And They Were There — Reports of Meetings 2023 Charleston Conference

Column Editor: Sara F. Hess (Business and Entrepreneurship Librarian, 309 Paterno Library, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802)

Column Editor’s Note: Thanks to the Charleston Conference attendees, both those who attended on-site and virtually, who agreed to write brief reports highlighting and spotlighting their 2023 Charleston Conference experience. In 2023, the conference moved to an asynchronous format: the in-person conference (November 6-10) was followed two weeks later by a virtual week (November 27-December 1) that included online-only sessions and presentations as well. Conference registrants had the opportunity to view recordings and see slides (if available), to re-visit sessions they saw “live,” or to visit sessions they missed. Without a doubt, there were more Charleston Conference sessions than there were volunteer reporters for Against the Grain, so the coverage is just a snapshot. In 2023, reporters were invited to either provide general impressions on what caught their attention, or to select individual sessions on which they would report.

There are many ways to learn more about the 2023 conference. Please visit the Charleston Conference YouTube site, https://www.youtube.com/user/CharlestonConference/ videos?app=desktop, for selected interviews and videos, and the conference site, http://www.charleston-hub.com/thecharleston-conference/ for links to conference information and blog reports written by Charleston Conference blogger, Donald Hawkins, http://www.charleston-hub.com/category/blogs/ chsconfnotes/. The 2023 Charleston Conference Proceedings will be published in 2024, in partnership with University of Michigan Press. — SFH

Vendor Showcase

What I Learned After Visiting the 2023 Charleston Conference Vendor Showcase

Reported by Ramune K. Kubilius (Northwestern University, Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center)

The vendor showcase at the Gaillard Center was not unlike a busy marketplace: hustle bustle, opportunities to chat at “stations” (tables) to “find out about the wares” and also enjoy tantalizing refreshments. In 2023, “C’s” came to mind — chatting, comparing, contrasting, currency, and curiosity. “Open” was touted — “Subscribe to Open” in 2025 (a society publisher), “author-choice open access publishing” (a new small niche publisher), and so on. Vendor and publisher partnerships were in evidence, as were “brave new world” products that may be attempts to tap into perceived marketplace gaps or needs. One can’t argue with a later mention by closing conference session speaker, Derek Law, of “new products from old companies.” Indeed, stopping at tables of known vendors and publishers in the showcase venue often revealed new product announcements, promised upgrades, and enhancements. Law’s actionable item: “new tools to add access,” for many of us was more likely “new products and resources to put on our radars.” A return on invested time in the vendor showcase was the guarantee that one saw a lot, but some might also agree with Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe, who, in her Scholarly Kitchen blog posting of November 21 wrote about “high level trends and surprise about what she didn’t see.”

The conference blog report by Don Hawkins the closing session: Closing Session | Charleston Hub (charleston-hub. com) and his report about the vendor showcase: The Vendor Showcase | Charleston Hub (charleston-hub.com)

Posters

Top 3 Things I Learned After Viewing the 2023 Charleston Conference Posters

Reported by Shelby Carroll (Clemson University)

1. Librarians can pivot like they play professional basketball!

Artificial intelligence was a standout presentation topic at the Charleston Conference this year and posters were no exception. Librarians have quickly adjusted their research, outreach, and teaching to adopt this new tool into their spaces. Posters ranged from improving workflows using generative AI to individuals that have integrated AI data visualization into their collections development decisions. What was most evident is that the library community is not shying away from this new (and sometimes daunting) application of technology.

2. Collections for the collective.

There were many discussions on the nitty gritty of acquisitions and diversifying collections using intentional and reparational techniques. Some posters emphasized the importance of DEIAcentered collecting choices and others approached the topic from a user-centered perspective, sharing how collections have become more individualized and specialized. There was a theme of collecting for more purposes than academic — supplementary, unique collections, and collections in varied formats were popular topics. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to collecting, but there were a lot of great applicable ideas laid out at this year’s poster session.

3. There’s so much to explore with open access.

Open access has dominated the conversations within libraries for the past decade and these are still going strong. Several posters focused on the adoption of transformative agreements in their institutions and experiences with this new form of openness. Others discussed the need for reproducibility with open data and general need for more open science. The open access movement has spurred some interesting self-exploration within institutions, as well as conversations around scholarly communication.

Top 3 Things I Learned After Viewing the 2023 Charleston Conference Posters

Reported by Linnea Shieh (Stanford University)

1. While I wouldn’t call this a new revelation for me, the Charleston posters confirmed just how many hats are worn by a typical collections librarian.

