Reimagining Openness in Academic Libraries
Online on 24th June 2026 and in person on 6th July 2026 at the Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University
We invite you to submit a proposal for the 2026 ALN Conference
What does “open” really mean in academic libraries today? Is it a philosophy, a policy, a practice – or a provocation? In a landscape shaped by open access mandates, open research infrastructures, open educational resources, and open data, academic libraries are often positioned as champions of openness. But are we truly opening up, or simply reshaping the boundaries of control?
We invite submissions exploring any aspect of the topic and in the following formats: Workshops (in person day only), Short papers, Lightning Talks, Panel Discussion, or even a Wild Card format! We welcome submissions from all colleagues working within any institution, whether they are ALN member institutions or not. We encourage submissions from those who are looking to present for the first time and we particularly welcome submissions from people belonging to under-represented and marginalised communities and sectors, including but not limited to global majority and UK ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+, those with disabilities and those who are neurodivergent.
Further details of the conference theme and sub-themes can be found here. We’ve also created this resource to support you when developing your proposal. This is aimed in particular at first-time presenters, but everyone is welcome to view it.
Proposals should be submitted via this form by 13th March 2026. You will be asked to answer a short set of questions, which will be combined to form an abstract.
If you have any queries or questions about submitting a proposal, please contact alnconferenceteam@gmail.com.
We are looking forward to receiving your submissions!
Academic Libraries North 2026 Conference Committee
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