Category: Conferences

The eLearning in Libraries Symposium is currently seeking proposals for 15-minute eLearning Lightning Talks and 60-minute Full Sessions/Workshops. This year’s symposium will take place online, via Zoom, on Wednesday, December 2nd & Thursday, December 3rd, 2026.

Tell us (and others!) the ways in which eLearning is helping your library remain a vibrant source of knowledge in a dynamic digital world. Libraries have long been centres of innovation and adaptation, and as new challenges have emerged, so have opportunities to flex our creative muscles in developing enriched learning experiences.

Suggested themes: eLearning in Libraries and…

  • Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning
  • Hybrid learning
  • Sustainability, scalability
  • Open Education Resources
  • (Inter)Active learning
  • Instructional Design
  • Digital Pedagogy
  • Assessment
  • Current Issues/Top Trends in eLearning
  • Innovation and collaboration in the eLearning space
  • Digital Literacy
  • Gamification and game-based learning

15-Minute eLearning Lightning Talks

These rapid fire presentations showcase specific eLearning projects, initiatives, highlights, and fail stories. We encourage you to submit proposals that highlight some of the great work you have undertaken this year.

60-Minute Sessions and/or Interactive Workshops

These sessions typically focus on a specific aspect of eLearning and can take the form of an interactive workshop, panel, lecture, etc. We encourage you to submit proposals that highlight how you have used eLearning and other techniques to meet the challenges presented by the current learning environment and your future plans. Topics could include:

  • Hands-on software demonstrations (e.g., H5P, Videoscribe, Voice over Powerpoint)
  • Best practices in hybrid, synchronous or asynchronous online instruction
  • Open educational resource creation, adoption by faculty, training programs & more
  • eLearning instructional design techniques
  • Expert perspectives on hot topics in eLearning (accessibility, hybrid, virtual / augmented reality, etc.)
  • And anything else you can dream up!

We encourage proposals from a diverse range of perspectives. Proposals will be evaluated based on the following three categories:

  1. Timeliness/originality
  2. Relevance to eLearning
  3. Proposal clarity

Submit your proposals here: https://forms.gle/927xeCZtWgaAGTyo6

Proposals close on Monday, September 14, 2026.

Successful proposals will be notified by Tuesday, October 14th, 2026.

 

A  reminder of the upcoming NSLA Conference – Making Connections, September 18-20, 2026 – in Pictou, Nova Scotia, at our new library on the waterfront in the deCoste Culture Hub (99 Water Street, Pictou, NS).

An amazing conference is planned for NSLA, and organizers are looking forward to seeing you soon! From keynotes, to workshops, sessions to receptions, panel discussions – a cardigan exchange, awards banquet, trivia night, lunch music with Symphony Nova Scotia, and evenings with local entertainers, Sunday morning gentle yoga… and lots of great food, conversations & community. (And of course – conference swag bags and door prizes!).

Full details may be found on the updated conference website HERE.

Many thanks to those who have already registered, … and space is still available.

Registration is now open for the 2026 NeuroGLAM Conference, taking place August 21, 1:00-5:00 p.m. ADT. This is an annual free, virtual conference by and for neurodivergent (identified or suspected/questioning) workers in Canadian galleries, libraries, archives and museums.

This year’s conference theme is “Hopepunk.” The schedule is being confirmed and will be shared soon.

Register here: NeuroGLAM 2026 Conference

 

Ready or not, September is just around the corner which means that it is almost time for the 2026 NSLA Conference. This year’s theme is Making Connections and it will be held at the Pictou Library & deCoste Culture Hub on September 18-20, 2026.

