The Library History Round Table (LHRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce a virtual Library History Seminar (LHS) and we’d like to offer you an opportunity to share your research!

LHS XIV, originally scheduled for August 2020 in Baton Rouge, was postponed due to COVID-19. Over the past 6 months, LHRT has been retooling to deliver the conference online. The current theme, “Libraries Without Borders,” embraces the previous theme of “Librarians Without Borders: Historical Perspectives on Outreach,” while indicating LHRT’s eagerness to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion and to leverage technology to make the seminar more accessible. Unlike previous events, LHS XIV will be low-cost or no-cost for attendees in hopes that more students, practitioners, and overseas colleagues will be able to participate. In addition to the customary research papers, we aspire to provide a virtual poster session, “how-to” programming, and other opportunities for less formal sharing.

LHS XIV seeks to explore the history of library outreach and service development in all of its forms. “Library,” “librarian,” “outreach,” and “service” are defined in the broadest possible terms. The concept of “library” embraces public, academic, school, special, grassroots, and personal libraries, far beyond the traditional conceptualization of an established, physical institution with a collection of materials and geographically-defined clientele. “Librarians” include all of those who identify or labor as such, regardless of whether they hold academic or other professional credentials. “Outreach” and “service” range from formal programs designed to engage underserved/marginalized groups; to collaborations between libraries and other cultural heritage organizations; to various racial/ethnical groups’ and individuals’ efforts to establish libraries or share materials amongst themselves. Papers and posters that explore the unique, the unusual, or the esoteric are especially welcome!

Live paper presentations will take place online Thursday, June 10, through Sunday, June 13, 2021. Asynchronous poster presentations will be uploaded the same week and be open for audience feedback during the conference. Technological arrangements are forthcoming.

Submissions are due no later than Sunday, March 28, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. EST. Please submit your proposal proposal below.