The IFLA New Professionals Special Interest Group (NPSIG) in collaboration with Management of Library Associations Section (MLAS) and Public Libraries Section (PLS), invites proposals to be presented at a two-hour session at the next IFLA General Conference on 24-30 August 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The topic of Librarian Fashion opens a myriad of questions: Should librarians wear a uniform? Can we wear tattoos? Should we dress with dignity – and what does dignity mean? What about piercings? Jewels? Religious or political symbols? Does it depend on a personal choice, on the country we live in, or on the position we hold in the library? Should a library director dress like a librarian or like a director? Do you believe in enclothed cognition?

This session aims at walking the audience through the image we give our patrons, communities and, to a lesser extent, our colleagues.

We would like to address these issues traditionally, through a call for papers and an international survey, from the point of view of sociology, geography and library sciences. Nevertheless, the topic is an opportunity to challenge the rules of IFLA sessions, for instance through a visual moment or a participatory event.

We are seeking proposals for 7 lightning talks (~6 minutes each) aimed at igniting lively discussions among the audience: share your stories, thoughts, images, films and experiments with us!

The talks may include PowerPoint presentations (but it’s not a must!), a short movie, a slam poem, a sketch, or an intriguing dialogue on the stage. We welcome all innovative and outside-the-box approaches as long as they fit in 6 minutes.

All proposals must be submitted by 18 February 2018 (npsig.ifla@gmail.com).

Details available on WLIC 2018 Call for papers page.