World Library and Information Congress: 74th IFLA General Conference and Council

"Libraries without borders: Navigating towards global understanding"

10-14 August 2008, Québec, Canada

Call for Papers

Library Theory and Research Section

Theme: Theoretical Approaches to Research on Libraries as Space and Place

Libraries as space and place have become an important research topic within library and information science. How can libraries develop into places promoting community, knowledge sharing, citizenship, confidence and trust? Such research questions are relevant for public libraries as well as for academic, government and special libraries, and they are relevant for digital libraries as well as physical libraries.

At its session in Quebec, the IFLA Library Theory and Research Section will focus upon research on libraries as space and place. In particular, we want to examine theoretical approaches when doing research on this issue, e.g. theories on the public sphere, concepts and approaches related to social capital, approaches from knowledge management such as communities of practice, the concept of "The Third Place", etc.

Papers discussing the fruitfulness of different theoretical approaches when researching this topic in general or when doing research on libraries as space and place in particular contexts, e.g an academic context or a local community context, are welcomed.

Abstracts in English or French although any IFLA approved language are welcome. However, availability of simultaneous interpretation into other IFLA languages may not be possible. Every effort will be made to provide simultaneous interpretation, or to provide a translation of the paper for the presentation.

The abstracts should amount to approximately 500 words and should be sent no later than 30 January 2008 to: Marydee Ojala
E-mail: Marydee@xmission.com.

Decision on acceptance of proposals will be made by March 1st. Papers accepted will be due no later than May 15th 2008.

Please note that all expenses, including registration for the conference, travel, accommodation etc., are the responsibility of the authors of the accepted papers.