Metropolitan Libraries IFLA conference 2020
Theme: Staffing the public library in 2030
(!) Due to the corona virus crisis the Metlib conference in Utrecht is postponed to October 2020.
- Date: October 4-8 Utrecht
- Venue Neude Library, Neude 11 Utrecht
- Theme: Staffing the public library in 2030

Call for papers

Paper presentations
Do you have something to share? Would you like to present a paper? We kindly invite you to do so. Your presentation should last about 20 minutes and should be in English, with audiovisual support. Please consider the following questions in preparation for your presentation:
- What kind of jobs do we expect?
- What skills and competences do we need?
- How do we recruit and train staff?
- What is special in metropolitan areas?
- What does it take to lead a library in transition?
- What can we learn from others?
- The library as a start-up?
Pecha Kucha talks
You could also submit a Pecha Kucha talk, a presentation that lasts for 5 minutes and consists of 20 slides. Do it quick and dirty!
Other talks
If you want to present in a different format that is possible please contact us to see if we can make this work.
Deadline for proposals
Please send your proposal to: metlib2020@bibliotheekutrecht.nl no later than August 1 2020.
If your paper gets accepted, you will be informed before September 1 2020.
Registration

We offer two kinds of registrations:
- Full. This includes: welcome reception, coffee- and teabreaks, lunches, visit to the Miffy Museum, excursion to the neighbourhood library in Leidsche Rijn, guided tour of the Haarzuilens castle, conference dinner and all sessions.
Costs: Early Bird registration, before August 1 2020: € 350,-. Registration after August 1 2020: € 400,-.
- Partner program. This includes: welcome reception, visit to the Miffy Museum, excursion to the neighbourhood library in Leidsche Rijn, guided tour of the Haarzuilens castle and conference dinner.
Costs: Early Bird registration, before August 1 2020: € 250,-. Registration after August 1 2020: € 300,-.
Program (provisional)

Sunday October 4
Time | Program and location |
---|---|
18:00 | Registration Welcome reception - Main Hall, Neude Library |
Monday October 5
Time | Program and location |
---|---|
08:30 | Registration - Customer services, 2nd floor |
09:30 | Welcome: Adress by Anke Klein, deputy mayor of Utrecht - Keynote speech (speaker to be confirmed) - Theater, 2nd floor |
10:45 | Coffee break - Collegeroom, 2nd floor |
11:15 | Presentations - Theater, 2nd floor |
12:30 | Lunch break - Collegeroom, 2nd floor |
13:30 | Presentations - Theater, 2nd floor |
15:00 | Teabreak - Collegeroom, 2nd floor |
15:30 | Guided tour of Neude Library |
16:30 | Free time |
Tuesday October 6
Time | Program and location |
---|---|
09:30 | Keynote speech - Theater, 2nd floor |
10:15 | Pecha Kucha presentations - Theater, 2nd floor |
10:45 | Coffee break - Collegeroom, 2nd floor |
11:15 | Presentations - Theater, 2nd floor |
12:00 | Lunch break - Collegeroom, 2nd floor |
13:00 | Presentations - Theater, 2nd floor |
14:30 | Teabreak - Collegeroom, 2nd floor |
15:00 | Tour by bus to the neighbourhood library in Leidsche Rijn |
16:15 | Guided tour of the Haarzuilens castle |
17:30 | Return to city |
Wednesday October 7
Time | Program and location |
---|---|
09:00 | Metlib businessmeeting - Collegeroom, 2nd floor |
10:15 | Coffee break - Collegeroom, 2nd floor |
10:45 | Presentations/Sponsor presentation - Theater, 2nd floor |
12:30 | Lunch break - Collegeroom, 2nd floor |
13:30 | Presentations - Theater, 2nd floor |
15:00 | Tea break - Collegeroom, 2nd floor |
15:30 | Summing up results of the conference/Presentation venue conference 2021/Closing - Theater, 2nd floor |
Optional | Visit to the Miffy Museum |
18:30 | Conference dinner - Main Hall |
Thursday October 8 and Friday October 9
Optional: Library tours in the Netherlands. Go on your own, or visit one of our recommended destinations with a group of colleagues by public transport. (Details and arrangements will be provided soon.)
Our reccomended destinations:
At Lands end:
- Den Helder School 7 (IFLA Public Library of 2018)
- OBA Amsterdam
Up north:
Down south:
To the west:
- The Chocolate Factory in Gouda
- The refurbished library of Dok Delft
- NBD Biblion in Zoetermeer, the national mediasupplier for all public libraries, originated as a cooperation between libraries.

Practical information
For information about (staying) in the city of Utrecht, getting there and getting around, please visit our Practical information page.