Call for Proposals
Virtual Event | October 14–15, 2026
CLIR’s Digital Library Federation invites proposals for live virtual sessions. Submit your work, ideas, and collaborations to help shape this year’s Forum.
Submission deadline: May 11, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET
Accessibility & Radical Inclusion
We are committed to making the 2026 virtual Forum accessible to all participants.
- Captioning for all sessions
- Accessible presentation materials
- Screen-reader-friendly documents
- Clear communication of accommodations
- Low-bandwidth accessibility
- Asynchronous participation options
Questions? forum@diglib.org
Topics of Interest
We welcome proposals across digital library practice, research, and community work.
Collections & Stewardship
Digitization, preservation, DAMS, born-digital materials
Community & Advocacy
Partnerships, outreach, community archives, advocacy
Digital Research & Pedagogy
Digital humanities, scholarship, creative work
Ethics, Justice, & Society
AI, accessibility, copyright, sustainability
Infrastructure
Platforms, workflows, project management, assessment
This list is a starting point and not exhaustive; we welcome additional ideas and approaches that align with the spirit of the Forum!
Session Formats
Workshops
90 minutes • up to 5 facilitators
Guided training sessions on a specific tool, technique, workflow, or concept.
Working Sessions
50 minutes • up to 5 facilitators
Open sessions for community organizers, creative problem solvers, and existing or prospective DLF working groups to begin or get feedback on in-progress projects, collaborate on addressing challenges, and discuss thought-provoking questions.
Panels
40 min + Q&A • up to 5 presenters
Proposals with diverse and inclusive speaker involvement will be favored by the committee. Panels will be slotted into 50-minute sessions, leaving a minimum of 10 minutes for Q&A and discussion at the end of each session.
Presentations
40 min + Q&A • up to 3 presenters
Presentations will be slotted into 50-minute sessions, leaving a minimum of 10 minutes for Q&A and discussion at the end of each session.
Digital Storytelling
40 minutes • 2–3 presenters
Interactive sessions highlighting digital storytelling projects—such as exhibits, platforms, or collections— developed through collaborative partnerships that offer immersive, experiential engagement.
Lightning Talks
5 minutes • up to 2 presenters
High-energy talks on any topic held in succession in a single session, presented by up to two (2) presenters.
Proposal Requirements
All submissions must include:
- Proposal title
- Submission format
- Author information
- 50-word abstract
- Full proposal (250–500 words)
- Five keywords
- Breakout room request (optional)
Workshops must also include:
- Learning objectives
- Technology requirements
- Participant proficiency level
- Description of interactivity
Submissions & Evaluation
All submissions will:
- Be peer reviewed
- Be evaluated using the DLF rubric
- Include community voting input
Strong proposals:
- Engage DLF’s mission
- Inspire participants to think, make, and do
- Engage diverse backgrounds and disciplines
- Provide actionable takeaways
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
We especially welcome proposals from individuals who bring diverse professional and life experiences.
As we have done in the past, the Program Committee will prioritize submissions from:
- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Minority-Serving Institutions
- Organizations centering BIPOC communities
Self-identification is optional.
Important Dates
Submissions Open
April 14, 2026
CFP Deadline
May 11, 2026
Community Voting
May 13-June 1, 2026
Notifications Sent
Late June 2026
Forum Dates
October 14-15, 2026
Call for Proposals
Ready to submit?
Share your work, ideas, and collaborations with the DLF community for the 2026 virtual Forum.
Deadline: May 11, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET