship. A primary goal of the conference is to establish a long-lasting network that will lead to international collaboration.
Please use the submission form to submit your proposal. The deadline for proposals is 19 June, 2021. Proposals can be submitted in two formats: a written abstract; a video abstract. See the call for papers guidance for further information.
For further information on the process, themes, accessibility and submission proposals, please visit National Libraries Now 2021 Conference.
National Libraries Now 2021 Conference is supported by the CENL Erland Kolding Nielsen Grant.