Here are just a few things you have to look forward to:

  • Saturday morning keynote: Resilience and the New Roles of Libraries in Times of War with Yaroslava Soshynska, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Library Association
  • Sunday morning keynote: Making Connections with Terrence Taylor
  • Join a stitching circle or make a zine. Be creative while you learn some new programming ideas.
  • Readers advisory tips.
  • What to do about generative AI.
  • A weekend-long cardigan exchange. Feel free to bring a cardigan or two that you would like to see go to a new home and add something new to your wardrobe.
  • And more…

Details and registration are available on the conference website https://parl.ns.ca/nslaconference2026/

If you have any questions, please reach out to Conference Co-Convenors Trecia Schell at tschell@parl.ns.ca or Kristel Fleuren-Hunter at kfhunter@parl.ns.ca

APLA and NSLA are member associations of The Partnership, so with your APLA membership you can also apply for the NSLA membership conference rate! Another membership perk!”

Want to help plan a conference?

Are you interested in learning how to organize a conference, build your project management skills, and make new connections in the library world?

APLA is looking for volunteers to help plan the APLA 2027 Conference tentatively taking place in St. John’s, NL! We’re currently seeking conference coordinator(s) as well as subcommittee members:

  • Programming
  • Entertainment
  • Sponsorship
  • Promotions
  • Registration
  • Treasurer
  • Technology

APLA members from all four Atlantic Canada provinces are encouraged to volunteer!

Time commitment: 5-10 hours/week beginning September 2026 until the conference is held.

Whether you’re looking to expand your resume, grow your leadership experience, or just want to meet new friends in the Atlantic Provinces library community — we’d love to have you on the team!

Interested? Reach out to us at president@apla.ca

 

The members of Neuro-GLAM-orous Canada invite you to participate in their fourth annual free online conference.

Conference Date: August 21st, 2026
Location: Online (registration forthcoming)
Time: 1:00 pm-5:00 pm Atlantic Daylight Time

Proposal deadline: July 2nd, 2026

Potential Topics:

The theme of this year’s conference is Hopepunk: Neurodiversity, GLAM, and Neurodivergent Knowledge Justice

“Knowledge justice is based on the principle that each person has the equal capacity to be knowledgeable, yet this right is often denied to individuals based on the social identities they hold. It also involves recognizing that some knowledge systems, particularly those of Indigenous peoples, have been purposefully ignored, eliminated, or silenced.”
What is Knowledge Justice? – Knowledge Justice in the Helping Professions

Knowledge justice impacts us as neurodivergent information practitioners through our practice, and in our communities and workplaces. It asks us to consider how we work professionally and personally to counter misinformation and address inequities as information professionals.

Hopepunk is a subgenre of speculative fiction and art that focuses on optimism, gentleness, kindness, and collaboration as effective weapons in the fight to create a better future.

This year we invite submissions that respond to how the concept of Hopepunk shows up at the intersection of information professions and neurodivergence. Of particular interest is how we can engage with Hopepunk and knowledge justice themes to build sustainable affirming communities in the face of job cuts, funding cuts, gaslighting, lack of inclusion, and injustice.

“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
– G.K. Chesterton

Presentations, panels, and lightning talks may relate to, but are not limited to:

  • research, professional work, and ongoing projects related to the theme, including epistemic injustice, hermeneutical injustice, gaslighting, funding cuts, job loss, etc.
  • personal accounts of being neurodivergent in GLAM spaces in the context of knowledge justice, building community, self-advocacy, etc.
  • how GLAM professions have historically resisted or facilitated knowledge justice in different contexts or are currently resisting or facilitating it
  • surveillance, ableism, and gaslighting in GLAM professions

For those interested, the conference will conclude with a “Five Minute Fascinators” event where participants are invited to talk about a special interest for five minutes and why they think it is so interesting. If you are interested in participating, a call will go out less formally the day of the conference.

After the conference there will be a channel created on the Neuro-GLAM-orous Canada Discord server for ongoing discussions and follow up to discussions raised during the event and where links to recordings will be posted.

Guidelines

We invite proposals for individual presentations as well as for panel submissions.
Presentations and panel discussions can be pre-recorded or delivered live.

