(via Allison McCormack, University of Utah)
The International Society of Medievalist Librarians is hosting two sessions at the International Congress on Medieval Studies, which will be held virtually in May of 2022. The two sessions are “Beyond Manuscripts and Rare Books: Medievalist Librarians outside Special Collections Departments” and “Show Your Work: New Projects, Collaborations, and Research by Medievalist Librarians”. A description of each session is below.
Panel Discussion: “Beyond Manuscripts and Rare Books: Medievalist Librarians outside Special Collections Departments”
Short remarks followed by panel discussion
When considering alt+ac careers, medievalists often gravitate toward work in libraries, specifically work that allows them to continue study of rare materials, especially manuscripts and early imprints. There is a wide range of library work beyond the manuscript for medievalists to explore. From acquisitions to collections work to metadata to digital scholarship, medievalists find work not just in academic libraries, but in public institutions as well. Panelists in this session will discuss career development for medievalists who work in libraries, the ways in which their training as medievalists provided them with a grounding suited to library work beyond the realm of Rare Books/Special Collections environments, as well as the realities of the library profession. We would like to ground the conversation in light of panelists’ training in Medieval Studies.
Paper Session: “Show Your Work: New Projects, Collaborations, and Research by Medievalist Librarians”
Papers of 15-20 minutes
Many LIS professionals find themselves in a double bind. On the one hand, there is the all too familiar trope of their hidden labor: digital projects that spring seemingly from nowhere, collections that are ‘discovered’ by intrepid researchers, collaborations that suddenly don’t include any LIS professionals upon publication, programming that miraculously comes together at the ‘last minute.’ On the other hand, many LIS professionals also find themselves pursuing their own research or other work projects outside their other work responsibilities, searching for time and space to develop their initiatives. We may also struggle with a bifurcated professional identity, unsure of whether our work belongs in traditional LIS or medievalist venues. This paper panel provides an opportunity for medievalist librarians to highlight recent work across this spectrum: examples might include new tools or initiatives; cross-institutional collaborations; partnerships with faculty, students, and/or independent researchers; collection initiatives; and/or individual research projects. Papers might also include reflections on how the events of 2019-2022 have shaped and affected this work
All librarians and library staff who studied the Middle Ages are welcome to participate–you don’t need to have a PhD in a medieval topic or to be working with medieval materials today. For more information, and to submit a proposal, visit the conference website. The deadline is Wednesday, September 15. Please contact Anna Siebach-Larsen (annasiebachlarsen@rochester.edu) or Julia Schneider (Julia.Schneider.31@nd.edu) with any questions.