The Code4Lib conference, which brings together technologists from around the world who work with libraries, archives, and museums will be held in Pittsburgh this year and employees of the Libraries played a key role in bringing this annual event to town.
Code4Lib is a volunteer collective of various professionals who share approaches, techniques, and code across institutional and project divides, with a commitment to using open technologies and fostering a diverse and inclusive community. It originated as a mailing list for library programmers and held its first annual conference in 2006 in Corvallis, Oregon.
“Since 2014, the Libraries have sent attendees to the conference each year,” said Ken Rose, Director of the Libraries’ Project Management Office, who is helping to coordinate the planning efforts. “Interest in bringing a future session of the conference to Pittsburgh has percolated ever since.”
In conjunction with a team of professionals from the University of Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Museum of Art, Chatham University, the Senator John Heinz History Center, and Duquesne University, with help from with help from Concentra Conference Management Services, Libraries staff and faculty are participating in several committees in preparation for this year’s conference. In addition, several more members of the Code4Lib community from other institutions throughout the contry and abroad are also contributing to the planning efforts
The Libraries have also sponsored four diversity scholarships for Code4Lib 2020, which will pay for transportation, accommodation, and conference registration costs for scholarship recipients. These scholarships are provided as part of the Code4Lib community's ongoing commitment to helping under-represented groups excel in computing and technology.
“We’re proud to host this event in our own backyard and, through the diversity scholarships, make this conference more accessible,” said Ann Marie Mesco, Digitization Projects Manager. “Bringing Code4Lib to Pittsburgh is an exciting opportunity for the Libraries’ to gain recognition as a leader and collaborator in open technologies.”
The Code4Lib pre-conference will be held on Sunday, March 8th with the full conference taking place from March 9th -11th at the Westin in downtown Pittsburgh. A reception will be held at the Carnegie Museum of Art on Monday, March 9th. Registration is now open.