Call for Proposals Extended to October 15
Keeping it ReAL 2024 & BCALS Knowledge and Idea Exchange
Keeping it ReAL 2024 is a free workshop for librarians, archivists, library workers, and students interested in research. Our aim is to foster a research culture in British Columbia’s academic libraries and to create an open and supportive network for people to learn about, share, and support academic research.
We are pleased to share that the Keeping it ReAL 2024 Organizing Committee and the BC Academic Libraries Section (BCALS) will again be hosting complementary virtual events on November 14 and 15, 2024. Keeping It ReAL will take place on November 14 and will explore the role of community- and relationship-building in research in academic libraries through the broad lens of community engagement.
This event seeks to explore the ways in which librarian research is connected to the communities we build and the relationships we nurture. By collaborating with others, we can move towards a research culture that better represents and values a broader diversity of professional and community perspectives. Participants will examine the impact, promise and challenges of relationship-building, both within and outside of the library. They might consider how this could lead to more impactful and sustainable research outcomes, as well as generative and insightful research relationships through which we can sustain and find joy in praxis. Together, we will reimagine the research process as one deeply rooted in community, collaboration, and the co-creation of knowledge.
Possible topics include:
- How do we effectively engage with our communities? What role do our communities play in shaping our research?
- Examples of librarians collaborating with groups outside the library.
- Who are the various communities we serve and belong to, and how do these relationships impact our research?
- Insights into navigating false starts and sustaining momentum in research initiatives.
- Approaches to inclusive research that amplifies diverse voices and perspectives.
- Traditional and innovative outreach methods that foster community engagement on and off campus.
- How can library resources be leveraged for non-academic users to support research and community needs?
- Initiatives that connect community-building with student academic success.
- How do we balance roles and responsibilities (divisions of labour) when engaging with community partners?
- Best practices for ethical research methods and meaningful engagement with community members.
- The role of mentorship in fostering a supportive and productive research environment.
- Exploring the collaborative creation of knowledge with community partners as part of the research process.
- How do we build, create, continually engage, and sustain communities in research?
You are invited to submit proposals in the following formats:
- Lightning Talk: Share bite-sized bits of info about your research, ideas, processes, etc. (7 minutes)
- Presentation: Share your research experiences in the form of a formal presentation (20 minutes)
- Workshop: Teach a skill or demonstrate a theory and/or methodology to your peers (50 minutes)
- Roundtable: Two or more folks have a structured discussion with one another (and/or audience) around a focused topic (45 minutes)
Proposals of no more than 350 words are due October 15, 2024.
Submit your proposal: Please send your proposals in an email to Keeping it ReAL committee member Amber Gallant, at amber.1gallant@royalroads.ca, with the following subject line: Keeping it Real 2024 Proposal – Last Name(s).
In your proposal, please include the following:
- Proposal (up to 350 words)
- First and Last Name(s)
- Institution or Affiliation
- Pronouns (if comfortable)
- Brief Bio (up to 150 words).
Looking for research partners or want to share your current/future research ideas? We will be creating a public Padlet for participants to make connections with potential collaborative partners, share their ideas for current or future research, or brainstorm around themes. This Padlet will be shared with registrants closer to the conference date.
If you have any questions, please contact Keeping it ReAL 2024 committee chair Emily Nickerson at enickerson@uvic.ca .