Call for Papers - ABDOS conference 2026, Prague

From 11th to 13th May 2026 the 53rd International ABDOS Conference will be jointly organized by the Slavonic Library (Národní knihovna ČR – Slovanská knihovna) in Prague and ABDOS (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Bibliotheken und Dokumentationsstellen der Ost-, Ostmittel- und Südosteuropaforschung).

We are also extremely grateful for the partnership and support from the Museum of Czech Literature (Muzeum literatury – Památník národního písemnictví), the Institute of Slavonic Studies of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Slovanský ústav Akademie věd ČR) and the Czech Society for Slavonic, Balkan and Byzantine Studies (Česká společnost pro slavistická, balkanistická a byzantologická studia).

The conference is entitled

"Libraries and Exile: Books, Readers, Stories"

and will pay tribute to the fact that Prague is a city which houses a number of unique library and archive collections related to the phenomenon of exile, either in terms of content (they deal with issues of exile) or their origin (they were created in a different environment and later transferred to Prague, which thus became their place of exile). At the same time, Prague is a place where the topic of political and literary exile is the subject of vibrant academic research.

In consequence the conference will focus on the topic of exile and emigration in relation to libraries and archives and invites proposals on topics such as:

·       Exile libraries: short presentations

·       Research, libraries and archives in exile

·       Exile journalism and periodicals in exile

·       Exiles and returns

·       Exile literature today

In addition, the conference will also provide an opportunity to exchange ideas on topics related to library and documentation services specific to Eastern Europe. We would also like to offer insights into the work of our host institution and the library and documentation landscape of the host country. Possible topics for discussion groups could include:

·       Metadata in cataloguing and discovery

·       Acquisition, cataloguing, and dissemination of literature from countries at war and 
        under autocratic rule

·       Digitization of written and archival cultural heritage

·       Classical and digital information resources for Slavonic studies

·       Methodological approaches to exile collections


Suggestions for contributions can be submitted in the following formats:

·       20-minute presentations    

·       10-minute short presentations

·       5-minute short inputs

Anyone wishing to organize a round table or other format should contact the ABDOS Board (mail@abdos.de). The organizing committee consisting of representatives from all organizations involved reserves the right to select from all submitted proposals or to suggest other time slots to allow sufficient time for discussion and exchange.

The programme also includes an informal gathering on the evening of May 10, 2026. During the conference, there will also be an ABDOS General Meeting and a visit to the Museum of Czech Literature (details to be confirmed).

Immediately after the conference the Book World Prague 2026 - Svět knihy Praha 2026 (Link: https://svetknihy.cz/praha2026) will take place giving participants the opportunity to get acquainted with the world of writing, publishing and reading in the Czech Republic.

Prague offers a wide range of accommodation options. We ask all participants to make their own accommodation arrangements in good time.

The conference will take place in person. Within limits colleagues from Eastern Europe can upon request receive a financial contribution towards their travel expenses.

The official conference languages are German and English. If you are presenting in German, please provide an English version of your presentation. There will be no simultaneous interpretation.

The conference fee is 110€ (ABDOS members) / 160€ (non-members) / 500€ (commercial providers) (including coffee breaks and lunch). Participation is free of charge for colleagues from the cooperating institutions and for speakers from the Czech Republic.

Submission deadline: 28th February 2026

Call for Papers (PDF) 

General registration for the conference will open in March 2026.

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Email *
Title and abstract *
Please enter your proposed topic and short abstract here (no more than 500 characters)
Proposal for contribution in a different format *
Please enter your proposed topic and short abstract here (no more than 500 characters)
Suggested length of presentation *
Name, first name *
Institutional affiliation & address *
Remarks to the organizers
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I agree that my contribution and any presentations may be published by ABDOS after the conference and made available to the general public.
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I agree that visual material created at the conference (photos, group photos, recordings) may be published by ABDOS after the conference without further declaration of consent and made available to the general public.
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Registration for the conference *
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