For individual presentations, please submit:

  • an abstract of no more than around 2500 characters (approximately 400 words)
  • a presentation title
  • a brief biographical statement (including pronouns if you feel comfortable doing so)
  • contact information
  • any potential trigger warnings for your presentation
  • the expected length of your presentation (20 minutes maximum)
  • whether the presentation will be live or pre-recorded
  • you may also indicate:
    • if you want your presentation to be for neurodivergent attendees only
    • if you prefer not to be recorded

For complete panels, please submit:

  • a panel abstract of no more than 2500 characters (approximately 400 words)
  • a list of all participants and brief biographical statements (including pronouns if you feel comfortable doing so)
  • please identify (up to three panelists and one moderator) and provide participants’ contact information for the panel organizer
  • you may also indicate:
    • if you want the panel discussion to be for neurodivergent attendees only
    • if you prefer not to be recorded

At Neuro-GLAM-erous Canada we believe that the personal and professional are political, and encourage participants to think of themselves as whole beings. The sphere of vulnerability this creates will require tact and understanding. While this is a space to learn and be vulnerable; however, harassment, bigotry, and bad-faith actors will not be tolerated.

Submit proposals:

By form: NeuroGLAM 2026: Conference Call for Proposals – Fill out form
Or return attached template to: neuroglamcon@gmail.com
Direct questions to: neuroglamcon@gmail.com

Additional information can be found here

The members of Neuro-GLAM-orous Canada invite you to participate in their fourth annual free online conference.

Conference Date: August 21st, 2026
Location: Online (registration forthcoming)
Time: 1:00 pm-5:00 pm Atlantic Daylight Time

Proposal deadline: July 2nd, 2026

Potential Topics:

The theme of this year’s conference is Hopepunk: Neurodiversity, GLAM, and Neurodivergent Knowledge Justice

“Knowledge justice is based on the principle that each person has the equal capacity to be knowledgeable, yet this right is often denied to individuals based on the social identities they hold. It also involves recognizing that some knowledge systems, particularly those of Indigenous peoples, have been purposefully ignored, eliminated, or silenced.”
What is Knowledge Justice? – Knowledge Justice in the Helping Professions

Knowledge justice impacts us as neurodivergent information practitioners through our practice, and in our communities and workplaces. It asks us to consider how we work professionally and personally to counter misinformation and address inequities as information professionals.

Hopepunk is a subgenre of speculative fiction and art that focuses on optimism, gentleness, kindness, and collaboration as effective weapons in the fight to create a better future.

This year we invite submissions that respond to how the concept of Hopepunk shows up at the intersection of information professions and neurodivergence. Of particular interest is how we can engage with Hopepunk and knowledge justice themes to build sustainable affirming communities in the face of job cuts, funding cuts, gaslighting, lack of inclusion, and injustice.

“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
– G.K. Chesterton

Presentations, panels, and lightning talks may relate to, but are not limited to:

  • research, professional work, and ongoing projects related to the theme, including epistemic injustice, hermeneutical injustice, gaslighting, funding cuts, job loss, etc.
  • personal accounts of being neurodivergent in GLAM spaces in the context of knowledge justice, building community, self-advocacy, etc.
  • how GLAM professions have historically resisted or facilitated knowledge justice in different contexts or are currently resisting or facilitating it
  • surveillance, ableism, and gaslighting in GLAM professions

For those interested, the conference will conclude with a “Five Minute Fascinators” event where participants are invited to talk about a special interest for five minutes and why they think it is so interesting. If you are interested in participating, a call will go out less formally the day of the conference.

After the conference there will be a channel created on the Neuro-GLAM-orous Canada Discord server for ongoing discussions and follow up to discussions raised during the event and where links to recordings will be posted.

Guidelines

We invite proposals for individual presentations as well as for panel submissions.
Presentations and panel discussions can be pre-recorded or delivered live.

