AMICAL 2026
Schedule
Icons
Recording
Resources
The program is still tentative. Some sessions and times may change.
All times are in local Sharjah time.
Table of contents
Tuesday 31 March
08:45–09:00
Check-in
Check-in
09:00–09:15
Plenary session
Opening
Main Building - Arada Executive Lounge
09:15–10:30
Keynote
Partnerships that endure
Barbara McFadden
Main Building - Arada Executive Lounge
10:30–11:15
Break
Exhibits & refreshments
Sheraa
11:15–12:15
Working session
Library leadership roundtable
Asma Al-Kanan
Limited to: Library directors (or their delegates)
11:15–12:15
Working session
Mapping the maturity gap: Evaluating CTL power, mission, and institutional impact
Anguelina Popova & Rukhsana Zia
Limited to: Faculty developers
12:15–13:45
Meal
Lunch
Library Ceremonial Entrance
13:45–15:00
Panel presentation
Panel presentation: Faculty development
A proven pedagogy-first framework for building GenAI faculty capacity
Rita El-Haddad & Stavros HadjisolomouDeveloping teaching through self-leadership
Josiah Jodrey & Norita AhmadFrom hierarchy to partnership: Designing reciprocal mentoring for faculty sustainability
Amira El Soussi & Natallia Prakharenka
13:45–15:00
Panel presentation
Panel presentation: Library leadership & community
Libraries as platforms for inclusive dialogue: The Human Library model in the academic library
Shahira Ishaque & Nooruddin MerchantThe Busy Library: Strategically positioning the library on campus
Paul LoveThe Student Engagement + the Marketing Librarian: Rethinking and promoting student engagement for younger generations
Souzana Giouvanoudi & Anna-Maria Xygalidou
15:00–16:00
Break
Exhibits & refreshments
Sheraa
15:45–16:45
Presentation
Information policy and politics in the age of AI for library leaders
Tracy Mitrano
Limited to: Library directors (or their delegates)
15:45–16:45
Working session
The Future of universities: Reclaiming the human in the age of AI
Anguelina Popova & Rukhsana Zia
Limited to: Faculty developers
17:00–18:00
Working session
Consortial programs: Building engagement and communicating value
Limited to: AMICAL Representatives, Executive Committee, & Program Leadership Council
LIB-011 CITL Multipurpose Hall
Wednesday 1 April
08:45–09:00
Check-in
Check-in
09:00–10:30
Working session
Building collaboration into AI initiatives
Jeff Gima, Kaitlin Lucas & Stavros Hadjisolomou
LIB-011 CITL Multipurpose Hall
10:30–11:15
Break
Exhibits & refreshments
Sheraa
11:15–12:45
Working session
Erasmus+ agreements/grants: Mobility exchanges & capacity building
Limited to: Invited colleagues
LIB-017
11:15–12:45
Training workshop
From passive reading to active intelligence: Mastering NotebookLM and its ecosystem for research and teaching
Ekaterina Kombarova & Stavros Hadjisolomou
Library IC1
11:15–12:30
Panel presentation
Panel presentation: AI in libraries
AI and the librarian’s dilemma
Laurie Alvandian & Garren JansezianRethinking writing peer tutor training in the age of AI: The AUS library workshops experience
Nouf AlblooshiZero-budget AI governance: A collaborative strategy for ethics, library, and faculty development
Emilienne Akpan
College of ADA - Architecture Auditorium
12:45–14:15
Meal
Lunch
Library Ceremonial Entrance
14:15–15:15
Sponsor presentation
Are your collections truly findable?
Omar Farhoud, Christian Négrel & Ixchel M. Faniel
Sponsored presentation
14:15–15:15
Panel presentation
Designing an institutional framework for AI in teaching and learning: The AUS experience
Mai Zaki
15:15–16:00
Break
Exhibits & refreshments
Sheraa
16:00–17:30
Working session
From ideas to action: Program and grant design workshop
LIB-024 Writing Center
18:30–23:00
Meal
All-Conference Dinner
Thursday 2 April
08:45–09:30
Working session
Growing AMICAL’s e-resource deals: Exploring eBook purchases & leveraging existing networks
Lily Servel & Alex Armstrong
09:30–11:00
Panel presentation
Panel presentation: AI literacy
Beyond AI use: A Longitudinal study of student AI literacy through UNESCO’s AI competency framework
Fatima Ismaeel & Rukhsana ZiaDesigning and teaching AI literacy in the first year: Insights from an initiative at AUC
Samah AdelDeveloping an institutional AI ethics compass
Kaitlin LucasTeaching AI bias through experiential learning: A library–faculty collaboration
Alanna Ross & Randa Bou-Mehdi
09:30–10:45
Panel presentation
Panel presentation: Library planning & services
Building efficient Inter-Library Loan service at CEU: Lessons from RapidILL implementation
Katalin MartonE-Textbooks in practice: Designing and refining a sustainable workflow
Anna-Maria XygalidouStrategic plan 2025–2030: Positioning the Mohammed VI Library as a strategic partner in institutional development
Hanane Karkour
11:00–11:45
Break
Exhibits & refreshments
Sheraa
11:45–12:45
Keynote
To AI, or Not to AI: Is that the Pedagogy?
David Santandreu Calonge
Main Building - Lecture Hall A
12:45–14:15
Meal
Lunch
Library Ceremonial Entrance
14:15–15:45
Working session
[Workshop/Consultation - Title TBA]
David Santandreu Calonge
Limited to: Invited colleagues
14:15–15:15
Working session
From experimentation to strategy: Investigating and co-designing responsible library AI practices across AMICAL
Stella Asderi, Evi Tramantza & Ekaterina Kombarova
15:45–16:30
Break
Exhibits & refreshments
Sheraa
16:30–17:00
Working session
Closing reflections: Commitments & possibilities
Main Building - Lecture Hall A
Friday 3 April
08:30–10:00
Working session
Leadership synthesis workshop: Shaping the path forward
Limited to: Executive Committee & Program Leadership Council
(We will also organize some options for sightseeing tours on this day.)
Platinum sponsors
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
