Call for Papers! DRTC, ISI Bangalore is calling for papers for its conference on library and information science trends! Share your research and insights. Last date for submission: October 1, 2025.

Call for Papers

We are pleased to invite submissions for the Annual Conference on “Bridging the Gap: Trends in Library and Information Science,” organized by the Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC), Indian Statistical Institute. This in-person event will take place from January 20–22, 2026, at the ISI Bangalore Centre.

DRTC has long played a pivotal role in advancing the field of Library and Information Science (LIS), fostering collaboration, innovation, and transformative discourse. This conference aims to bring together LIS professionals across the academic, special, and public libraries, scholars, educators, and technology innovators to explore and address the rapidly evolving landscape of the discipline.

The conference will serve as a platform for presenting cutting-edge research, methodologies, and case studies. It aims to foster meaningful dialogue among researchers and practitioners, with a shared goal of redefining objectives, benchmarks, and curricula to align LIS education and practice with emerging technologies and user needs.

Through focused sessions and collaborative discussions, participants will engage in shaping a forward-looking vision for LIS, with an emphasis on relevance, innovation, inclusivity, and societal impact.

We invite the submission of original research papers, conceptual analyses, case studies, and practice-based insights that address the conference theme and its associated sub-themes. The submissions on related topics beyond these areas are also welcome.

Conference topics

Roles and Skills in LIS

Emerging skills in LIS in the digital era
Curriculum innovation in LIS education
Interdisciplinary collaboration in LIS training
User Experience and Access

Technology and Digital Transformation

AI and Machine Learning in libraries
Digital Libraries and Repositories: Future Directions
Data Management and Research Data Services
Decentralized Information Systems and Services

Knowledge Organization and Discovery

Reimagining Metadata for a Semantic Web
Linked Data and Knowledge Graphs in LIS
Information Retrieval in Complex Digital Environments
Multilingual and Multicultural Information Systems

Design Thinking for Library Innovation

Personalized Services
Accessibility and Inclusive Design in LIS Services

Policy, Ethics, and Social Responsibility

Ethics of Information Access and Censorship
Privacy, Surveillance, and Data Ethics in Libraries
Libraries as Agents of Social Justice

LIS in Practice: Case Studies & Innovation Labs

Smart Libraries: Integrating IoT and Automation
Collaborative Spaces and Makerspaces in Libraries
Post-pandemic LIS: Lessons Learned and New Normals

Forward Thinking and Strategic Planning

Foresight and Scenario Planning in LIS
Benchmarking Innovation: Metrics and Impact Assessment
The Future of LIS Education: Global Perspectives

Author Guidelines

Submissions must be original and should not be under consideration by any other conference or journal.
Authors should adhere to the prescribed formatting guidelines as given in the template below.
Page Limit: Maximum 10 pages
Formatting instructions (as described in the template provided below)
Citation style: APA 7th edition
Abstract: Maximum 250 words
Keywords: Minimum 4 and maximum 6 keywords
The manuscript should not contain the author names, affiliations along with email or author biography or identification of author/institution.
Authorship details & corresponding author must be mentioned separately.

Download Paper Template

Submission Guidelines

The manuscript should be submitted as (.doc/.docx) format.
Where to submit: Will be available shortly!
Important Deadlines:
- Deadline to submit full paper: 1st October 2025
- Confirmation of Acceptance: 17th November 2025
- Author registration deadline: 24th November 2025
The submission will be sent for Blind Review process so the manuscript should not contain author’s name, affiliations, email address, or any other identification of author/institution.
At least one author must register for the conference else the paper will not be included in the conference proceedings. Presentation requirement: at least one registered author must present.
Submissions must be free of plagiarism.
Accepted papers will be published in a conference proceedings with ISBN. Selected papers may be considered for publication in a reputed journal (subject to further review).