Call for Proposals
MLA will now be using the Slideroom platform for proposal submission as well as some nominations and applications. This change aims to make it easier to review and organize proposals and applications, shorten the time it takes for applicants to receive a reply, and streamline our internal processes.
MLA’s slide room homepage will list all open programs; just select the application you wish to complete and set up a Slideroom account. You will be able to log in to this account to see updates and submit future applications and proposals. The application form will be very similar to past MLA applications, and full details can be previewed before beginning your application.
Annual Calls for Proposals are issued for our Spring Institute for Youth Services Conference and our Annual Conference. Calls for Proposals for webinars, workshops, and additional resources are issued as needed. Review details of open and upcoming calls for proposals below.
Spring Institute for Youth Services 2025 Call for Proposals and Workshops
Submissions are welcome through Friday, December 13, 2024.
Click here to view these guidelines as a PDF.
Come celebrate your story! At Spring Institute 2025, our goal is to spread our knowledge and share our significant stories and ideas along with helpful tips and tricks that can be brought back to your library. We want to celebrate those who support and strengthen our diverse communities. We aim to infuse joy and reinvigorate library professionals with the latest ideas and knowledge in professional development. Join us and get empowered at Spring Institute 2025!
Spring Institute for Youth Services is the premier professional development and networking event for Michigan library youth and teen services professionals. What will make the 2025 event special is the energy and drive that you bring to the table. You spend all year spearheading new initiatives, discovering new ways to reach your community, and improving your professional skills. Now is the chance to showcase that work!
Ultimately, we need you. We need your best practices, engaging ideas, innovative programs, and input. This is an excellent opportunity for you to develop as a library professional. Submit your ideas and help take your library skills to the next level.
New this Year: Workshop Proposals! Have you facilitated a great program, but are unsure about doing a presentation? Submit a workshop proposal to show off your programming skills by modeling your program to other youth librarians. Walk them through what went great and what you would change, as they participate in a real-time demo of your activity. Crafting, escape rooms, STE(A)M, life-sized board games, etc. - let your imagination run wild! This will give us all a chance for some play!
Workshop Submission General Guidelines
- Workshops must be submitted through the Call for Proposals form on the MLA website. Emailed submissions will not be accepted without prior approval.
- The submitter may or may not also be the presenter.
- You do not need to be an MLA member to submit a workshop or present.
- Presentations cannot include sales pitches for specific products or services.
- Presenters must be able to attend Spring Institute in-person in Frankenmuth on either April 10 or 11, 2025.
- Contact information is required for each presenter. MLA will publish the names, job title, organization, and a short biography of each presenter on the Spring Institute website, unless directed otherwise.
- Workshops are 45 minutes long, including time for audience questions. Workshops will be limited to 30 participants, and attendees must be registered for the workshop in order to participate.
- MLA will not reimburse or compensate for presentation time, or mileage, or any other expense related to participation in the conference.
- MLA will provide up to $50 in supplies for each workshop. The workshop presenter will need to coordinate with MLA staff to obtain the requisite supplies for the workshop.
- Presenters, including MLA members, must register and pay for the day(s) they attend Spring Institute if they plan to participate in any conference activities beyond their presentation.
Breakout Presentation Submission General Guidelines
- Proposals must be submitted through the Call for Proposals form on the MLA website. Emailed submissions will not be accepted without prior approval.
- The submitter may or may not also be the presenter.
- You do not need to be an MLA member to submit a proposal or present.
- Presentations cannot include sales pitches for specific products or services.
- Presenters must be able to attend Spring Institute in-person in Frankenmuth on either April 10 or 11, 2025.
- Contact information is required for each presenter. MLA will publish the names, job title, organization, and a short biography of each presenter on the Spring Institute website, unless directed otherwise.
- Breakout sessions are 45 minutes long, including time for audience questions.
- MLA will not reimburse or compensate for presentation time, mileage, or any other expense related to participation in the conference.
- Presenters, including MLA members, must register and pay for the day(s) they attend Spring Institute if they plan to participate in any conference activities beyond their presentation.
AV & Room Setup
- All presentation rooms will be supplied with a HDMI connected PC laptop, projector, screen, and microphone. Presenters may provide their own laptops or use the provided laptops.
- Wi-Fi internet will be in each presentation room; however, MLA cannot guarantee the speed and dependability of the services at any given time.
- Remote mouse devices/pointers are the responsibility of the presenter. If presenters choose to bring their own computer that does not have an HDMI connection, they will be responsible for providing their own cables or adapter.
