2026 Symposium
2026 Symposium
May 27, 2026
Online
The call for proposals for our 2026 Symposium is out now! Please send your proposal to chair@ndmbacrl.org by March 16, 2026.
This year’s symposium focuses less on individual project showcases and more on the shared realities of academic library work. We invite proposals that explore how our roles are shaped by institutional structures, where we experience tensions or constraints in our work, and how change actually happens (or doesn’t) across different library contexts.
Rather than traditional lecture-style presentations, we are especially interested in interactive, reflective, and discussion-based sessions, such as:
Facilitated discussions
Case-based workshops
Collective problem-solving sessions
Reflective or dialogic sessions
Structured small-group activities
We encourage proposals that engage questions like:
What tensions do you experience between your formal role and your day-to-day work?
How do institutional structures (policies, metrics, hierarchies) shape what is possible in your library?
Where have you encountered resistance, constraint, or misalignment in efforts to create change?
What strategies have you used—or seen others use—to navigate professional risk, burnout, or limited authority?
We especially welcome proposals from librarians, staff, and library workers who may not see themselves as “experts,” but who bring thoughtful questions, lived experience, or a desire to facilitate meaningful conversation.
Proposals should include:
Session goal (1–2 sentences)
Session structure (what will participants do?)
Connection to the theme
Participant engagement plan
Estimated/desired amount of time
Example session ideas:
When Your Job Description and Reality Don’t Match: A facilitated discussion on role creep and invisible labor.
Change Without Authority: A case-based workshop on navigating initiatives without formal power or resources.
Burnout as a Structural Issue: A reflective session on wellness and sustainability in academic libraries.
Our goal is to create a space for collective reflection, shared learning, and honest conversation—without requiring personal or institutional disclosure.