(via Dr. Alea Henle, Miami University in Ohio)
The Library History Round Table (LHRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) seeks proposals for its annual Research Forum, to be held in advance of the 2024 ALA Annual Meeting. To accommodate as many LHRT members as possible, the 2024 LHRT Research Forum will be held virtually in early-to-mid-June 2024.
The theme of the Forum is “Trouble, Trouble, Trouble“. The Forum will examine libraries facing internal or external crises around the globe and across centuries. Each speaker will be asked to present for approximately 20 minutes, with a 10-minute Q&A to follow.
Possible topics may include, but are not limited to, histories of:
- Censorship, book banning, book burning
- Libraries during wars and wartime conditions
- Institutional financial difficulties and funding issues
- Natural disasters and their impact on libraries and services
- Survival and loss of libraries and staff
- Disinformation and the spread of disinformation
LHRT welcomes submissions from researchers of all backgrounds, including library students, practitioners, faculty, independent researchers, and those retired from the field. LHRT especially encourages submissions from early-career researchers. Each proposal must give the paper title, an abstract (up to 500 words), and the presenter’s one-page vita. Please indicate in the abstract whether the research is in-progress or completed.
The LHRT Research Committee will select up to three authors to present their completed work at the Forum. Deadline Extended! Proposals are due Wednesday, January 31; authors of successful proposals will be notified shortly thereafter. Completed papers are due Friday, May 31. Presentations are anticipated in early-to-mid-June.
Please submit proposals and direct inquiries to Dr. Alea Henle, LHRT Vice Chair/Research Committee Chair, at henlear@miamioh.edu.