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All proposals must be submitted by April 30, 2021 at 11:59 pm Mountain Standard Time. We do not plan to extend the submission deadline this year so please plan accordingly.
AzLA Conference 2021 Theme
Our theme for 2021 is Moving the Boundaries of Librarianship: Leading from Arizona.
This past year, with the closure of buildings and remote working, libraries have had to rethink the library experience for our patrons as well as our staff. Innovations we have implemented in the digital age served us well in this transition.
This year we will be returning to a “new normal” and we will be facing new challenges. How can we leverage this wind of change and create new innovations and services to improve ourselves and our communities. How can we move the boundaries of our service delivery, our spaces, our skill sets, our education, and our demographics to better prepare for the future? For this year’s conference we will convene and share our collective knowledge as we return to a changed world. The knowledge of every library worker should be harnessed to address the boundaries that exist within our buildings and the hands-on-library-experience; the boundaries that have defined our educational content and skill development; and the boundaries of inclusion in our profession and in library leadership.
As we prepare our services and spaces for the return to the “new normal,” we need to design for more touchless library experiences and services from a philosophy of external delivery. We should be bringing the library to the users in their homes. Future librarians and existing staff need new skills to be prepared for future alternative services. Our staff and leadership need to reflect the diversity of our communities to keep libraries the true center of information access.
Program Types
Full Session (60 minutes)
Full Session programs provide participants with an in-depth look at a topic with time for interaction (Q & A or something more hands-on). Can be a 45 minute formal presentation with 15 minutes for Q&A, a 60 minute hands-on workshop or a roundtable discussion. Round tables actively involve participants and include a broader range of voices.
Blitz Sessions (30 minutes)
Blitz sessions are shorter, 20 minute long presentations with 5-10 minutes for Q & A. Blitz sessions are a great way to perfect your pitch for a topic/program for which you hope to win followers and can be a great way to spark ideas and share opportunities and challenges. Two Blitz sessions will run back to back in a 1 hour time slot. We will attempt to schedule similar sessions together.
Micro Sessions (5 to 10 minute presentations followed by an opportunity to speak casually)
This year, AzLA is introducing Micro Sessions, which will serve as a revamp of the previous poster sessions. Micro Sessions are short 10 minute presentations or “elevator” pitches followed by an opportunity to speak casually, one-on-one with colleagues about a project, research interest, or passion. Presenters are encouraged to bring a visual aid, such as a poster or physical item to display, but are not required to do so. Presenters will be given the option of a bulletin board and/or a table to display handouts or materials.
Three Micro Sessions will be scheduled during a 1 hour time slot with the first ½ hour reserved for presentation and the last ½ hour for casual discussion. These educational sessions are less formal and shorter than blitz sessions.
What types of topics would be good for a Micro Session?
Is your library using VR Technology? Share your experience and show your technology.
Does your library have backpacks or kits to checkout? Bring them to share.
Are you engaged in some particularly exciting research? Share your infographic!
Program Tags
This year, we will use tags to help assign Program Tracks. When submitting your proposal, please provide up to 3 tags to help the program committee classify your presentation on the conference schedule. For example, you may want to use tags associated with the American Library Association Future Trends or tags such as “leadership”, “childrens’ services”, or “tech services”.
Program Selection Process
How will programs be selected?
The Program Subcommittee will review and select programs based on how well they meet the following criteria:
How well it fits the conference theme
How clearly the title and description describe the content and expected outcomes of the session.
How innovative the content of the program seems to be.
How diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are addressed in the program description
In addition, the committee will try to balance programs to support all types of libraries and interests.
Audio Visual Equipment
Your room will be equipped with a screen, projector, and mic. If you have a PowerPoint or other visual presentation, please bring your laptop and any cables needed to power up and connect to a projector. If your proposal is selected and you need additional audio-visual equipment, please email the conference.programs@azla.org.
Are You Ready?
Click here to submit a proposal!
Questions/Comments/Concerns? Please email 2021 Conference Program Subcommittee Co-chairs, Karen Grondin and Jusdina Nolin-Brown at conference.programs@azla.org.
We look forward to seeing you this year in Prescott (we hope)! Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you in the virtual world.
Arizona Library Association
2532 N 4th St #271
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
PH: 928.288.2011
admin@azla.org
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