The German National Library of Economics – ZBW invites you and all interested IFLA-members to the first International Conference on Economics and Business Information – INCONECSS. The INCONECSS will take place from 19 to 20 April in Berlin.

URL: www.inconecss.eu

The international conference addresses issues relating to economics and business information. The topics range from content management in a digital age to staff development issues and even strategic development of new services. Main topics are: Research Data, Ebook Strategies, Current Research Information Systems (CRIS), Reshaping of Skills and structures, Research support and Open Access.

The uniqueness of the conference lies in its international scope in combination with the focus on economics: bringing together best practices from different countries, establishing a platform for stimulating discussion, exchanging opinions and helping participants to improve and enhance their local services.

Among the highlights of the international conference are the keynote from Liz Lyon, Visiting Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and two workshops about Current Research Information Systems (CRIS) and Ebook Strategies.

We would be delighted to welcome you in spring in Berlin.

Program: http://www.inconecss.eu/program.html
Location: Schleswig-Holstein Representative Office to the Federal Government in Berlin, In den Ministergärten 8, 10117 Berlin
Twitter Hasthag: #inconecss
Registration: http://www.inconecss.eu/registration.html
About ZBW: http://www.zbw.eu/en/about-us/profile/who-is-the-zbw/

Yours sincerely
Doreen Siegfried

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DR DOREEN SIEGFRIED
Head of Marketing and Public Relations
ZBW –Leibniz Information Centre for Economics
Düsternbrooker Weg 120
24105 Kiel
Germany
T: +49 431 8814-455
F: +49 431 8814-520
E: d.siegfried@zbw.eu

www.zbw.eu

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Do you need online access to full-texts, data and statistics in economics? The ZBW brings it to you: www.alles-finden-zbw.eu/english

Theme: User Experience (UX) and Social Science Libraries in the Digital Age

The Social Science Libraries in the 21st century collect and provide access to information resources to promote economic development and to empower citizens for a participatory society. The digital age has rapidly transformed the way information is organized, delivered, accessed, and used throughout the academic, business and information world. Furthermore, the advent of the web 2.0 technologies and services using social networking tools, mobile applications, online education, and open source information materials, are increasingly redefining the dynamics of how people learn, access, present and process information onsite and remotely. Thus understanding the nature, provenance and scope of information and how users interact with this information ecosystem should inform the conceptual framework and the practice of social science libraries. In the role of collaborator and stewards of information, the Social Science Libraries have evolved from the service model established in print-only era. Crucial areas to take into consideration include commitment to open access to information in support to enable social participation for national development, focus on capacity building for social change, emergence of interdisciplinary investigations, data related methodologies and tools, and the role of social media and Web 2.0 connecting the users with the libraries. In addition to specific practices that impact library operations, we invite theoretical framework on what constitute social science libraries in the 21st century and perspectives from different global regions.

We invite applications for a panel presentation from librarians and library educators whose projects explore aspects of our theme. Such studies may focus on specific time period(s) or geographical location(s). Possible topics relevant to the program theme might explore:

• Formal and informal practices reconfiguring social science library operations addressing user experience
• Open access initiatives and institutional repositories
• Use of social media and Web 2.0 as new channels to connect with stakeholders
• Dynamic online collections and its impact on library operations
• Hiring practices and capacity building
• New areas of growth for the social science libraries; for example collaboration between libraries and government development initiatives.
• New literacies for social sciences
• Archival issues of social media

Proposal Submission

Proposals should include:
• An abstract of paper (approximately 500 words).
• A summary of the author(s) details (name, institution, position, email) and brief biographical statement of no more than 50 words.

Proposals should be submitted electronically to Kayo Denda (kdenda@rutgers.edu) no later than March 1, 2016 and indicate ‘IFLA proposal’ in the subject line. Selected presenters will be notified by March 15, 2016.

Papers should reflect the 2016 conference theme “Connections. Collaboration. Community.”

