Call for Proposals - DSpace North American User Group meeting 2026

[Colin Lukens]

The DSpace North American User Group, in cooperation with LYRASIS and Harvard Library Open Scholarship and Research Data Services, invites proposals for its 2026 meeting in Cambridge, MA, on September 28–30, 2026.

This in‑person meeting brings together people who manage and support DSpace in North America, including:

• DSpace institutional repository managers and administrators
• Developers and technical staff
• Service providers and consultants

 Dates & Location

• September 28–30, 2026
• Lamont Forum Room, Lamont Library, Harvard Yard
• Cambridge, MA (USA)
• Further details about registration and logistics will be shared in early summer 2026; program schedule will be available in July 2026.  

Proposed Session Topics
The program will be developed and selected by the host, Harvard Library Open Scholarship and Research Data Services. The host welcomes proposals that focus on DSpace and that can be useful or adaptable to other institutions. You are encouraged to share both successes and challenges. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• Accessibility of DSpace content and platforms
• Interoperability, ingest, maintenance, or authority management in DSpace
• Migrations, upgrades, and integrations between DSpace and other scholarly communication systems
• Experiences (successes or challenges) with adopting or implementing DSpace‑CRIS
• Metrics, reporting, and assessment tools for DSpace repositories
• DSpace as part of, or integrated with, library publishing platforms
• Institutional repository policies, workflows, and procedures in DSpace
• Custom or open‑source tools that extend or support DSpace workflows

We encourage case studies, practical “how‑to” talks, and reflections on lessons learned.

Session Formats
The Program Committee is seeking proposals in the following formats:

• Lightning Talk (5–7 minutes)
  • A brief, focused presentation (with or without slides) highlighting one key project, idea, or lesson.
• Presentation (20 minutes)
  • A more in‑depth, free‑standing presentation or a short panel (e.g., 2 speakers) on a related theme.
• Panel (40 minutes)
  • A deep dive or discussion-based panel (e.g., 2+ speakers) on a related theme.

If you are unsure which format best fits your idea, choose the closest option; the Program Committee may suggest an alternate format.

Important Dates

• Proposal submission deadline: May 31, 2026
• Notification of acceptance: June 15, 2026

Please submit your proposal using this form: https://forms.gle/CqJtmJLQ9RCYEARS7 

Event Format

• All sessions will be delivered in person in Cambridge, MA.
• Sessions will not be recorded or live‑streamed.

Questions
For questions about the 2026 DSpace North American User Group meeting programming, please contact: Harvard Library Open Scholarship and Research Data Services - Email: hl_o...@harvard.edu 

Sponsors & Host
Harvard Library is the host of this event, in agreement with its sponsor, LYRASIS. Harvard Library, in this capacity, has neither received any financial support from nor endorses the sponsor of this event.

This information is also available on the DSpace North American User Group Meeting wiki.