For individual presentations, please submit:

  • an abstract of no more than around 2500 characters (approximately 400 words)
  • a presentation title
  • a brief biographical statement (including pronouns if you feel comfortable doing so)
  • contact information
  • any potential trigger warnings for your presentation
  • the expected length of your presentation (20 minutes maximum)
  • whether the presentation will be live or pre-recorded
  • you may also indicate:
    • if you want your presentation to be for neurodivergent attendees only
    • if you prefer not to be recorded

For complete panels, please submit:

  • a panel abstract of no more than 2500 characters (approximately 400 words)
  • a list of all participants and brief biographical statements (including pronouns if you feel comfortable doing so)
  • please identify (up to three panelists and one moderator) and provide participants’ contact information for the panel organizer
  • you may also indicate:
    • if you want the panel discussion to be for neurodivergent attendees only
    • if you prefer not to be recorded

At Neuro-GLAM-erous Canada we believe that the personal and professional are political, and encourage participants to think of themselves as whole beings. The sphere of vulnerability this creates will require tact and understanding. While this is a space to learn and be vulnerable; however, harassment, bigotry, and bad-faith actors will not be tolerated.

Submit proposals:

By form: NeuroGLAM 2026: Conference Call for Proposals – Fill out form
Or return attached template to: neuroglamcon@gmail.com
Direct questions to: neuroglamcon@gmail.com

Additional information can be found here

The last number of years have been challenging, and those challenges have been further exacerbated by recent budget cuts at the federal, provincial, and organizational levels. These cuts have had a significant impact on our libraries and on our colleagues in the heritage, publishing, and broader arts and culture sectors.

With this in mind, we are looking to put together a panel discussion or “fireside chat” session (other format suggestions welcome!) that would be part of the APLA 2026 programme, which provides an opportunity to discuss advocacy for our sectors in the face of these cuts.

Ideally, the panel will focus not only on the impact of budget cuts, but also on successful (or unsuccessful) advocacy initiatives, barriers to advocacy work, opportunities for future initiatives and collaborations across sectors and regions.

We are hoping for a 45-60 minute discussion. The session is currently booked for June 17th at 2:40PM ADT at the Delta Dartmouth Hotel.

If you are interested in participating and/or have questions or ideas, please respond to Lisa Marshall at your earliest convenience.

 

New deadline: May 15th

Presented during the Annual Conference, the APLA Merit Award honours an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to library services in the Atlantic Provinces.

Some of the contributions that might be considered in selecting a person for this award are: leadership in library associations at the local, regional and provincial levels; contributions to the development, application and utilization of library services and library systems; significant contribution to library literature.

If you know someone who you would like to nominate for the APLA Merit Award, please submit nominations, including documentation of the nominee’s achievements and letters of support, to APLA’s Past President, past-president@apla.ca.

Just a friendly reminder that the deadline for proposal submissions for the upcoming NLLA conference is this Friday, May 1st – and we’d love to hear from you!

Taking place on Friday, June 5th, Overdue but Not Lost: Renewing Our Community will be a hybrid event, with options to present in person in St. John’s or online from anywhere in Newfoundland & Labrador. It’s our first time gathering as a community since 2019, and we’re excited to reconnect, share, and celebrate the incredible work happening in libraries across our province.

We welcome proposals from library workers in all sectors on any library-related topic, either practical or theoretical. Whether you are sharing a successful project, a challenge you’ve navigated, an emerging technology, or a fresh idea, we want to hear your voice.

Possible session formats include:

  • Presentation (30 min.)
  • Mini Workshop (45 min.)
  • Lightning Talk (7 min.)
  • Something Else (have an idea that doesn’t fit the categories above? Tell us about it!)

To submit, please use our online form (https://tinyurl.com/LetsRenew), and include your session type, delivery format, title, abstract, contact details, and a brief bio.

If you have any questions, please contact Janet Goosney (jgoosney@mun.ca).

We hope you’ll join us as we renew our community – see you in June!