(via David Schoen, Niagara University)
Sponsored by the Western New York Library Resources Council, Intersect 2020: From Shushing to Shouting– Advocacy and Using Your Voice is going virtual.
Submit a Session Idea!
We ask you submit proposals related to the many directions this theme can apply to, such as (but not limited to):
1. Legislative Advocacy – How do you mobilize librarians to advocate for government funds, improvements, and better budgets? What are some plans of action or positive experiences with legislative advocacy that could be used to educate others?
2. Worker Advocacy – How do unions advocate for libraries? What does the unionization of library workers do for our profession as a whole? What strategies can be employed to communicate the needs of a large team versus a small team or solo librarian?
3. Advocating Within & For Communities – How does geography and setting affect community involvement in advocating for the local library? How can libraries better engage and involve their home communities in the conversation? What sources or services can neutral libraries provide to members of a culturally divided community?
4. Advocating for Information Literacy – What are some ways that librarians work with vendors, develop collections, or design spaces with the needs of patrons at the forefront of the discussion? What role does advocacy play in accessibility? How does the advocacy process differ in K-12 versus University settings?
5. User Advocacy – How have you defended the Right to Read recently? What has been your liveliest book-banning scenario? How do library workers interpret, promote, and advocate for freedoms of speech, information, and expression while maintaining a neutral, safe space where everybody is welcome?
6. Self Advocacy – What are some ways that managers can effectively advocate for their employees to administration? How do we defend ourselves against burnout without completely losing the highly engaged nature of our profession? How do we compartmentalize our personal and professional lives in a healthy way?
7. Environmental Advocacy – How can libraries work to become more sustainable? What sustainability initiatives has your library participated in? Are there ways that libraries can spread awareness of conservation and sustainable living? What can we change in our regular practices to reduce waste and resource consumption, and how can we serve as an example to other institutions?
We welcome ideas for workshop sessions, poster sessions, lightning talks, pecha kucha, discussion roundtables, breakout sessions, interactive panel discussions, demonstrations, presentations in interesting new formats, and anything else that you’d like to experience at this year’s unconference.
To submit a proposal, go here before the end of June.
Include these elements:
1. A short session description of around 100 words. Please include what style of session (demonstration, panel, roundtable discussion, make/hack/play, etc), whether this idea is fully-formed or in the works, and whether you are open to working on this with other collaborators.
2. An email address so we can contact you if your session is selected for Round 2. If you are selected, you will be asked to give a more detailed proposal for our peer review process. For us to consider your idea, we will need a way to contact you.
The ideas with the most votes and interaction on the Tricider will move forward to Round Two of our proposal vetting process. To foster attendee participation right from the start, we highly encourage you to vote on the proposals you see there as well.
Important Dates:
Idea Submission: March 20 – June 30
Voting on Idea Submissions Closes: Tuesday, June 30
Invitation to Round Two: July 6
Peer Review Ends: August 3
Final Round 2 Decisions Made: August 8
Intersect 2020: Friday, October 2
We Are Here to Help!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mandi Shepp (amanda.shepp@fredonia.edu), Caitlin Kenney (ckenney@wnylrc.org), or Heidi Ziemer (hziemer@wnylrc.org).