2026 Gender and Sexuality in Information Studies Colloquium

June 17-18, 2026
12pm-4pm Eastern
Online
Sliding Scale

Librarians, archivists, and information workers are on the frontlines of the assault on free speech, academic freedom, dissent, DEI, and the intellectual and creative foundations of social equity. As we convene in 2026 for the fifth Gender and Sexuality in Information Studies Colloquium (GSISC), we seek to explore and celebrate the myriad ways in which lived realities, information practices, and intellectual contributions of queer, trans, non-binary, and other gender and sexually diverse individuals inherently challenge, disrupt, and transform the information landscape in this challenging time.

Schedule

The full two-day schedule, along with session abstracts and speaker bios, is available on this Princeton University Library page.

Event Schedule

Registration

We offer registration on a sliding scale. If you have institutional support and you’re able to help, please consider paying the full amount. If you’re able to donate, we thank you very much. If you’re unable to assist at this time, please know that we completely understand and we’re glad you’re joining us.

All funds raised during this event will go toward the next in-person event.

Institutional Support: $50

Optional Donation: $15

No Donation, No Problem: $0

Please note: Registration will be capped at 1000 participants.

About

The Gender and Sexuality in Information Studies Colloquium emerged from the Litwin Books and Library Juice Press Series on Gender and Sexuality in Information Studies, and was founded by the series founding editor, Emily Drabinski. The first GSISC colloquium was held in 2014, inspired in part by the Feminist and Queer Information Studies Reader (2013). Its aim was to respond to the challenges posed by critical perspectives on gender and sexuality in our field. This gathering seeks to create an inclusive space for difficult, fruitful conversations that foreground gender, sexuality, and the body, with consideration for libraries and cultural heritage institutions as sites of both liberation and oppression. The colloquium intends to foster dialogue among librarians, archivists, and information workers on our profession and its locus among the intersections of gender, queerness, race, sexuality, and the freedom to exist and thrive in our bodies.

Planning Committee

The planning committee was traditionally formed by volunteer library and archival workers from across North American academic libraries and archives, holding an intentional variation of transnational, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender perspectives.

Current committee members include

Sara Howard (co-chair), Princeton University
Matthew Rohweder (co-chair), Laurier University
Liam Adler, Barnard College
Avi Bauer, Boston College
Lara Fountaine, North Carolina State University
Justin Howard, Independent Archival Scholar
Tanesa King, Binghamton University
Chloe Raub, Independent Archival Scholar
August Roberts, University of Washington
Gina Schlesselman-Tarango, Grinnell College
Caitlin Shanley, Temple University
Kristan Shawgo, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Thera Webb, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Learn more about the Litwin Books and Library Juice Press series on gender and sexuality in information studies.