*As a reminder, proposals for MDLS 2026 are due next Friday, July 17th!*
The Midwest Data Librarian Symposium (MDLS) invites session proposals for
its 12th symposium, co-hosted by Purdue University, University of Notre
Dame, and Indiana University. MDLS provides librarians who support research
data management and research data services the chance to connect with
colleagues and expand their research data-related knowledge base and skill
sets.
MDLS 2026 will be an in-person event held on September 28-30, 2026. The
symposium will take place at Purdue University, with 60 seats available for
participants. Presenters are expected to attend the symposium in-person.
*Proposal Details:*
- The greater research data community—not limited to data librarians—is
invited to submit session proposals for consideration. Presenters from all
disciplines and regions are welcome to apply, as well as librarians in
training.
- MDLS is an unconference-style event and does not specify a topical
theme. We encourage proposals on all topics related to research data and
data librarianship. Please review past conference schedules
<https://mw-data-lib-symposium.github.io/website/conf_archive/past_conference.html>
for
topic examples.
- We invite proposals in a wide range of formats, including short
presentations (10 minutes), interactive presentations (30-60 minutes),
panels (60 minutes), and workshops (90 minutes). Priority will be given to
sessions that emphasize practical approaches and interactive attendee
participation.
- Proposals will be evaluated according to the MDLS 2026 Proposal Rubric
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AmRahW3fpcRsYun346i2Z0wCbOf2BvWEEkdPLHSF8_4/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.6hpw4ikncc5n>
.
- *Proposals are due by 11:59pm EST on July 17**.* Notification of
acceptance will go out by email the week of July 31st.
Visit the MDLS website <https://mw-data-lib-symposium.github.io/website/> for
more event information and to submit a proposal
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeG4vgwnHz2b2iMQLjpMKfRZ-FDYLN_KGw69ysTZTYImt9K2Q/viewform>
.
We hope to see you in September!
2026 MDLS Planning Committee
mwdatalibsym_at_gmail.com
--
*Summer Mengarelli, MSI, MS (she/her)*
*Data Services Librarian, Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship*
*Hesburgh Libraries*
*University of Notre Dame*
Office 250G Hesburgh Library
(574) 631-4481 | smengare_at_nd.edu
*I acknowledge my presence on the traditional homelands of Native peoples
including the Haudenosauneega
<https://www.haudenosauneeconfederacy.com/>, Miami
<http://www.miamiindians.org/>, Peoria <https://peoriatribe.com/>, and
particularly the Pokégnek Bodéwadmik / Pokagon Potawatomi
<https://www.pokagonband-nsn.gov/>, who have been using this land for
education for thousands of years, and continue to do so. (Learn more
about Native American Initiatives (NAI) at Notre Dame
<https://nai.nd.edu/>.)*
--
*My working hours may not be your working hours. Please do not feel
obligated to reply outside of your normal work schedule.*
Received on Tue Jul 07 2026 - 09:57:16 EDT