Main theme:
Join the Revolution! Giving every child good books
In 1946, Jella Lepman opened the first international exhibition of books for children and young people in the firm belief that books are bridges for understanding and agreement among the peoples of the world.
IBBY founder’s commitment to a “revolution” brought about by good books as a means of shaping free, peace-loving generations, capable of discernment and imagination continues to be resolutely carried forward by IBBY’s 80 sections around the world. It is a commitment that appears even more pertinent today.
This is the main theme of the 2024 IBBY International Congress. It urges our sections, scholars, associations and institutions engaged in the field of literature for children and young adults to take stock of who and what drives this “revolution”.
Topics
To know the people promoting good books and reading education – librarians, booksellers, publishers, authors, associations, institutions, schools, universities, and volunteers – is to help re-enforce their role. The Congress aims to broaden the debate on good books, their intrinsic values and different genres, but also what we mean by literature and quality images, be these illustrations, wordless images, words that create images and meaning, like poetry, but also the linguistic completeness of narrative poetry.
The Congress also intends to include those directly involved in the book revolution: young readers. We hope that the presence of young delegates from Italy’s neighbouring countries, along with reports on the work done around the world with young readers to foster a collective intelligence – the prerequisite for mutual understanding between countries and cultures – will help us all approach life with strong limbs, alert minds, and open hearts.
The venue will be Trieste, a city famous for science and neuroscience – a uniquely appropriate place to explore the extent to which reading helps the brain to develop.
An all-important aspect of our work at IBBY is to maintain the visibility of children’s literature and awareness among adults. What is the public perception? How much space does the mainstream media reserve for children’s literature, and what role do social networks play? It is hoped that the outcome of our debate will lead to the development of new strategies.
Borders are lines drawn up by man to impose limits, erect walls, and exclude. Frontiers, on the other hand, are spaces where differences meet, experience is exchanged and knowledge gained. They are places at the forefront where the need to find new ways of communicating leads to stereotypes being cast aside and alternatives becoming a reality. Indeed, for IBBY, a builder of bridges of books between peoples and nations, the whole question of Frontiers is of key importance. Many national and international projects are implemented to ensure respect for children and their rights, one of which is the right to good books, enshrined in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. Yet, these rights are violated every day.
All languages are invaluable and worth passing on. Growing up bilingual is an opportunity. For the individual, it means developing a more open, creative mindset, a greater ability to learn other languages and see the world from different viewpoints. For communities, it means recognizing diversity but especially, fostering a sense of belonging among all members. Projects to build bridges between languages and cultures lead to considerations of translation, preserving mother tongues, and cultural roots – not as a factor of isolation but rather of openness and enrichment.
CALL FOR PAPERS
As well as the plenary lectures, workshops and exhibitions, the programme includes oral and poster sessions giving delegates ample opportunities to share and discuss their experience.
All participants are invited to submit an abstract to the selection process.
The theme of the Congress – Join the Revolution! – will be further developed in the following thematic sessions moderated by children’s literature professionals:
The actors of change
Young readers
Good books as drivers of change
Audience development
Frontiers and bridges between languages, cultures and countries
How and when to submit your projects
Participants are encouraged to submit a request to contribute with an oral or poster presentation
The subject matter must be pertinent to the general theme of the Congress and one of its allied topics.
Papers reporting a research study must make reference to the existing literature, describe the study’s focus/aim and methodology, summarize the results, and discuss their implications. Papers reporting a programme or initiative must provide an overview of the project’s aim, the participants, its development, implementation, and results.
- Abstracts must be submitted exclusively online and in English.
- Deadline for submission: January 15, 2024
- Notice of abstract acceptance by March 15, 2024
Once the submission has been confirmed, no further changes may be made.
Submissions arriving after the deadline cannot be accepted.
Your abstract must indicate:
- Name of author(s) and affiliation(s);
- The thematic session for which application is made;
- Title (max. 15 words) and text (max. 250 words);
- 3-5 pertinent references (a major selection criterion)
Abstracts will be subject to blind peer review by the Congress Scientific Committee.
- Speakers selected for an oral presentation will have 15 minutes.
Oral presentations may be accompanied by the projection of images, videos/slides. At the end of each session, space will be allowed for a general panel discussion. - Participants selected for a poster presentation will will receive indications of details and technical requirements at a later date.
The Congress proceedings will be made available to all speakers and attendees.