LIBRARIES AS SPACES FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING

May 29th 2024 – Sforza Castle, Milan

PROGRAM

9.00-9.30

Welcome space and registration

Chairman: Matei Stanciugelu

9.30 – 10.00 Welcome coffee

10.00 – 10.30

Opening remarks

Laura Ballestra, Presidente nazionale Associazione Italiana Biblioteche

10.30 – 11.15

Keynote speaker: Jill Bourne
City Librarian and Director of Libraries, San José, California(US)

For current generations of librarians, the essential role of safeguarding knowledge and access has been impacted by multiple technological revolutions. Technological advancements are wondrous, but often exclude the most vulnerable residents in society, as innovation edges out older generations and low-income households, AI threatens to replace many service industry employment options, and social media presents a version of truth with no commitment to accuracy or privacy. In this landscape, libraries are uniquely able to understand and authentically connect to their communities, and this embodiment of integrity and public trust has immense value. In San José, known as the “Capitol of Silicon Valley,” this trusted role shaped the City’s Digital Equity and Empowerment Strategy, with the Library leading local, regional, statewide, and national policy development. 

11.15 – 11.45

Valeria Abdal
Co-Founder of “Children of Heroes” Charity Fund

Main topics:

• Strategic long-term assistance to children who lost one or both parents during the war in Ukraine.
• How the fund functions: mission & vision, team.
• Individual approach to work with affected families.
• Overview of our supporting programs.
• Types of support needed.
• Successful and life-changing stories in the lives of children of the Fund.
• Building the fund’s reputation and attracting partnerships.

Here the detailed program.

11.45 – 12.00 Break

12.00 – 13.15

Panels / Ignite talks + Q&A

13.15 – 13.30

Brief speeches by partners and supporters

13.30 – 14.30 Brown bag lunch

14.30 – 16.00

Parallel workshops

1_Workshop “What are our library leaders thinking about the future?”
In a direct live connection with the Dutch Annual Library Innovation conference there is direct international discussion on important foresights world wide on our library future…
Speakers: Erik Boekesteijn, Senior Advisor, National Library of the Netherlands and Member, Storyhouse Board of Directors, and David Lankes, Virginia & Charles Bowden Professor of Librarianship, University of Texas at Austin, School of Information

What are our library leaders thinking about the future? Erik Boekesteijn interviewed many library leaders from around the world and put them together in one documentary video. David Lankes and Erik share their words and insights while facilitating discussion. Get ideas and inspiration from interviews shared by our worldwide travelers and amazing storytellers along with wonderful, forward-thinking library leaders including Lidewij Edelkoort, Trend forecaster, publisher, humanitarian, design educator and exhibition curator; Charlotte Grün, Ontwerper, (design) researcher en Creatief Strateeg Studio; Gene Tan, Chief Librarian & Chief Innovation Officer, National Library Board, Singapore; Sandra Hirsh, Associate Dean, Academics College of Professional and Global Education, San Jose State University; Jane Cowell, President Australian Library and Information Association; Nick Poole, Chief Executive of CILIP, UK.

2_Workshop on active citizenship
Mike Waldron, Consultant International Active Citizenship

Mike is a well practiced international facilitator and programme designer with over thirty years experience in working with communities, especially young leaders to develop their capacity to become proactive change makers. In this workshop Mike will lead some dynamic and hopefully fun activities, to hear stories, share experiences and draw out ideas for how libraries can serve as spaces for dialogue and participation, and how small groups of people, convened in active citizenship, can lead by example in catalysing change in the their wider communities.

16.00 – 16.15 Break

16.15-17.45

Panels / Ignite talks + Q&A

17.45-18.00

Final wrap up

The program is currently under construction.

Last update 2024/05/07

Occupy Library / Stelline Conference 2024 is looking for contributions who showcase initiatives where technology, in particular artificial intelligence has contributed to both digital transformation and increased personal and community wellbeing. 

The contributions can be sent as a presentation format, workshops, labs, posters and ignite talks.

Specific themes:

1. AI (artificial intelligence) for personal and professional development;
2. Library services based on community technological needs;
3. Community wellbeing in times of crises – the role libraries play;
4. Library services which unite communities.

To submit a contribution to the event, access the link here and fill in the form:

The final extended deadline for submitting a proposal is the 20th of April 2024.

Submission Formats

Occupy Library / Stelline Conference invites submissions on the conference theme and topics, comprising of any of the following content directions:

   1. future-oriented, thought leadership pieces arising out of current experiences.

    2. presentation of innovative services.

    3. work in progress or pilot descriptions, sufficiently mature to warrant attention. 

    4. best practice and case studies specifying requirements, challenges or opportunities.

When submitting a proposal, speakers can choose the best format for the content they intend to deliver from the list of options below:

1. presentations: mature works that showcase ideas, best practices and case studies, illustrating the methods used and opening up a discussion on the on the topic and its issues.
2.  posters: visually-inspiring displays of a completed or ongoing initiative, processes and results.
3. labs or workshops: lively panel sessions, consisting of interactive meetings, demos or exhibitions, games related to the theme and the topics of the conference.
4. ignite talks: 5-minute speed speeches on the topics of the conference.

Selection Criteria 

The Conference Programme Committee  will select proposals based on the following criteria: 

    originality/innovation 

    method/elaboration 

    interest/engagement 

    impact/emplication 

    relevance  

Guidance and Notes on Submitting

1. Accepted contributions will be limited to one proposal per author. Similarly, we aim to avoid more than one presentations on a single initiative/project.

2.Submissions advertising commercial products and/or services will not be considered.

3. Only submissions in English will be considered, in line with the official language of the conference.

4. For all proposals, the Conference Programme Committee may accept an abstract. Authors are encouraged to submit their accepted abstracts for publication as an English-language supplement of the leading scientific journal Biblioteche Oggi in the September issue.

Abstract length should be a minimum of 300 words and should not exceed 500 words (for all forms suggested above).

Timeline, registration & fees:

Call for papers and proposals: December 27th 2023 – April 20th 2024

Communication for accepted authors: April 22nd – April 26th 2024

Confirmation of participation for contributors: April 29th – May 3rd 2024

The participation fee is € 149 (+ VAT for Italian participants) as an early bird until April 26th 2024.

After April 29th, the participating fee will be € 199 (+ VAT for Italian participants).

Selected authors will be charged the early bird fee.

We look forward to having in you in Milan!