Full papers

The deadline for the final version of the full papers accepted for the session is May 1, 2016. Papers should be in English (or in one of the official IFLA languages, with an English translation attached). The language of the session will be English. Presenters will have 20 minutes in the program session to deliver their papers, and time will be allowed for an open forum to allow audience interaction.

Please note that the Program Committee has no funds to assist prospective authors: abstracts should only be submitted on the understanding that the expenses of the attending the Columbus conference (including travel, lodging expenses and conference fee) will be the responsibility of the authors(s)/presenter(s) of accepted papers. At least one author will be expected to attend conference to deliver the paper. Some national professional associations may be able to help fund certain expenses, and a small number of grants for conference may be available at: http://www.ifla.org/funds-grants-awards

I trust all delegates returned safely to their home countries after the conference in Cape Town, and I extend a warm welcome to new and returning Standing Committee members. Reflecting on the presentations I attended during the conference, I am inspired by the work being conducted by librarians around the globe, and I feel extremely honored to be elected the chair for the Social Science Library Section. Along with Sylvia Piggott, secretary, and Maud Mundava, information coordinator, I look forward to represent our Section within the IFLA community and beyond.
Our conference program in Cape Town, “How Libraries Support Social-Economic Policy and Programme Development for Societal Improvements: Assessment, Products, Marketing and Access,” was co-sponsored by the Library and Research Services for Parliaments Section. The program, in world café format, was a great success, attracting more than 200 attendees. While in Cape Town, our Section Standing Committee started to draft the document in support of the Lyon Declaration. It is now available on the IFLA Website.

A sub-group of the Standing Committee is in the process of working on the Section’s strategic goals and action plan for 2015-2016, which will inform the design of our conference program in Columbus (2016). The Asia and Oceania Section has already expressed interest in co-sponsorship of the conference program, and it will certainly be a pleasure to work collaboratively with colleagues from other sections. The Relindial SIG, affiliated with the Section, is also planning a program for the conference in Columbus. Odile Dupont, the continuing SIG convenor, and her colleagues are working with partners based in the United States.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Chiku Mchombu, my predecessor as chair of our Section, for her support and guidance. I would also like to congratulate Dr. Mchombu and her Namibian colleagues for organizing and hosting a magnificent IFLA Satellite Conference, “The Role of Libraries and Information Centres in Supporting National Development. The Satellite Conference was sponsored by the IFLA Social Science Libraries Section Standing Committee, the Human Rights and Documentation Center in the Faculty of Law of the University of Namibia, the Namibia National Libraries and Archives, and the Namibia Information Workers Association. The 158 registered delegates from China, Estonia, Namibia, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, and United States, enjoyed the stimulating presentations, film screening, and world café discussions. Those of us who attended the conference will cherish meeting young Namibian librarians and library school students. Their love and commitment for the profession was invigorating and will stay with us forever.

Kayo Denda
Chair, Social Science Libraries Section
Rutgers University
kdenda@rutgers.edu

Dr. Chiku Mnubi-Mchombu (IFLA-Social Sciences Chairperson),along with Namibian colleagues, planned this 2-day conference. The conference was well attended. For more information: http://www.iflawindhoek2015.org 
   

The Namibia Information Workers Association (NIWA) held a “First Time Writers Workshop” on 21-22 January 2015. The goal of the workshop was to provide information workers skills and tools on how to write articles and get published. The event allowed participants to get and share first-hand experience and tips with veteran writers and to learn how to utilize library resources to help them get started.

Young librarians from The Namibia Library and Archives Services (NLAS), University of Namibia Libraries, and Bank of Namibia Information Centre received training and encouragement from Ms. Helen Mandl, a volunteer from Australia, currently at the Namibia Library and Archives Services, and Prof. Kingo Mchombu, Professor and Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Namibia.

The workshop participants, including Chiku Mchombu (3rd from left, IFLA Social Science Section Chair ) and Professor Kingo Mchombu (2nd from right)

Ms. Helen Mandl addressing the group.

The workshop participants.