Theme: "Local History Collections, Genealogy, and Oral History as Critical Information Services in Libraries"

While libraries have the important, traditional function of providing published materials to their communities, which include materials to promote reading and literacy, they are also paying more attention to materials that are homegrown and local. These “local collections” include genealogy and local history materials that were gathered throughout the history of the community. They also include materials that emerged as people document and preserve their stories, such as through oral history.

We, the Local History and Genealogy Section, the Asia and Oceania Section and the Library History Special Interest Group, are seeking proposals for papers and presentations that describe cases in which libraries build their local history and genealogy collections and used various tools and methods, such as the method of oral history. We also welcome theoretical, legal, ethical, social, political, and cultural perspectives of developing and maintaining local history, genealogy, and oral history collections.

Topics covered could include:

  • Methods and tools for documenting a community’s story and history
  • The application and implementation of new technology (social media technology, advanced documentary technology, etc.) in the building of local history and genealogy collections
  • Legal, ethical, political, social, and/or cultural concerns in developing local history and genealogy collections
  • Whose history is being preserved? Are the history of others being left out?
  • Collaborative work among historical and genealogical groups
  • Library and cultural institutions as part of a community’s history
  • History as told by and to librarians

Submission Guidelines
Abstracts of papers and presentations are to be submitted to:
Cecilia Lizama Salvatore, Secretary, Local History and Genealogy Section
Email: csalvatore@dom.edu

The abstracts will be reviewed by a committee of members of the Section. Presentations and delivery of papers will be no more than 20 minutes.
Abstracts should include name and affiliation of proposer, a 250-300-word precis of the proposed paper, and confirmation that if selected the speaker will be able to attend the IFLA WLIC 2019 in Athens. If more than one proposer, at least one of the proposers must attend and deliver the paper in Athens.
All proposals must be received by 31 March 2019.

Important Dates

Deadline submission of abstract: 31 March 2019

Deadline notification to authors: 30 April 2019

Deadline submission of full text: 31 May 2019

Please Note

At least one of the paper’s authors must be present to deliver a summary of the paper during the program in Athens. Abstracts should only be submitted with the understanding that the expenses of attending the conference will be the responsibility of the author(s)/presenter(s) of accepted papers. All papers that are presented at the WLIC 2019 will be made available online via the IFLA Library under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

Authors of accepted papers must complete the IFLA Authors’ Permission Form. All expenses, including registration for the conference, travel, accommodation etc., are the responsibility of the authors/presenters. No financial support can be provided by IFLA, but a special invitation letter can be issued to author(s)/presenter(s) of accepted papers.

Congress Participation Grants

List of opportunities for support is available on the Conference Participation Grants webpage.