Call for Proposals

17th Annual Joint Mini-Conference

Date: Friday, June 11, 2021

Via Zoom

Lifting Our Communities, Celebrating Diverse Stories

Call For Proposals -Deadline: Friday, April 23, 2021

The Joint Mini-Conference (JMC) brings together presenters from the ethnic affiliates of the American Library Association: American Indian Library Association (AILA), Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking.

The Joint Mini-Conference has traditionally been a free, full day event open to librarians and library staff as an opportunity to network and exchange information about library services, collections and projects that serve newcomers and underserved populations in our communities. Due to the ongoing pandemic, this year’s conference will be held virtually via Zoom.

The last year has been, and continues to be, very difficult for many people in the communities we serve. This year’s theme “Lifting Our Communities, Celebrating Diverse Stories” aims to highlight what libraries are doing to uplift our patrons as well as celebrate our individual diverse experiences through library programs and the books we have in our collections.

Presenters are encouraged to explain, from their own perspective, ways in which their work has successfully:

● Supported a welcoming environment for people of different ethnic groups ● Provided impactful and positive programming for their public during the COVID-19 pandemic

● Promoted reading and collections using innovative methods, in inclusive ways ● Highlighted diverse and own voices collections representative of their community ● Utilized available technologies to provide programs and/or services in remote or virtual scenarios (not face-to-face)

PRESENTATION FORMAT:

➔ The RNE Virtual Joint Mini-Conference program will be 3 and a half hours long. ➔ Presentations will run approximately 25 minutes each (10 minutes for lightning talks), followed by a 5 minute question-and-answer period. Time will be finalized once the conference schedule is completed.

➔ Presenters will need to ensure they have the necessary equipment and internet connectivity in order to deliver their presentations.

➔ Presenters are encouraged to prepare a dynamic and interactive presentation suited to being shared and delivered using online platforms.

➔ Presenters should share their presentation with the Committee in order for it to be published on the RNE website. We would like to invite you to view previous presentations listed on the RNE website (tab Mini-Conferences) or by visiting the following links:

http://www.reformanortheast.org/mini-conferences.html

SELECTION PROCESS:

Two presentations and two lightning talks will be selected.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Proposal, presentations and papers must be written and delivered in the English language. Proposal should include:

1. Title of the presentation

2. Name, title, institutional affiliation, and full contact information (including a valid email address) for each presenter

3. Abstract of 300-500 words

4. A short biographical profile of each presenter and a professional photograph for public relations and publication on the Joint Mini-Conference (JMC) website

Proposal should be submitted electronically (as a single MSW/Google document attachment) to the Joint-Mini Conference Chair, Asuncion Cora asuncioncora@nypl.org with a copy to reformane@gmail.com.

Please include the subject heading: 2021 Joint Mini (Virtual) Conference Proposal.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS IS FRIDAY, APRIL 23RD.

Any questions should be directed to Asuncion Cora, REFORMA Northeast Chapter President and Joint Mini-Conference Chair at asuncioncora@nypl.org or reformane@gmail.com.

Thank you,

REFORMA Northeast Chapter

17th Annual Joint Mini-Conference Committee