World Library and Information Congress: 73rd IFLA General Conference and Council

"Libraries for the future: Progress, Development and Partnerships"

19-23 August 2007, Durban, South Africa

Call for Papers

Division III. Libraries Serving the General Public

Theme of Division III. Session: Social Inclusion - how can public libraries embrace the challenge of reaching out to serve all people in their community?

This year all the Sections within the Division III. Libraries Serving the General Public will join together to present an in depth programme on the topic of Social Inclusion with a mix of papers, presentations and performances during an 8 hour feature event. We hope that this will provide time to bring a meaningful insight to the topic from all over the world and to focus on particular aspects which relate to the home continent of the conference this year in Africa.

"Social exclusion happens when people or places suffer from a series of problems such as unemployment, discrimination, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime, ill health and family breakdown. When such problems combine they can create a vicious cycle. Social exclusion can happen as a result of problems that face one person in their life. But it can also start from birth. Being born into poverty or to parents with low skills still has a major influence on future life chances." Social Exclusion Unit, UK Cabinet Office 2006.

Speakers and performers are invited to demonstrate ways in which the challenge of social exclusion affects public libraries worldwide and the strategies and programmes which have been used to combat it so that libraries are socially inclusive and demonstrate a responsibility to their communities.

You are invited to submit presentations for this session in the form of papers or multi-media. We would also welcome performances or storytelling sessions which complement the programme and bring a cultural understanding to the topic of social inclusion.

Please send a detailed abstract (1 page or at least 300 words) of the proposed paper (must not have been published elsewhere) and a CD/Computer file of the performance if appropriate plus relevant biographical information of author(s)/presenter(s) by 31 January 2007 via email to:
John Lake at: john.lake@cityoflondon.gov.uk

The abstracts will be reviewed by members of the Division III Committee.

Successful proposals will be identified and announced by 15 February 2007.

Full papers will be due from speakers by 15 April 2007 to allow time for the review of papers and preparation of translations; papers should be no longer than 20 pages. 15 minutes will be allowed for a summary delivery of the paper or presentation during the Division programme.

Please note that the expenses of attending the Durban conference will be the responsibility of the author(s)/presenter(s) of accepted papers.

Division III Libraries Serving the General Public includes the following Section within IFLA:

Section 8 Public Libraries (including Mobile Libraries)

Section 9 Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons

Section 10 Libraries for Children and Young Adults

Section 11 School Libraries and Resource Centres

Section 31 Libraries for the Blind

Section 32 Library Services to Multicultural Populations

Section 46 Metropolitan Libraries