The call for papers has now closed. Thank you for your interest.
ALIA New Librarians’ Symposium 2006
Pathways & Possibilities
The John Niland Scientia Building, University of New South Wales
Sydney, Australia
1-2 December 2006Background
The next generation of library and information professionals are making an impact on the world. ALIA’s New Graduates Group has been an early participant in the new wave of professional engagement. The ALIA New Librarians' Symposium is the premier event for new library and information professionals, and past events have been hugely successful.
NLS2006 will run with two streams, allowing more time for peer presentations, and will include a variety of information delivery formats including workshops and a debate. Successful elements from past symposia will be retained, such as the Resume Review programme. NLS2006 will demonstrate the influential position now held by new professionals in the information industry.
Symposium themes
Proposals for papers, workshops, panels and other presentations are invited in the following themes, pathways and possibilities:
Pathways
Pathways illustrate the practical steps we need to further our career and profession. Topics in the pathways theme include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Leadership, teamwork and management
- Moving skills, sectors and specialties
- Non-library career pathways
- Career planning and mentoring
- Practical skills within and beyond the workplace
- Communicating your success through research
- Professional development and "keeping up" strategies
- Planning education and training
- Maintaining balance and motivation
Possibilities
Possibilities is all about the big picture - the assumptions underpinning our profession, and what the future holds for us. Topics in the possibilities theme include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Innovative uses of technology
- Building communities with social software
- Information literacy
- Ethics, social responsibility and advocacy
- Access to information, equity, censorship and privacy
- The future of the profession
- Our place in the world
- Research for new professionals - where can it take us?
- Where to now? Moving beyond the "new librarian" model
First-time presenters, early career LIS researchers and research students are particularly invited to submit a proposal. NLS2006 is an opportunity for you to inspire and speak to your peers about issues that affect you.
Abstracts
Abstracts are due by March 31 and should consist of no more than 300 words. Please note that acceptance of the abstract does not mean acceptance of the paper or proposal, which will be considered against other abstracts received. You have the option of selecting peer-review at the time you submit your abstract.
Criteria for selection
Abstracts will be expected to meet the following criteria:
- Relevance to conference themes
- Clarity and coherence of writing
- Relevance to new graduates
Additional criteria for peer-reviewed papers:
- Knowledge of current thinking, research, policy and/or practice
- Appropriate research methodology and/or conceptual framework.
Some guidelines are available to assist you in preparing your abstract.
In both instances, at least one of the authors (if more than one) must register to attend NLS2006.
Reviewed papers
For the first time, NLS 2006 will be offering the option of peer-review for the full paper. The peer-review option will give you the opportunity for your paper to be read by experts who will critique your paper and offer comments and suggestions for review.
Submission of full paper
Presenters will be allocated 20 minutes (including question time) to present their paper. All speakers are required to submit a full paper which will be available on the ALIA New Librarians’ Symposium 2006 website after the Symposium. Presentation guidelines will be forwarded with the notification of acceptance.
Accepted proposals for workshops should submit a detailed outline of the session and any workbook materials for distribution at the Symposium.
Panels and other session proposals should submit an outline of the session for publication on the NLS2006 website.
Papers selecting the peer-review option will be independently peer reviewed by referees prior to publication. The blind peer review process is in accordance with the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) refereeing standards. More information on reviewing for peer-reviewed and non-reviewed papers will be available at – http://conferences.alia.org.au/newlibrarian2006/programme/reviewing.php
Audience
The symposium is expected to attract approximately 350 delegates from around Australia, New Zealand, and the South-East Asian region; including current students, new graduates, early career professionals, vendors and prominent figures in the field.
Format
The Symposium provides an opportunity to meet, learn and discuss ideas. The programme will include plenary and breakout sessions, as well as workshops and a debate. Presentations should be interactive, where possible, allowing for questions and comments by the audience.
Presenters are expected to discuss their ideas rather than read their papers, as papers will be available for delegates to read on the website.
Publication
All papers from the Symposium will be published on the ALIA New Librarians’ Symposium website, and in ALIA's eprints repository. Presentation files and workbook materials from workshops and other sessions will also be deposited in the repository.
Important Dates
Submission of abstract or proposal: March 31 2006
Notification of acceptance: May 26 2006
Full paper due, peer-review option: August 11 2006
Full paper due, non-reviewed option: October 30 2006Further details
The Symposium will be held at The John Niland Scientia Building, a purpose-built conference facility at the University of New South Wales. UNSW is located at Kensington, and is close to Coogee beach, Randwick dining, and Sydney CBD. Scientia is an award-winning facility, with flexible spaces, excellent audio visual equipment and gorgeous architecture. Accommodation is available both on and off campus, from youth hostels to five star hotels with ocean views. For more information on the venue visit http://www.conferencing.unsw.edu.au/text/venues/scientia/index.htm
Further details on the Symposium will follow shortly. Please direct any general inquiries to:
Alyson Dalby (+61 2 9256 5413)
Adrianne Harris (+61 2 9385 3426)
Co-convenors
email: newlibrarian2006@alia.org.auSubmit your abstract or proposal
Receipt of abstracts and proposals will be acknowledged within 48 hours. If you do not receive an acknowledgement for your submission you should assume that your abstract or paper has not been received. Please contact the programme committee if you have any inquiries about submitting abstracts:
Fiona Bradley
Programme Co-ordinator
+61 2 9514 5574
fiona.bradley@nospam.uts.edu.au (remove nospam to contact)
Australian Library and Information Association
