ETD 2025-USETDA 2025 Conference Highlights

Here are the highlights from the ETD 2025-USETDA 2025 Conference:

  • The Big Event: It was the 28th international ETD symposium (ETD 2025) and the 15th US national ETD conference (USETDA 2025), held together!
  • When & Where: This joint event was totally virtual via Zoom on September 25-26, 2025.
  • The Vibe: The theme was “Exploring Global Connections.”
  • What was included: The program packed a punch with two big panel discussions, two workshops, sixteen 50-minute deep-dive presentations (including user group meetings), and lots of chances to network.
  • Missed a session? No worries! Everything was streamed live and recorded on Zoom.
  • Thursday’s line-up: We held an intensive workshop (“ETDs for Beginners“), a panel on research ethics, and parallel sessions covering stuff like cataloging, accessibility, converting PDFs to HTML, using LLMs for library discovery, and Vireo updates. Plus, there was an opening reception and a virtual cocktail party!
  • Friday’s action: Highlights included a hands-on workshop on using AI (Elicit) for literature reviews, a panel comparing “Open Science” in India and the US, and parallel sessions on Digital Accessibility for LaTeX, dissertation structure, drafting AI-use policies, collection migration, AI copyright, ETD formatting, community talks, machine learning, national ETD repositories, and management in Canada.
  • Wrapping Up: Friday finished with a Closing session, recognizing Jannette Wright (UAEU Libraries) for the NDLTD Leadership Award, and sneak peeks at future conferences.
  • Keep the Party Going: We encouraged everyone to stick around the global ETD community, participate in group activities, and check out the NDLTD and USETDA member lists for colleagues.
  • Wanna see the videos? Videos are available to all USETDA members via login. There are free and paid membership options.
  • Heads up on videos: The 2025 conference video series will be posted on the USETDA YouTube channel in the coming months.
  • Resources for you: 
  • Conference Program (pdf)
  • Program Schedule (at-a-glance)
  • Presentations List (including abstracts)
  • Proceedings
  • Sponsors
  • Sponsor Exhibits
  • Videos
USETDA 2025 - ETD 2025 Conference Logo

November Community Engagement Meeting

November 19, 2025 (2:00 – 3:00 PM EST)- Documenting Your Career Journey—Beyond the Resume and CV. Led by Led by Drs. Kristin Terrill and Ruth Lu.

In today’s evolving professional landscape, traditional formats like resumes and CVs often fall short in capturing the full scope of one’s career achievements and community engagement. This session, led by Kristin Terrill and Ruth Lu, explores innovative approaches to career documentation that go beyond the conventional. Kristin will showcase her personal Google Site—a dynamic, user-friendly, and free platform that serves as a living portfolio of her professional journey with personal touches. Attendees will gain insights into how digital tools can enhance visibility, reflect growth, and support long-term career planning. By developing personalized systems for tracking accomplishments, professionals can be ready to seize the next opportunity with confidence and clarity. The session will conclude with a collaborative discussion to gather input from group members on priorities and ideas for Community Engagement initiatives in 2026.

Anyone interested in signing up to participate in the group should complete this form to subscribe to the mailing list.

Open Access Week 2025

Who Owns Our Knowledge?

Open Access Week 2025

This year’s theme asks a pointed question about the present moment and how, in a time of disruption, communities can reassert control over the knowledge they produce.

Learn more