Byrd Center staff members in Quebec City, Canada. Main photo (l-r) Karina Peggau, Kain Lager-Lowe, Jason Cervenec, Laura Kissel, Mike Kissel.
Byrd Center staff members Laura Kissel, Jason Cervenec, and Karina Peggau presented at the 28th biennial Polar Libraries Colloquy (PLC) hosted at Laval University in Quebec City, Canada. The theme of the meeting focused on decolonizing collections and increasing voices from indigenous communities. The Byrd Center team presented on anniversaries and celebrations as ways to feature special collections, use of virtual programs to reach new audiences, and applications of technology to create virtual tours and artifacts for wider public access.
The Polar Libraries Colloquy began as the Northern Libraries Colloquy in 1971. The group changed their name in 1990 to reflect the members’ expanding collections. The group meets every other year, alternating between North America and Europe. Laura Kissel is currently the recording secretary for the organization.
The next meeting of the PLC will take place in Tromso, Norway in summer 2024. The Byrd Center team will put forth a proposal to host the 30th PLC in 2026. The Byrd Center last hosted the 14th PLC in 1992.