Suggested Topics

Academic Freedom & Censorship

• Responding to content challenges in film collections

• Navigating state-level restrictions on educational materials

• Supporting faculty academic freedom through collection development

• Case studies in defending controversial or challenged films

• Building institutional support for intellectual freedom principles

Funding Challenges & Creative Solutions

• Maximizing impact with reduced acquisition budgets

• Grant writing strategies for media collections

• Collaborative purchasing and consortial licensing models

• Advocacy strategies for library funding at institutional and governmental levels

• Alternative funding sources and partnership opportunities

Licensing & Legal Issues

• Negotiating streaming licenses in a changing market

• Understanding educational use rights and fair use applications

• International licensing challenges and opportunities

• Vendor relations and contract negotiation strategies

• Legal frameworks for preserving at-risk media content

Collection Development & Access

• Developing inclusive and representative film collections

• Balancing popular demand with educational value

• Preservation strategies for physical and digital media

• Accessibility and universal design in media platforms

• Serving various student populations and learning needs

Technology & Innovation

• Emerging platforms and delivery methods

• Integration challenges with library systems and LMS platforms

• User experience design for academic media discovery

• Analytics and assessment of media collection usage

• Future-proofing collections in rapidly changing tech landscape

Professional Development & Advocacy

• Building media literacy skills in library instruction

• Training and professional development for media librarianship

• Creating networks of support and collaboration

• Advocacy strategies for the profession

• Mentorship and succession planning in specialized roles

Distribution Industry Challenges & Evolution

• Market consolidation and its impact on educational content availability

• Balancing commercial viability with educational mission in film distribution

• Rights clearance complexities for educational versus theatrical releases

• Sustainability models for independent educational distributors

• Navigating streaming platform dominance while serving niche academic markets

We encourage interdisciplinary approaches and welcome presentations that bridge multiple topic areas. Proposals addressing practical, actionable solutions are particularly valued, as are those that center community needs and social justice principles.