Call for presenters LibPMC 2025
Frankie Wilson
Apologies for cross posting
The 16th International Conference on Performance Measurement in Libraries (LibPMC) will take place in Liverpool, UK on 3 to 4 June 2025.
We are excited to be back in-person after two online events in 2021 and 2023, so that we can deliver what previous attendees told us was the most valuable aspect of the Conference for them – personal connection.
We are seeking papers and lightning talk submissions on any aspect of performance measurement, assessment, data-informed decision-making, user feedback, user experience (UX), impact evaluation and demonstration, evidence-supported communication and advocacy, and use of related tools and techniques in libraries, archives, cultural collections, and information services.
We are interested in proposals from practitioners (early career, established, or anywhere in between), from researchers and academics (in library schools, information schools, or any other department that you find yourself in), and from students (masters or doctoral). The Conference covers all library sectors (academic, public, school, special, national, and consortia) as well as related information and collection sectors.
We are looking for contributors from across the globe, and although the language of the conference is English, we have a strong history of presenters with English as an additional language.
What do I need to do?
You need to write a short proposal that follows all the requirements for your proposal type (see below). You will also need to write a very short (maximum 50 word) biography for each proposal author.
Papers
Proposals should be a maximum of 500 words and include practical or conceptual approaches on any aspect of performance measurement, impact evaluation, assessment or user experience research. Projects should be concluded or well underway, and include results, actions arising from results, and potential value to the wider assessment, user experience, and/or performance measurement community.
Presentation time: 20 mins + 5 mins for Q&A.
Lightning Talks
Proposals should be 250 words and cover a single issue or a single aspect of a project (for example method, use of findings) OR work in progress OR a case study at a single institution. We are also
particularly keen to encourage sharing assessment efforts that did not go as planned (“fail talks”), focusing on the lessons learned or ideas for moving forward.
Lightning Talks are dynamic, tightly-focused presentations with a maximum of 15 slides and a single presenter (there can be more named co-authors, but only one can present).
Presentation time: 5 mins + 5 mins for Q&A.
What should I include in my proposal?
Proposals should include the following information:
· Why did you do this activity, project, or research?
· How did you do this?
· What did you discover? (if applicable)
· How have findings been applied? What lessons did you learn? What is the potential value to the wider performance measurement/assessment/user experience library community?
While we are asking for all four of the above elements for both paper and lightning talk proposals, so that the reviewers can understand the full context of your work, please note that lightning talk presentations must not try to cover all of these during the actual presentation and should instead focus on the most compelling aspect of the project or idea (e.g., innovative use of a method, or how results have been turned into action). For “fail talks”, the emphasis should be on lessons learned.
How do I know if my idea is relevant to LibPMC?
LibPMC brings together practitioners, researchers, educators and students interested in all aspects of performance measurement in libraries, archives, collections and information services in any sector. Performance measurement (also known as assessment) is the process of determining and communicating a service’s value to its organisation and community and/or to improve decision-making. It includes the use of data, user feedback, or user experience (UX).
Past conferences have covered topics including learning & teaching; space planning and use; methods (including UX, analytics, visualisations); services, collections & programmes; values, equality, diversity & inclusion; critical & theoretical assessment; and organisational culture & change.
Additional information about the conference, including links to past proceedings, are available on our website: https://libraryperformance.org/
Will I have to attend the conference?
Attendees from previous conferences tell us that it is the face-to-face interactions that make LibPMC special, so we want to enable as much of this as possible. Therefore, all presenters must attend the conference in person. More information on the conference can be found here.
We are planning a full programme of pre/post-conference workshops, in-conference learning labs, and even study-tour itineraries for our international attendees, as well as the usual local visits and social activities.
We are mindful of the current economic situation facing many institutions and the implications for conference attendance. We have reduced the length of the Conference to 2 full days to minimise costs, and have chosen Liverpool for its vibrancy and culture, and because of its variety of accommodation (including numerous budget-friendly options) and great transport links. Conference Registration will cost £295, including all in-programme sessions, the Conference Dinner and local visits.
We will be offering a number of subsidised places and travel awards – more information in spring 2025.
Do I have to write a paper?
To support accessibility of the conference for neurodiverse attendees (based on feedback from previous attendees) all presenters must submit a written version of their presentation two weeks before the conference.
For Paper presentations this must be a written paper of 3,000–5,000 words, and will be included in the conference proceedings.
For lightning talks this could be a “script”, expanded bullet points, or in the format of a short paper. These will be included in the conference proceedings. Presenters of “fail talks” may choose not to include this written document in the conference proceedings if they wish.
How do I submit my proposal?
Submission is via an online portal provided by Ex Ordo: https://libpmc2025.exordo.com/
When the submission portal opens in December you need to complete the online form, including entering the proposal description and author biography into the relevant boxes.
All proposals will be subject to double-blind peer-review and must not have been submitted to another conference or published in a journal. Reviewers will use a rubric to vet each proposal. The rubric is at the end of this email.
Closing date for proposals is 14 January 2025 at 23:59 GMT. Those submitting proposals will be notified of the decision in March 2025.
How can I get help?
We are once again offering one-hour online conference proposal writing support sessions for anyone considering submitting a paper or lightning talk. During the session we will talk through the different types of submission, and how to ensure that you include the essential elements by which the proposals will be evaluated. There will be opportunities to start to draft your proposal as part of the session and for general discussion about the proposal submission process.
If you are wondering how best to approach preparing your proposal, and interested in connecting with others in the same situation, please do attend one of these support sessions run by the LibPMC Community Building sub-group.
Keep an eye on the Community Events page (Events – LibPMC) for details.
Warmest wishes,
The 2025 LibPMC organising committee
A not-for-profit community interest endeavour
Evaluation
All proposals will be double-blind peer reviewed by members of the organising committee and the Friends of the Conference group. They will be evaluated using a Likert scale against each of the following criteria. Each proposal will receive two independent reviews, and the combined scores will be used by the programme sub-committee to decide which proposals to accept.
Quality and significance of the contribution to library performance, measurement, assessment or user experience.
· The proposal provides perspectives not typically represented in terms of methods or sector.
· The proposal confronts provocative questions, challenges, issues, and/or learning.
· The content is innovative, novel, creative, or unique.
· The content is not represented in other conference offerings (e.g., international origin, new uses of technology, application of techniques belonging to other disciplines).
Clarity of Expression
· The proposal is easy to understand with a clearly organised structure, and clear language.
· The proposal is specific, detailed, and fully developed.
· There is sufficient detail to judge the proposal.
Relevance to the practical or research-based needs and interests of the target audience
· The proposal relates to a relevant topic for the conference.
· The results are completed and ready to report.
· There is a description of decisions made or actions taken as a result of the assessment, including suggested changes to the assessment practice.
· There is potential applicability of methods, results, or lessons learned to other institutions or contexts.
· The proposal provides attendees with something that they might be able to use at their home institutions.
Dr Frankie Wilson
Head of Assessment
Bodleian Libraries
University of Oxford
Clarendon Building
Broad Street
Oxford
OX1 3BG
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3406-2309
Currently reading: Around the world in 80 trains by Monisha Rajesh
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