MDPN Seeks Session Proposals for Upcoming Symposium
Call for Proposals
Creating a Blueprint for Accessible Digital Preservation: Learnings from the Michigan Digital Preservation Network’s IMLS Grant Activities
A Symposium
The Michigan Digital Preservation Network (MDPN) is accepting session proposals for an upcoming symposium to share learnings from our Institute for Museum and Libraries Services National Leadership Grant, “Demonstrating and Documenting a Statewide LOCKSS 2.0 Preservation Network for Cultural Memory Institutions,” which will be held March 26, 2026 at the Library of Michigan in Lansing, MI. This symposium serves as one of the deliverables of the grant project, which sought to build a replicable model for a statewide or regional digital preservation network.
Session proposals are open to anyone, though members of the MDPN and grant collaborators are especially encouraged to apply. Submit your proposal via this short form (https://forms.gle/cB1HkPy7tAysVD7a9 ) by January 12. Acceptance notifications will be sent later in January 2026.
About the MDPN
The MDPN is a membership-based, collaborative initiative that provides libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, and other cultural memory organizations of all sizes and resource-levels access to affordable digital preservation services and expertise. We facilitate a community of practice to encourage shared learning in an environment of mutual support and solution-making. Learn more about the MDPN and our member community on our website at https://mipres.org/.
Grant Goals
Proposals should, but are not required to, align with one of our six stated goals in our grant narrative:
- Establish a state LOCKSS network
- Simplify preservation workflows for non-technical users
- Develop documentation, education, and outreach content
- Offer subsidized storage for underrepresented/at-risk digital collections
- Develop an Implementation Toolkit
- Explore a Midwestern Digital Preservation Network
Read more about these goals in our complete grant narrative at https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/project-proposals/LG-252394-OLS-22-full-proposal.pdf
Session formats
Sessions can be designed for a variety of formats including, but not limited to:
- a full 45-minute presentation,
- panel discussion, or
- demo,
- a 20-minute presentation that may be combined with a complementary presentation to create a full 45-minute session,
- a 10-minute lightning talk,
- a workshop offering hands-on experience,
or something else entirely – use your imagination!
Tips for creating a strong proposal
A strong proposal is one that is:
- Based on real-world workflows and use cases
- Offers useful, realistic, and practical take-aways
- Examines successes and key factors to that success
- Reflects on challenges and discusses steps taken to rework ideas or lessons learned
- Encourages active participation from attendees
Questions?
Contact MDPN Coordinator Dr. Chelsea Denault at denaultc@mcls.org.
