New Librarians Symposium

I’m a student who is currently enrolled in a Masters of Library / Information Science program. Can I attend the NLS?

The NLS is designed to be broadly applicable to the needs of new / early career information professionals. As the concerns of students tend to be much different, we ask that you refrain from registering for the event unless you will have completed your program by the time of the event in June.

I graduated from a Library Technician diploma program / I'm currently employed as a library technician / associate / assistant. Can I attend the NLS?

The NLS is designed to be applicable to the needs and experience of people who have completed a Masters-level program (eg. MLIS / MI / MIS / MAS, etc.). If you have not completed such a program, we ask that you refrain from registering for the event. If you have completed a Masters-level program, but are currently employed as a Library or Archival Technician / Assistant / Associate, you are welcome to attend.

I'm currently unemployed. Can I still attend the NLS?

Absolutely! You don’t need to be employed to attend the event.

I don’t consider myself a librarian because of the work I do / I’m not doing traditional library work / My job title is not librarian. Can I still attend the NLS?

Of course! While librarian is in the event title, the NLS is meant to be an event for anyone who has graduated from an MLIS/MI/MIS program, regardless of what your actual job is.

How early is “early career?”

While people have varying ideas about how long a professional can be considered “early career,” we don’t subscribe to any particular timeframe at the NLS. If you self-identify as being early career, you are welcome to attend!

I'm an established / mid-career LIS professional and I'd love to hear about some of the conversations happening at NLS. Is there a way for me to attend?

While we appreciate your interest in hearing the concerns and perspectives from your early career colleagues, there is currently no mechanism for you to attend the event. Many of our previous attendees have expressed an appreciation for the "safe space" created by NLS in which they are able to speak truth to power frankly and authentically. As such, we suspect that having more senior colleagues attend will change the tenor of the conversation. Thank you for understanding and respecting the importance of having a space dedicated solely to early career colleagues.

Is there a cost associated with attending the NLS?

As with previous iterations of the NLS, we believe in the importance of keeping our event as accessible to as many people as possible. Thus, there is no cost associated with registering and attending the NLS.

Who should pitch a lightning talk proposal?

Any early career professional who is interested in talking through an idea, sharing a story, or exploring a topic. We are especially interested in proposals from BIPOC (black indigenous people of colour), LGBTQ+ folks, and those who identify as disabled.

How are successful lightning talk proposals selected?

Lightning talk proposals are read by the NLS organizers (Ali and Melanie) and evaluated based on their clarity, organization, proposed structure, scope, and the presence of a critical perspective.

How do I register for the event?

Please see the Registration Page of our website. Registrations will be processed on a first come, first serve basis.

Is there a Code of Conduct for the event?

Yes! Hop on over to the Code of Conduct page to familiarize yourself with it.

What can I expect on the day of the event?

The NLS is not a didactic “how to secure a job” event. While discussions about job hunting will inevitably come up over the course of the day, the purpose of the event is to learn, build connections, and network with other early career professionals.

Will any of the talks be recorded?

Historically, we've chosen not to record any of the programming associated with our in-person event. Many of the attendees speak of their appreciation for the safe space the NLS creates, where they can share their experiences, perspectives, and ideas frankly and authentically with their peers. In keeping with this ethos and the sensitive nature of this year's theme, we've opted to forgo recording sessions this year as well.

I can't make the entire day of programming due to existing commitments. Should I register?

Given that there are a relatively small amount of spots (80) for attendees, if you aren't able to attend a substantial portion of the day, we ask you to refrain from registering for the event so that another attendee can participate.