The Library History Round Table (LHRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) seeks papers for its annual Research Forum, to be held in advance of the 2022 ALA Annual Meeting. To accommodate as many LHRT members as possible, the 2022 LHRT Research Forum will be held virtually on
Wednesday, June 15, 2022, from 3:00-5:00 EDT.The theme of the Forum is "The Silent Histories of Libraries." The Forum will examine silenced, hidden, quiet, and incomplete histories of libraries and related cultural heritage institutions. Possible topics may include, but are not limited to:
● Secret, secondary, or unintended users of library books and services;
● Library thefts and book heists;
● Unsung library heroes in underrepresented or silenced communities;
● Undercompensated labor in libraries;
● The labor of "unprofessional" librarians.
LHRT welcomes submissions from researchers of all backgrounds, including library students, practitioners, faculty, independent researchers, and those retired from the field. LHRT especially encourages submissions from early-career researchers, as well as those who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ, and other minoritized groups. Each proposal must give the paper title, an abstract (up to 500 words), and the presenter's one-page vita. The abstract should include a problem or thesis, as well as a statement of significance, objectives, methods/primary sources used for the research, and conclusions (or tentative conclusions for works in progress). Please indicate in the abstract whether the research is in-progress or completed.
The LHRT Research Committee will select up to three authors to present their completed work at the Forum.
Proposals are due April 25, 2022; successful proposals will be notified shortly thereafter. Completed papers are due June 10, 2022. Please submit proposals and direct inquiries to Emily Spunaugle, LHRT Vice Chair/Research Committee Chair, at
spunaugle@oakland.edu.
Research Committee Members:
Sheila Devaney
Alea Henle
Allison Kaplan
Ana Ramírez Luhrs
Julie Park
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Emily Spunaugle
Humanities and Rare Books Librarian
Oakland University
She/Her/Hers
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