(via Sarah Kantor, University of Tennessee Chattanooga)
The North American Virtual Reference Online Conference, or NAVROC, is accepting proposals for our free conference Tuesday-Thursday, Feb 21-23, 2023. We are seeking proposals for 45-minute sessions and 20-minute lightning talks from virtual reference providers relating to our theme, Emergence: Intersecting Resilience and Sustainability. These sessions will comprise the 2-3 hour period of each conference day. Because this is a virtual conference, presenters can present from anywhere as long as they have a stable internet connection.
Conference theme: Emergence: Intersecting Resilience and Sustainability. Participants will experience sessions from presenters across the continent discussing how they are using virtual reference services in a (post) pandemic world to increase sustainability, grow resilience, and to ultimately emerge, transform and renew.
To submit a proposal, please fill out the proposal submission form by Wednesday, November 30, 2022. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following.
Adaptability
- Innovations, new technologies, emerging platforms
- New partnerships – how were they formed, and how do they expand your service to your community
- Creative uses of video conferencing/screen sharing via chat
Challenges
- Privacy issues
- Creative solutions to staffing challenges
- Training
- Ergonomics at home
- Sustainability and digitization process
Equity and Engagement
- Centering race in VR
- Mitigating microaggressions in chat
- Utilizing culturally-appropriate resources
- Engaging BIPOC staff and patrons
- Multi-lingual VR services
- How are you bridging the digital divide in your community?
- Marketing strategies for underserved patrons
- Improving accessibility
- Mitigating the digital divide: Universal Broadband? Loaning Hotspots?
Evaluation & Appraisal
- Service Evaluation
- Using ratings from users
Marketing and Promotion
- Integrating social media
- Best practices for online finding aids
- Marketing your service
- Telling your story with data
- Partnerships with schools, social agencies, tutoring, etc.
Reference
- Changing definition of reference
- Adapting virtual services to be accessible and equitable
- Working with vendors to conform to new needs
- Incorporating Open Access resources into virtual reference services
Propose a Roundtable (Discussion forum) or Lightning Talk (20-minute presentation) on VR services in different kinds of libraries.
Registration information will be forthcoming.