Call for Panels

December 15-19, 2025

Call for Panel Proposals

We invite dynamic and thought-provoking panel proposals that will stimulate critical debate, foster deep reflection, and generate actionable insights across the evolving landscape of digital libraries. JCDL 2025 seeks to convene an international group of scholars, practitioners, technologists, and thought leaders for robust discussions on current and emerging challenges in the field. As a fully virtual conference, we encourage innovative formats that leverage online engagement, such as interactive moderation, multimedia integration, and global participation. Proposals should address pressing or emerging issues in digital libraries, archives, and related domains, offering fresh perspectives and fostering meaningful dialogue.

Important Dates

All deadlines are Anywhere on Earth (AoE) time: 

  • Submission Deadline (EXTENDED): September 10, 2025 September 19, 2025
  • Notification: October 10, 2025 October 17, 2025
  • Camera-Ready Deadline: November 1, 2025 October 31, 2025

Submission Site

JCDL 2025 EasyChair Submission Portal

Panel Formats

Panels typically run 60–90 minutes, including time for audience interaction. We welcome both established and creative formats. Your proposal should justify your chosen format as the best way to engage the audience and explore your topic. Examples include:

  • A structured debate where panelists argue for different approaches to a problem.
  • A series of short, bold position statements followed by a moderated cross-panelist discussion and audience Q&A.
  • An in-depth, conversational interview with one or more key figures in the field.
  • A highly interactive forum designed to solicit broad input and discussion from the audience on a specific challenge.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be 2–4 pages in length, including references, and must follow the IEEE two-column conference template (LaTeX or Word), be written in English, and submitted in PDF format. Incomplete or abstract-only submissions will not be reviewed. References count toward the page limit, and optional appendices must also remain within the limits. Please ensure your submission adheres to the official IEEE submission policies and author guidelines. You can find the full details here: IEEE Submission Policies and Author Guidelines.

Each proposal must include the following:

  • Panel title and abstract (max 250 words)
  • A statement of the panel’s goals or learning outcomes, and a brief outline of the topics or questions to be addressed. Explain why the panel is timely and relevant to the JCDL audience.
  • Describe the planned format (e.g., round-table, fishbowl, debate) and how the audience will be involved. Include any interactive or virtual engagement techniques (e.g., live polls, breakout discussions, Q&A formats) and note any special technical requirements. (If you plan to use tools beyond standard video conferencing, please specify.)
  • Estimated audience and intended community (e.g., academic researchers, industry practitioners, librarians). Discuss who will benefit from this panel and how you will attract and engage attendees.
  • A tentative list of panelists (typically 3–5 members plus a moderator), with affiliations. Include a one-line bio or relevant background for each panelist and for the moderator. Indicate if panelists have already agreed to participate. Diverse representation is strongly encouraged. We especially welcome panels with varied regional, institutional, disciplinary, and career-stage perspectives
  • Identify the moderator(s) and describe their role in guiding the discussion and engaging the audience.
  • Technical or logistical needs, such as time zone considerations or the use of interactive tools. All panels will be hosted via Zoom Webinar. 
  • Contact information and brief bios for the organizers. Note any previous experience organizing panels or workshops on related topics. Organizers may serve as moderators or panelists if desired, but should clearly justify the choice.

Generative AI Policy

All submissions must comply with the IEEE Guidelines on Use of AI-Generated Content. The use of content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) in an article (including but not limited to text, figures, images, and code) shall be disclosed in the acknowledgments section of any article submitted to an IEEE publication. The AI system used shall be identified, and specific sections of the article that use AI-generated content shall be identified and accompanied by a brief explanation regarding the level at which the AI system was used to generate the content. The use of AI systems for editing and grammar enhancement is common practice and, as such, is generally outside the intent of the above policy. In this case, disclosure as noted above is recommended.

Authorship Policy 

JCDL 2025 follows the ACM Authorship Policy. Every person listed as an author must have made a substantial contribution to the research and/or the writing of the paper and must take responsibility for the entire content. The complete list of authors, including order, must be finalized by the submission deadline. No additions, removals, or reordering of authors will be allowed after submission. Corrections to spelling or affiliation may be made with approval from the Program Chairs.

Desk Rejection Policy

Submissions that fail to adhere to length or formatting requirements, or that violate academic integrity standards, such as plagiarism, author misrepresentation, or falsification, may be subject to desk rejection by the chairs. Submissions that violate ethical standards (e.g., failure to include required ethics approval statements for human-subject research) may also be desk-rejected at the discretion of the Program Chairs. All authors are expected to comply with the ACM Policy on Plagiarism, Misrepresentation, and Falsification.

Ethics and Conduct

  • Research Ethics: Authors are expected to comply with accepted standards for ethical research and professional integrity, including those outlined in the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Submissions involving human participants or sensitive data must include a statement on ethics approval (e.g., IRB or equivalent), informed consent, and any other relevant safeguards. Authors must also comply with ACM Publications Policies, including the Policy on Research Involving Human Participants and Subjects. Please ensure all authors are familiar with these policies. The Program Chairs reserve the right to reject submissions that do not adequately address ethical considerations.

Panel Chairs

Informal inquiries and discussion of panel ideas are welcome prior to submission. For more information or questions, please contact the JCDL 2025 Panel Chairs:

  • Haihua Chen (University of North Texas, U.S.) (Haihua.Chen@unt.edu)

Examples of Previous Panels

To inspire your proposal, here are selected examples of impactful past panels: