Doowutchyalike
A diverse group of librarians talking.
To match a year that is unlike any other The Collective 2025 will be unlike any other event!
Coco Cay, Bahamas is one of the ports The Collective at Sea will visit.
The Collective 2025 invites you to break free from traditional library conference constraints and just doowutchyalike. Inspired by Digital Underground's anthem of self-expression, this year’s theme invites you to break free from the constraints of traditional library conferences. We're eschewing norms, standards, stuffiness, clichés, and cliques, fostering an environment where creativity reigns and every voice is valued..
No idea is too wild or too routine for our gathering—what matters is that your proposal is interactive! As long as your proposal encourages interactivity, we’re ready to hear it—what “interactive” looks like is entirely up to you! Whether it’s a thought-provoking workshop, an experimental discussion, or a playful activity, we want your vision to shine.
So, get wild (or don’t) with your session proposals! Join us in a gathering that promises to challenge the status quo, foster meaningful connections, and, most importantly, encourage everyone to doowutchyalike. Together, let's redefine what it means to learn, share, and connect in the library community.
Whatever you have to share, we’ll consider it in our open review process!
We welcome submissions in a variety of formats. We offer some provocations and suggested formats below to get you started, but you can also event your own!
If you have an idea for a session that doesn’t seem to fit into this process, please reach out to program@thelibrarycollective.org. We’re always open to radically creative ideas!
2025 Suggested Provocations
We offer these starter questions and provocations for exploration at The Collective but the vast possibilities are only limited by your imaginations:
Investigate the shift from traditional library models to community-led initiatives. How can libraries empower patrons to become curators of local knowledge, and what skills are necessary for this transformation?
Discuss the importance of agility in library services in response to technological advancements and societal shifts. What frameworks or practices can libraries adopt to remain relevant and responsive?
Address the mental health challenges faced by library staff in a rapidly changing environment. What hands-on skills and self-care strategies can be developed to combat burnout and promote well-being among library employees?
Challenge the traditional perceptions of library staff roles. How can librarians redefine their positions as change-makers and leaders in their communities, fostering collaboration and innovation?
Encourage participants to envision the role of libraries in a world transformed by technology, climate change, and shifting societal norms. What innovative services and resources will libraries provide, and how will they adapt to meet community needs?
In a world where information is fragmented, how can libraries act as connectors to break down silos? What skills are necessary for effective collaboration across departments, organizations, and communities, and how can we cultivate these skills within our teams?
As libraries adopt AI technologies, how do we ensure that human connection and empathy remain at the forefront of our services? What strategies can we employ to blend automation with personal interaction, and what skills will librarians need to navigate this landscape?
Suggested Formats
Here’s some options to get you thinking but feel free to combine, riff, reinvent, or diverge from this list!
Dork Short - A short tutorial that introduces an app or tool and walks participants through a how-to and use case(s). This can totally be a third-party product, in other words something you didn't make or invent but use in a cool way. But no sales pitches, okay?
Hands-On/Skill-Building Workshop - step-by-step tutorials or instruction whose target audience is your fellow library workers. Participants should take away a new skill. Feel free to think beyond library instruction - we welcome workshops on any topics of interest to our community.
Interactive Panel (N.B. Interactive is key--no "sage on a stage" please!) - Moderated discussions with “experts” and heavy interaction from attendees. Think more Q&A and less pontificating.
Pecha Kucha - A “grown-up” version of Show and Tell. You’ll show us something cool-using 20 slides with 20 seconds of commentary each. It could be a tour of something fabulously innovative happening at your library, a guided walk-through of a digital project, or another form of performance or sharing that you dream up.
Plenary (Large Discussion/State of Profession) - A big format for REALLY BIG ideas. This is the forum where major statements are made and broad-ranging debate may occur. If you have something everyone needs to hear then this is the format for you!
Make/Hack/Play - You’ll collaboratively build something with participants, such as a topic-specific syllabus, tool, or game. You’ll develop the instructions for participation as well as a prototype or template to get folks started. Take your inspiration wherever it may lead you and create something that makes “Library Land” a better place!
Roundtable Discussion - Organized discussion around a specific topic or group of issues. Everyone is given equal right to participate.
Some Other Awesome Thing - Don’t let us limit your imagination! Tell us your great idea that’s in a category of its own!
WE WERE ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS ON A ROLLING BASIS UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2024.
A Collective attendee shares a sketch of what an ideal workspace looks like with fellow participants.
How to Submit
Call for participation is now open.