CONFERENCE Overview

The planning committee of the 46^th Annual Conference of the International Association of Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Information Centers (IAMSLIC) is excited to invite you to join us for IAMSLIC’s first ever virtual conference 13-14 October 2020.  

The 2020 conference theme is Changing Tack: Adjusting our Sails to Navigate Uncertain Waters.  Changing Tack refers to changing direction, position, or course of action in order to adapt to the conditions of the environment you are presented with.  It is all about adjusting what you have in order to continue forward in the right direction during turbulent times.  This year has presented us all with new and unparalleled challenges and obstacles to overcome.  In order to keep sailing on, we have had to adjust and adapt in new and innovative ways. 

As information professionals we are constantly in a state of perpetual movement and evolution; always adapting and changing with the needs and opportunities in our profession.  This year was no exception, and we are looking for your contributions and insights on how to find the balance between the chaos of change and the calm of the everyday in our new roles in navigating these uncertain waters.  We would like to hear about your experiences, changing roles, triumphs, failures, resources, innovations, best practices, recommendations, opportunities, and what it means to change tack during these unprecedented times.

The conference aims to be a venue for support and discussion on how we are adopting, negotiating, embracing, and developing strategies to provide the best information services within the storm we currently find ourselves in, while also expanding information to a global and diverse consumer base.  We hope that participants leave this conference with tools, skills, and information on how to not just stay afloat, but to also thrive in this unpredictable environment.  This is both a thrilling and frightening time as we contemplate the myriad of opportunities while also weighing the innumerable unknowns. 

We hope that you will find this conference insightful, informative, supportive, rewarding, and fun. We are excited to meet new friends, learn new cultures, and to embark on this new virtual experience together. IAMSLIC is a unique organization and we want to inspire you in your career, in your workplace, and with your IAMSLIC family.

2020 IAMSLIC Conference Planning Committee: