The Two Worldwide Conferences on Special Librarianship and the Future of International Cooperation (FM07-T)

SLA organized two worldwide conferences on special librarianship, one in 1979 and the second in 2000. Understanding the successes and failures of these events will inform library associations and information professionals as they consider the future of international cooperation in special librarianship. In this session, the two presenters will share the results of their research on these conferences and the organizations involved in their organization and promotion. What were the goals of these events and what was their impact? Who participated and who was absent? Were they truly “worldwide” conferences? What insights for the future can be gleaned from the history of these worldwide gatherings of information professionals?