Midwest Data Librarian Symposium
an unconference for data and librarians
MDLS 2026
September 28-30, 2026
West Lafayette, IN
Hosted by:
Purdue University, Indiana University Bloomington, & University of Notre Dame
About
What
The Midwest Data Librarian Symposium (MDLS) is intended to enable Midwestern librarians who work with research data management issues the chance to network; however, it is open to all who wish to attend, including future “data librarians” and those situated outside the Midwest.
MDLS’s goal of providing low-cost networking and educational opportunities has inspired two “sister events” in 2018: Mountain West Data Librarian Symposium and South East Data Librarian Symposium.
When & Where
MDLS is generally held in October and the location changes every year.
MDLS 2026 will take place September 28-30 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. Conference events will be held at the Purdue University Library (address coming soon!).
Questions
If you have any questions regarding this symposium, please contact the organizers at mwdatalibsym@gmail.com. Follow this page for updates!
2026 Planning Committee
Co-Chairs
- Kelly Denny, Purdue University
- Mikala Narlock, Indiana University Bloomington
- Summer Mengarelli, University of Notre Dame
Members
- Marianna Stowell Bracke, Wayne State University
- Nicole Scholtz, University of Michigan
- Roger Justus, Miami University
- Dani Kirsch, Oklahoma State University
- Isaac Wink, University of Kentucky
- Sandi L. Bates, University of North Dakota
- Ben Ingall, Wayne State University
- Megan Sapp-Nelson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Ethan Fridmanski, Indiana University Bloomington
2026 Sponsors
(Please be patient with us as we figure out image formatting! Thank you!)
Purdue University (sponsor logo coming soon)
University of Notre Dame (sponsor logo coming soon)