A People's History of MDLS

The annual Midwest Data Librarian Symposium sees participation from both new and returning attendees, including a small number of individuals who have been actively involved with MDLS since its inaugural symposium. As the profession of data librarianship grows, we believe strongly in bridging the gap between established data librarians and those who are new(er) to the profession. This interest has led us to pursue development of a shared history and diverse perspectives on MDLS as both a community and an annual symposium. This will help us–and the community as a whole–identify the symposium’s strengths and accomplishments, as well as opportunities for growth and improvement.

As an initial phase of this project, in Summer 2026 we elicited survey reflections from past MDLS attendees, with future plans to conduct oral history interviews with community-nominated individuals. This interactive presentation will first report initial findings from those surveys, including what the research team identifies as recurrent themes or potentially actionable insights for future MDLS sessions. Presenters will then moderate a discussion of those findings as well as participants’ reflections on current and past MDLS experiences; this interactive component will include mechanisms for anonymous reflection, table discussions, and participatory visualizations. In particular, we want to locate participants’ impression of MDLS–whether they are first-time attendees or seasoned veterans–along two axes: how well the symposium performs as a space for professional development, and how it feels to attend. We intend to foster a safe and honest conversation around the affective and professional impact of MDLS and begin to extend our work on its historical context to a shared future for the symposium.