I expected a few topics to dominate the poster sessions (as felt true for the conference’s presentations), but instead the diversity of content was pleasingly engaging and refreshing. We had a few posters about AI and OA resources of course, but also about managing work roles, discoverability, cyberthreats, collection policy, decolonization, ethnography, streaming video evaluation, and many more. The hall was crowded and quite loud, as every attendee found something worth a lengthy conversation with a colleague.

2. It is oft repeated that budgets everywhere are flat or declining, but Coastal Carolina presents a positive and uplifting story of how to achieve growth through effective communication with university administration.

In 20 years CCU had grown from 3k to 10k students but library budgets had not increased to support the new programs. The team used run-of-the-mill data reports from peer institutions to prove to administrators how far they’d fallen behind. Now budgets are up, and a building that was to become an auditorium will instead be a library. The team believes the key to their success was nailing the timing.

3. It is well known that the California Digital Library is a leader in executing OA agreements for the University of California system.

But by talking to them about their strategy and approach, what I found most interesting was how collaboration throughout the OA ecosystem was critical to their innovation. APCs are paid via a multi-payer model, and the team partners with faculty committees and with publishers to put focus on expediting publication workflows. The CDL is an interesting case worthy of examination by libraries trying to go it alone in managing OA at their institutions.

Reflections

Southern Hospitality Meets Open Access: Insights from the Charleston Conference

Reported by Vivi Billeso (ChronosHub)

Attending the Charleston Conference for the first time was more than just a professional endeavor; it was a delightful immersion into Southern charm and hospitality that set it apart from other conferences. The sunny weather, combined with an international flair, created a unique atmosphere that left a lasting impression. It was evident that the U.S. is increasingly embracing Open Access (OA), with conversations buzzing about how OA is reshaping library workflows.

I might be viewing the world through the lens of my role at ChronosHub, but the transformation in libraries was a focal point, with discussions revolving around hiring OA staff, managing agreements, and establishing efficient workflows.

Interestingly, the prevailing talk was often about reporting on this transformative journey. Many still rely on spreadsheets, but questions about scalability and efficiency were at the forefront. The urgency stemmed from articles needing to comply with federal research funders’ OA policies, aligning with conditions familiar to European funders and Plan S, intensified by the Nelson OSTP memo.

For ChronosHub, specializing in OA management, the conference was a source of enthusiasm about the future of the industry. The evolving landscape, with libraries investing in OA resources and adapting to new workflows, signaled a positive trajectory.

A highlight of the conference was the one-day vendor showcase, providing a platform for engaging conversations. The format was particularly appealing, offering a conducive environment for meaningful interactions. The success of this showcase emphasized the importance of such forums in fostering collaboration and advancing technological solutions in the industry.

In conclusion, the Charleston Conference was a blend of Southern hospitality, OA insights, and a showcase of innovation. It not only provided a unique perspective on the state of the industry but also left us with a renewed sense of optimism for the future of open access management.

Top 3 Things I Learned about the 2023 Charleston Conference

Terry Brandsma (University of North Carolina at Greensboro)

I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to present on the collection reduction plans my library developed in preparation for a comprehensive renovation, including the complete reconfiguration of our stacks footprint. As the system librarian, my interaction with “issues in book and serial acquisition” is only tangential so I was excited to attend this conference for the first time and learn as much as I could. I reviewed the preliminary schedule to find topics that were applicable to me and messaged a few vendors and colleagues to arrange a few meetings. I knew that this conference was well attended, but I was a bit surprised by the number of inperson attendees (2000+) and the extensive programming. So here are three “tips” that made this conference successful for me. Tip #1: The conference app (Whova this time) was a huge time saver as I navigated the many presentations and events held in the three conference locations! Selecting sessions ahead of time allowed me to easily and quickly see when and where I needed to be. Tip #2: Wear comfortable shoes, and dress in layers. While the three conference locations were relatively close to each other, I did quite a bit of walking to get from one session to the next. I chose not to use the shuttles as the weather was perfect, but they were available for those who needed them. And tip #3: Attend vendor events that are held outside of the conference schedule, usually during the lunch break or in the early evening. I was able to talk directly to vendor representatives and executives, interacting much more closely than I had expected. Overall, the conference surpassed my expectations, and I hope to attend again next year!

This concludes the General Reports we received from the 2023 Charleston Conference, however, watch for Session Reports from the 2023 Charleston Conference to begin appearing in upcoming issues of Against the Grain. In the meantime, you can visit the Charleston Conference YouTube site for selected interviews and videos, and the Charleston Conference site for links to conference information and blog reports written by Charleston Conference blogger Donald Hawkins.