| January 8, 2014 | Registration opens |
| April 9, 2014 | Registration closes |
| April 23, 2014 | Conference begins |
Formerly known as the Off-Campus Library Services Conference, the Distance Library Services Conference is a biennial event that has been in existence since 1982. This international conference brings together librarians, administrators, and educators to discuss, demonstrate, and champion the techniques and theories of providing library services to students and faculty either away from a main campus or in the online environment. Through formal proceedings and the publication of conference papers in the Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learning this information is made available to all who have an interest in this field.
Conferences have been held in Memphis, TN (2012); Cleveland, OH (2010); Salt Lake City, UT (2008); Savannah, GA (2006); Scottsdale, AZ (2004); Cincinnati, OH (2002); Portland, OR (2000); Providence, RI (1998); San Diego, CA (1995); Kansas City, MO (1993); Albuquerque, NM (1991); Charleston, SC (1988); Reno, NV (1986); Knoxville, TN (1985); and St. Louis, MO (1982).
Past conferences have been international in both scope and participation, attracting academic, corporate, medical, and military librarians from the United States, Canada, England, Australia, India, South Africa, Indonesia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the West Indies.
The conference is sponsored by Central Michigan University Libraries and CMU's Global Campus. It is planned and hosted by CMU's Global Campus Library Services.
Purpose
The purpose of the Distance Library Services Conference is to provide a forum where practitioners and administrators involved with providing library resources and services to students and faculty at a distance can exchange ideas, concerns, perspectives, and pertinent research.
The schedule reflects the geographic, philosophic, and programmatic diversity in distance services, and the program offers a keynote speaker, concurrent paper sessions, poster sessions, and workshops. A Distance Library Services Conference Award is given to a professional new to the field of distance librarianship, and this individual is invited to give a presentation at the conference.
The conference is organized around five general tracks that reflect the interests and concerns of those of us working in the area of distance librarianship:
In addition to the formal program, there are ample opportunities, including dine-outs and excursions, for informal networking and discussions among participants. Meals are included as part of the registration fee to encourage networking.