This conference may be of interest to some AAAL members:

Registration is officially open for the Stronger Together Library Conference 2025, happening October 8–9 at the DoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton!

This year’s conference promises to be better than ever, with:

• More engaging sessions
• More time to network
• Two amazing keynotes: Tim Caulfield (Wednesday) and Pam August (Thursday)
• Enjoy hot breakfast and lunch both days, library-focused exhibitors, and top-tier accommodations.

Don’t miss Alberta’s biggest library event of the year!

 

This online learning event may be of interest to some AAAL members:

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It’s time to register for ILuminate 2025, the free, online learning event hosted by MacEwan University Library!

ILuminate 2025, with Mikayla Redden: Surfacing Marginalized Perspectives – Library Instruction and Scholarly Conversation Beyond the Peer Review Paradigm

Event details:

• Tuesday, May 6th, 10:00-11:30am(MDT), via Zoom
• Mikayla Redden’s bio + full session description: sites.google.com/macewan.ca/iluminate/iluminate-2025
• Register for free: ILuminate 2025 Registration

Registered participants will be sent a Zoom meeting link prior to the event. We hope to see you on May 6th! 

Sent on behalf of the ILuminate 2025 planning team: Jane Duffy, Liam Monaghan, Jody Nelson, Alison Pitcher 

This call for applications may be of interest to some AAAL members:

For inquiries or further information, please contact: vimloc@gmail.com

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The Visible Minority Librarians of Canada (ViMLoC) Mentorship Program is now accepting applications for the 2025 session! This mentoring session will run from May 1st to June 30th, 2025. To apply as a mentor or mentee, please fill out the mentor application form or mentee application form. 

*** Applications will close on April 20, 2025. ***

About this program

The Visible Minority Librarians of Canada (ViMLoC) recognizes the need to help visible minority librarians, especially early career and new immigrant librarians, develop their professional careers, as well as the need to encourage and guide visible minority library students with career planning. Lack of mentorship is often cited as a challenge among visible minority librarians, and through our mentorship program, we found that small acts of mentorship were able to make an impact on our mentees.

Applying for this program will help create a larger network of visible minority librarians and increase our representation in the library profession. The 2025 ViMLoC mentoring program will recruit experienced visible minority librarians as potential mentors, as well as facilitate the matching of potential mentors to mentees. ViMLoC membership is NOT required to participate in this program, however, you are encouraged to sign up for ViMLoC membership. Please visit our mentorship program page for more information.  

Should I apply?

This program is open to visible minority librarians at all stages of their career, and visible minority library students. In Canada, the visible minority population consists mainly of the following groups: Chinese, South Asian, Black, Arab, West Asian, Filipino, Southeast Asian, Latin American, Japanese and Korean. Participants with the intersectionality of these backgrounds are welcome to apply. We need mentors with all kinds of experience and skills. In recognition of your contribution to the mentorship program, we would be happy to provide mentors with a reference letter. 

Expectations

Applicants to the program are expected:

• To commit to the full term of the session;
• To keep in touch with their mentorship partner a minimum of twice per month (by email, phone, Zoom, or other means of communication upon mutual agreement);

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at vimloc@gmail.com. 

This call for proposals may be of interest to some AAAL members:

For inquiries or further information, please visit: coreforum.org

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Join Core Forum 2025 in Denver for an incredible opportunity to celebrate diverse and interconnected library work. From November 12-14, 2025 we’ll engage the collective expertise of presenters and participants, facilitating thought-provoking conversations over two days of presentations, table-top exhibits, and poster sessions. Core Forum provides a place to build and foster relationships with colleagues through exciting networking activities.

Consider submitting a proposal for a thought-provoking and highly relevant to practitioners presentation in the following areas:

• Access and Equity
• Buildings and Operations
• Leadership and Management
• Metadata and Collections
• Technology
• Preservation

Presentation Opportunities

SESSION – Concurrent sessions will be held on Thursday and Friday. Presentations will be 45 minutes in length with 15 minutes for introduction and Q&A. Presenters are required to present in-person and register at the discounted presenter rate.

PRECONFERENCE – Half-day (3-4 hours) preconferences and tours (off-site venue) will be held on Wednesday. Presenters are required to present in person.

POSTER – The poster session offers the opportunity to share and promote work, research, and ideas across the Forum’s content areas identified in the bulleted list above. Print poster presentations will be available throughout the Forum, with special time reserved during the 2-day event for participants to ask questions and engage in chat conversation with the presenters.

Proposals will be evaluated on the following points:

• Relevance to the Forum’s program tracks and audience
• Opportunities for learning and applicability to current library trends
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

We encourage diversity in presenters from a wide range of backgrounds, libraries, and experiences. We deliberately seek and strongly encourage submissions from underrepresented groups, such as Indigenous peoples, women, people of color, the LGBTQA+ community, and people with disabilities. We also strongly encourage submissions with presenters from public, school, and special libraries.

Vendors wishing to submit a proposal should partner with a library representative who is evaluating/using the product or service.

Presenters will submit final presentation slides and/or electronic content (video, audio, etc.) 10 days prior to the event for accessibility reviewing and to be made available online following the event. Presenters will be able to register at a discounted rate and participate in the Forum as attendees.

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Ready to submit your proposal? Complete the Proposal Form before the Sunday, March 2, 2025 deadline. To preview the 2025 Core Forum proposal questions before starting the form, please download the questions here.

Questions can also be sent to the Forum Planning Co-Chairs or Core Staff:

• Michael Holt,  Core Forum Planning Committee Co-Chair, michaelholt@lsu.edu 
• Cate Sering, Core Forum Planning Committee Co-Chair, cate.sering@washingtoncountymn.gov 
• Julie Reese, Core Executive Director, jreese@ala.org 
• Tom Ferren, Core Deputy Executive Director of Learning and Events, tferren@ala.org

Save the Date:

Registration will open in April. Join the notification list to receive event announcements. Check the Core Forum website for program information and sponsorship opportunities.

This call for proposals may be of interest to some AAAL members:

For inquiries or further information, please contact: GenAIinLibraries@gmail.com.

You are invited to submit a proposal for the 2nd annual Generative AI in Libraries (GAIL) virtual conference aimed specifically at librarians here: https://forms.gle/QzvMY9kcuL6JbWLK8.

This conference seeks to explore the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in libraries. It is also an opportunity for librarians to share their experiences with generative AI technologies and their applications in the library setting.

Scheduled to take place June 9, 10, 11, and 12, 2025 from 1-4pm EDT each day, the GAIL virtual conference aims to promote a deeper understanding of how generative AI can revolutionize library services like instruction, research support, collection management, access services, outreach and collaboration, while also addressing the challenges and ethical considerations this new technology brings to libraries.

We welcome submissions from librarians, researchers, educators, and practitioners working in libraries or related fields with AI. Submissions are now being accepted for posters, presentations, workshops, panel discussions, lightning talks, discussion groups or demonstrations on topics related to generative AI and its applications in, and implications for libraries, including but not limited to the following tracks:

• AI implementation in libraries
• Ethical considerations and policy in AI
• AI and teaching/Information Literacy
• AI applications or products
• AI Impact on Library Services or Librarianship

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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

1. A Framework for AI Pragmatism

Michael Flierl, Associate Professor & Student Learning Librarian, The Ohio State University

The future of AI is not predetermined; we have the power to shape its trajectory. This keynote presents AI Pragmatism, a practical framework for action that empowers libraries to influence AI development in alignment with professional values. Drawing inspiration from John Dewey’s philosophy, we will explore how libraries can foster student-centered learning environments and serve as laboratories for ethical, human-centered AI use. By engaging actively with AI, we can ensure these technologies solve problems, serve the public good, and advance our shared values.

2. Ships and Shipwrecks: How Public Libraries will Navigate the Age of AI

Nick Tanzi, Assistant Director, South Huntington Public Library

The age of AI is here, and its arrival comes with plenty of uncertainty! How are public libraries interacting with generative AI? What is an appropriate relationship with this technology? Finally, what role can libraries play in promoting AI literacy in our communities?

Proposal submission requirements:

• Name(s) and affiliation(s) of Presenter(s)
• Brief bio of each presenter
• Description of proposed activity (word limits vary by category)

CATEGORIES

• Session format– All sessions will be 45 minutes in length except lightning talks (10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A) and poster sessions.
• Demonstrations – are live demonstrations of a specific AI application/product and how it can be used in a library setting.
• Discussion Groups – are interactive conversations about practices, research applications, or topics of interest to library professionals facilitated by one or two individuals on a specific topic initiated using questions selected by the facilitators (included in the proposal).
• Lightning Talks – distill a larger talk into 10 minutes of the most relevant material on a topic with a 5-minute Q&A. Presenters will share innovative projects, new approaches, and research summaries.
• Panel Discussion – is a structured, informative conversation on a proposed topic featuring three to five panelists with different perspectives sharing ideas and answering questions in front of an audience.
• Poster – a visual image (PDF) illustrating a project, process, research summary, instructional example, etc. that includes a link and QR code to a recorded explanation of the poster contents. Poster authors will be asked to respond to viewer questions generated online during the 4 days of the conference.
• Presentations – are formal talks given by one or more individuals on a specific topic, project, or research area.
• Workshops – include hands-on, interactive sessions designed to teach specific skills or provide in-depth knowledge on a particular topic.

DATES:

• Proposal submission deadline: February 22, 2025
• Notification of acceptance: April 15, 2025
• Confirmation due from accepted presenters: May 1, 2025
• Conference Registration opens: May 15, 2025 (ALL presenters MUST register)
• Conference dates: June 9, 10, 11, & 12 from 1-4pm EDT each day (excluding welcoming and closing remarks)

For inquiries or further information, please contact: GenAIinLibraries@gmail.com. We look forward to receiving your proposals and engaging in insightful discussions at the conference!

Sent on behalf of,
Generative AI in Libraries (GAIL) Committee