Theme: “Future-ready data: transformative approaches to cataloguing“
Introduction
The IFLA Cataloguing Section is seeking proposals for papers to be presented at a session to be held at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Busan, South Korea, 10-13 August 2026, on the topic of Future-ready data: transformative approaches to cataloguing.
As the world of information and data continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, libraries adjust their standards, practices, workflows and tools to meet the current demands and future-proof their data.
This session aims at examining the concept of transformation from different angles: when it comes to metadata, libraries do transformative work on a global level, through standardisation, resource sharing, etc., but they are not always the originators of change. Reality on the ground can be quite fragmented, in a fast-changing landscape where every possible transformation seems to be happening at once. Through a dialogue between those different levels, the session will address a variety of topics such as the kind of transformation library users experience when new, user-oriented models are implemented in library catalogues, the challenges of implementing these in a deeply interconnected environment, where one institution’s decision to implement can impact many others who are sharing data from/with them, the exposition of metadata on the web through linked open data and the unexpected transformation that is occurring with AI models tapping library metadata on a large scale.
Suggested topics
- Use of models and standards for future-ready data, including the question of interpretation by staff of data catalogued according to recently replaced standards
- Application profiles and cataloguing of new types of content
- Redesigning of cataloguing workflows and tools
- Innovative displays and uses of library data
- Successful cases of implementing new standards/formats/technologies through the lens of users
- Use of linked data in cataloguing
- AI implementations in cataloguing processes, including the question of bibliographic attribution and the treatment of artificial intelligence as an apparent author in bibliographic and authority data, and its (mis)alignment with current cataloguing models and standards.
Successful proposals will present metadata transformation cases with explicit impact on the effectiveness of users’ search and access behaviors, with an eye to inspiring audiences and fostering conversations by sharing the transformation rationale, application of technologies, and on-the-ground process, workflow, and best practices of these cases. A diversity of experiences and viewpoints will be considered in the selection of proposals. Cases involving standardisation at the international (IFLA) level and at local levels, the implementation of standards in libraries from different geographical, economic and political contexts, especially smaller libraries impacted by bigger libraries/networks/vendors’ decisions and underrepresented IFLA regions as well as the vendors’ and library services providers’ side are particularly encouraged. Finally, papers should reflect the conference theme, “Libraries Powering Transformation”.
Presentations will either be 5-7 minutes case-studies or longer 7-10 minutes presentations.
Important dates & deadlines:
- 10/05/2026: Deadline for submission of proposals/abstracts
- 20/05/2026: Notification to authors about the status of a submission
- 30/07/2026: Submission of the full text of the paper
- 05/08/2026: Submission of accompanying PowerPoint slides for presentation
Submission guidelines
All proposals must be presented in English and may additionally be in another IFLA official language. The following information must be included:
- Title of proposed presentation
- Abstract of proposed paper (no more than 300 words)
- Proposed format (case-study or presentation)
- Name of presenter plus position and/or title
- Employer / affiliated institution
- Contact information including email address, telephone number
- Short biographical statement of presenter
Send proposals via email to: Angela Quiroz (angelaquiroz.ubierna@gmail.com) and Sofia Zapounidou (zapounidous@gmail.com).
Use subject line: WLIC 2026 Cataloguing session proposal
Please note:
- At least one of the paper’s authors must be present to summarise the paper during the program in Busan, South Korea. Abstracts are to be submitted only with the understanding that the expenses of attending the conference will be the responsibility of the author(s)/presenter(s) of accepted papers.
- All papers must use the WLIC Paper template, which will be provided when your paper is accepted
- The language of the session is expected to be English, with AI-based Simultaneous Interpretation (Wordly) to make sessions in the main programme available in all seven IFLA Working Languages. We are committed to accepting papers in all official IFLA languages, but please be aware of the limitations of this technology at this time.
- All papers presented at the WLIC 2025 will be available online under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
- All papers must be unpublished and not previously presented.
- Authors must disclose whether they submit this proposal to another WLIC 2026 session.
- Authors of accepted papers must complete the IFLA Authors’ Permission Form.
- Authors and presenters must adhere to the Presenter guidelines, provided when your paper is accepted
- Please be clear about any use of AI in the preparation of your proposal, paper and presentation. We recognize the value of AI in helping with language (especially for non-native speakers of English) but want it to be your voice and ideas that we read!
- All expenses, including registration for the conference, travel, accommodations, etc., are the responsibility of the authors/presenters. IFLA does not provide any financial support.
Congress Participation Grants
A list of opportunities for support is available on the Grants and Awards page of the WLIC website.