The 8th annual international User Experience in Libraries (UX in Libraries or ‘UXLibs’ for short) conference will take place from Tuesday 11 June to Thursday 13 June 2024 in Cambridge, UK. The theme of the event will be ‘Curiosity and Empathy’. User Experience work is arguably centred in both and we look forward to exploring these interlinked themes together in Cambridge.
>> CALL FOR PAPERS – find out how to submit a paper on the 2024 theme.
We will be meeting at Anglia Ruskin University and taking in the wider city during our social programme. The conference will incorporate keynotes and plenary talks from speakers from inside and outside libraries. There’s also the legendary team challenge, our interactive workshops presented by UX practitioners and, of course, social events allowing delegates to make connections and, just as importantly, to relax and have fun. Bookings will open in late January 2024. We can’t wait to see you there.
FEES
The cost of the 2024 conference will be around £500 (+VAT) which will include all the conference sessions, the Tuesday evening social dinner, lunches on Wednesday and Thursday, and the Wednesday evening Gala Dinner. Accommodation will not be included. There will be an additional charge if you wish to attend the optional Tuesday morning pre-conference workshop which includes a buffet lunch.
VENUES, ACCOMMODATION, TRAVEL
Information about the venues, suggested accommodation and travel options will be made available here in late January 2024.
WHY SHOULD I ATTEND?
The aim of our conference is to bring library staff together from academic, public and corporate libraries worldwide to share their stories and expertise in the field of User Experience (UX) Research and Design: researching and responding to the needs and behaviours of library users and testing and developing improved services in response. Whether you’re new to UX work or an experienced practitioner, we are confident that you will be inspired and energised by attending UX in Libraries.
And… also because we think UXLibs is different to most other library conferences. Specifically it is:
- truly international: in 2023 delegates attended from 21 different countries as far afield as Canada, Qatar, Australia & New Zealand, so you will truly broaden your library horizons;
- highly interactive: you will meet and work with many other delegates through individual, team and workshop activities;
- intentionally friendly and informal: we believe attendees will learn and share more if they feel welcome and relaxed.
OUR KEYNOTE & PLENARY SPEAKERS
Will be detailed here as and when they are announced. In 2023 they included: Marie Østergård (Denmark), Dr Arun Verma (UK), Emma Thompson (UK), Dr Victoria Olaniyan (UK), and Shelley Gullikson (Canada).
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
We will be offering an optional pre-conference workshop led by conference creator and chair, Andy Priestner.
WORKSHOPS
There will also be a range of practical interactive workshops led by experts from inside and outside of libraries.
DELEGATE PAPERS
Every year we reach out to the UXLibs community to submit papers on UX-related topics. Those selected through a blind review process are presented at the conference. Our Call for Papers is now live.
TEAM CHALLENGE
Aside from our numerous speakers and workshops, our conference incorporates a challenge intended to inspire attendees to consider their work and knowledge from new angles by working with other delegates in teams.
SOCIAL PROGRAMME
A full social programme will connect delegates and also offer the opportunity for some much-needed downtime, relaxation and entertainment.
SPONSORED PLACES
We will once again be awarding three sponsored places, two to staff from public libraries (or further education) and one to a BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) delegate. Information will be provided in early 2024.
NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER
We are delighted to welcome Julie Willems on to the committee. Julie, a previous UXLibs best paper winner, hails from the University of Luxembourg and brings a wealth of user experience knowledge to the table.
SPEAKER QUOTA
We are committed to ensuring that our speakers reflect our profession and therefore aim to deliver a programme of which no more than a third of our speakers identify as male. We are also keen to amplify speakers of colour and minority voices.
CODE OF CONDUCT
We will be following a conference code of conduct to ensure that everyone attending UXLibs feels welcome, accepted and entirely safe throughout.
ANY QUESTIONS
If you have any questions about the 2024 conference please email Marisa.
We’d love to see you at UXLibs8 in Cambridge!
Andy
(on behalf of The UX in Libraries Committee: Andy Priestner, Bryony Ramsden, Andrew Alexander, Julie Willems)