Quick Summary
The deadline to submit proposals for the 2024 Lake Superior Libraries Symposium has been extended. The new deadline is Friday, April 5.
Text courtesy of Keith Cich, Librarian, Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College.
The organizers of the Lake Superior Libraries Symposium (LSLS) invite breakout session proposals for our 12th annual conference to be held on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
This year’s theme, “Persevere: Carrying on Our Mission,” invites attendees to share and strategize on some of the difficulties facing our profession amidst increased financial and societal pressures, new technologies, and a polarized political environment that targets libraries.
- How do we stay true to the Library Bill of Rights and other core beliefs of the profession?
- How do you ensure that you are serving differing perspectives of your community?
We want to know how you and your colleagues are persevering through these challenges. Possible presentation topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Reproductive, gender, and sexuality information
- Patron privacy
- Fighting against censorship and book challenges
- Preventing burnout (staffing shortages, budget shortfalls/stagnation, price increases)
- Avoiding mission creep/defining and living mission and vision
- Emerging technologies, i.e. AI
- Building support for libraries within our communities
- Advocating for ourselves and our patrons
Successful breakout-session presentations will be applicable to many types of libraries and showcase effective and innovative practices. 60-minute breakout sessions should include 10-15 minutes of question and answer. Panel presentations, particularly those representing a diversity of library types, sizes, and/or locations, are strongly encouraged. All presenters will receive a discounted registration rate of $25.
Breakout session presenters should submit proposals via the Lake Super Library Symposium's one-page presentation proposal form. The submission deadline is Friday, April 5. Presenters will be notified of acceptance in mid April.
LSLS allows library staff to share their expertise, learn from their colleagues, and network to develop a stronger community of information professionals. Staff from all types of libraries are encouraged to attend. The event is organized and supported by library staff and educators from Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin; for a full list of our supporters, see our website.
For questions about proposals and submissions, please contact Julie Rustad at jrustad@css.edu. A complete listing of speakers, the agenda, and the cost to attend, will be released in late April.
