INCITE 2013: feature themes and deadlines

Think Different/Be Different

Think Different/Be Different - we all know that we need to change, grow, adapt, evolve - but it's definitely easier said than done. So let's work together - share a story of a small step that made a big difference or a flash of insight that lit up a room; in turn, take inspiration from colleagues across the industry as they share new ideas, innovations, and inspirations.

Community

As that elusive third space, LIS environments do much more than provide information: they develop communities. This issue of INCITE seeks to explore and celebrate the many communities that rise up around LIS environments - whether local or international, in person or online, families or individuals, personal or professional, interest based or wide ranging - and inspire others to create or join a community of their own.

Education and Research

This month INCITE looks to the future: what do our upcoming LIS professionals look like? What should they know? What do they know? What will they need to know? And what research will help them continue to grow throughout their career? With information at the heart of the industry, it only makes sense to explore how we inform ourselves - starting from the very beginning.

Supplying the industry: the vendors issue

When talking of the industry, we often restrict ourselves to trained LIS professionals. This month INCITE recognises and pays homage to the many dedicated professionals who not only serve and supply the LIS industry, but fill out the community with vital information, experience, and expertise. What's it like to be an LIS vendor? It's time we found out.

Library Users & Library Design

Change is inevitable, and that includes the way that libraries and LIS environments look and feel. What informs these changes? What enlightens these updates? In the best case scenarios, it's the users. We have so many different environments throughout the industry, catering to an incredibly diverse range of users. So let's talk about them. Who uses your LIS environment? And how does your design cater to them? (or, how would you like your design to cater to them?)

Collection Management

Weeding - the bane of both gardeners and LIS professionals alike. But in order to grow both flowers and a collection, it is absolutely necessary. It's time to get technical - what strategies does your environment use to manage its collection? What restrictions do you have? What works? What doesn't? And what advice would you give to new LIS professionals when faced with this most fundamental of LIS duties?

Accessibility

Accessibility, at its base, determines what we can and cannot access. While this continues to have strong implications for patrons and users with disabilities - physically, emotionally, and intellectually - accessibility also now refers to copyright, digital rights, and access. INCITE explores all definitions of accessible - and how they affect your LIS environment - this month.

LIS - careers outside the library

INCITE is thinking outside the box this month - that is, the idea that an LIS career belongs in a library. So much about the industry is changing - including how, what, and where our professionals work. So tell us - what's your career outside the library?

The Digital Future

It's Everything e- and d-, version 2.0. With technology developing so quickly - and the way we use it diversifying so rapidly - it's nearly impossible to stay on top of everything that is going on. But we at INCITE are going to try - tell us about your new technology, the new way you're using old technology, or the technology you've eschewed altogether - and why!