Collaboration and Human Connection in Academic Libraries
The Florida Chapter of ACRL(FACRL) is seeking proposals for presentations, posters, roundtable discussions, and lightning round sessions for the 2026 FACRL Virtual Annual Conference, held online on Thursday, October 8 & Friday, October 9, 2026.
"A trained librarian is a powerful search engine with a heart." –Sarah McIntyre, children's book author
Collaboration and human connection are central to the mission of academic libraries, transforming them from quiet repositories into dynamic hubs of learning and innovation. By fostering partnerships among librarians, faculty, and students, libraries support interdisciplinary research, enhance information literacy, and create more inclusive and responsive services. Human connection builds trust and ensures that users feel supported as they navigate increasingly complex information landscapes. In an era defined by rapid technological change, these relationships remain essential, grounding the academic library in its role as both a scholarly and social cornerstone of the institution.
This year’s call for proposals invites submissions that explore the vital role of collaboration and human connection in shaping the future of academic libraries. As libraries continue to evolve into dynamic hubs of learning and innovation, we seek presentations that highlight collaboration among librarians, faculty, students, and campus stakeholders and emphasize the human component of libraries.
What innovative projects have you implemented to strengthen collaboration and human connection on campus? In a world increasingly reliant on technology, how are you emphasizing the human element of libraries? What spaces, resources, activities, or services do you provide to foster connection among students, faculty, and staff? What challenges have you encountered when building collaborations, and how have you addressed them? How have you measured the impact of collaborative initiatives or relationship-building efforts?
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
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Student engagement: Creative activities that foster a sense of belonging on campus and encourage peer-to-peer connection.
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Inclusive collections: Developing resources that prioritize well-being, human connection, and diverse human experiences.
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Libraries as a third space: Innovative library programs and initiatives that champion student involvement, community-building, and holistic wellness
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Democratizing the academic library: Building meaningful student-to-faculty connections and removing silos to promote human-focused library operations.
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Slow Librarianship: Emphasizing quality, intentionality, and deep human connection over transactional metrics.
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Collaborative partnerships: Integrating library services with campus health centers, counseling, or student success hubs
We welcome submissions from library staff, students, and faculty.
Do you have an idea for a timely topic outside this year’s theme? Please feel free to submit it for consideration! Don’t see a trend of interest, but have best practices to share? No problem. Submit your proposal anyway.
Proposals for presentations, posters, and lightning round presentations can be submitted beginning Monday, May 18, 2026, using the online submission form. Proposals to lead a roundtable discussion are also welcome. All submissions will undergo a blind peer review. The final deadline to submit is Friday, July 10, 2026. Presenters will receive complimentary registration to the virtual conference.
Presentations should be 45 minutes long, including the time provided for questions. Posters will be shared during an interactive poster session, with three poster presenters grouped together in a 45-minute session. Each poster presenter will present for 10 minutes, and at the end of the three poster presentations, a 15-minute period is provided for questions. Lightning round presentations are 5 minutes in length. Roundtable discussions will be 45 minutes long.
Please follow this link to the rubric used to score all proposals. Acceptance emails will be sent on or before Friday, July 31, 2026. All presentations must meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines of the ADA.
Inquiries may be sent to the FACRL President-Elect, Jason Phillips (jason.phillips@ucf.edu).