- Rooms will be set with theater-style seating (chairs facing forward without desks or tables).
Agreements and Selection Notification
- MLA will contact each presenter in writing with regards to final decisions of the acceptance process by December 23, 2024.
- MLA will send all individual presenters a Presenter Agreement indicating date, time, and details of their presentation. This must be confirmed by the presenters and returned to MLA by January 31, 2025.
Handouts
- Handouts will be added to the event website and mobile app. Examples of handouts may include, but are not limited to: presenter contact information, a list of additional resources, a copy of presentation slides, or related worksheets. Handouts are not required but are strongly encouraged.
- Hard copies of handouts will not be printed or distributed by MLA. Presenters may provide hard copies of handouts if desired, at their own cost.
- All presentation materials will be due to MLA by March 28, 2025, and will be posted to MLA’s website and the event mobile app.
Selection Criteria
The MLA Spring Institute for Youth Services workgroup will use the following criteria to assess the viability of including presentations in the schedule. The workgroup retains the right to reject, modify, or combine proposals. Additionally, preference will be given to proposals that connect to the 2025 theme: Celebrate Our Stories.
- Purpose — Does the proposal clearly identify a goal and takeaways for the audience?
- Audience — Is the target audience clearly identified?
- Practicality — Is the topic appropriate for a conference breakout session in content and target audience?
- Engagement — Will the presentation and presenter(s) keep the audience’s focus and attention through clear speech, engaging visuals, useful and relatable content?
- Timeliness/Relevance — Is the topic of current interest, bringing new ideas and a fresh perspective to its intended audience and theme?
- Qualifications — Does the speaker(s) have sufficient background experience to present on the proposed topic?
Timeline
- Friday, December 13, 2024 — Final day to submit proposals. This deadline is firm and will not be extended.
- Friday, December 23, 2024 — Selection notifications distributed via email from MLA to all presenters.
- Friday, January 31, 2025 — Presenter agreements due to MLA office.
- Friday, March 28, 2025 — Handouts received for posting on MLA website.
- Thursday, April 10 and Friday, 11, 2025 — MLA 2025 Spring Institute for Youth Services, Frankenmuth.
Questions
Please feel free to contact MLA Program and Event Director, Amber Sheerin, or Jill Anderson, Spring Institute 2025 Conference Chair, with any questions you may have prior to your submission.
Spring Institute for Youth Services 2025 Call for Posters
Submissions are welcome through Friday, February 14, 2025.
Click here to view these guidelines as a PDF.
Come celebrate your story! At Spring institute,2025, our goal is to spread our knowledge and share our significant stories and ideas along with helpful tips that can be brought back to your library. We want to celebrate those who support and strengthen our diverse communities. We aim to infuse joy and reinvigorate library professionals with the latest ideas and knowledge in professional development. Join us and get empowered at Spring Institute 2025!
Spring Institute is the premier professional development and networking event for Michigan library youth and teen services professionals. What will make the 2025 event special is the energy and drive that you bring to the table. You spend all year spearheading new initiatives, discovering new ways to reach your community, and improving your professional skills. Now is the chance to showcase that work!
Are you working on a new project, but don’t have results ready to present a formal program? Have you worked on something really cool that you think others want to know about? Consider submitting a poster to our SHARE FAIR, where you can share your work with peers in an informal format. It’s a great way to jump into presenting without building a full-blown program.
Share Fair Details
- The Share Fair will be located in the exhibit area of Spring Institute from 10:15 AM Thursday, April 10 until 2:15 PM on Friday, April 11.
- A presenter showcase is scheduled for Thursday, April 10 from 10:30 - 11:00 AM for presenters to stand by their posters and answer questions, etc.
- Apart from the showcase, presenters do not need to accompany their poster during the entirety of the event. Attendees will be encouraged to explore them on their own time.
- Posters need to be brought to the Spring Institute registration desk no earlier than 5:00 PM on Wednesday, April 9 and no later than 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 10, 2025. They will be displayed on easels.
- MLA staff and volunteers will monitor posters but are not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
- Presenters who wish to take their posters home will need to collect them no later than 3:00 PM on Friday, April 11. Posters left after this time will be discarded.
Share Fair Poster Submission General Guidelines
- You do not need to be an MLA member to submit a poster proposal.
- Presenters are not reimbursed or compensated for presentation time, mileage or any other expense related to their production of a poster or participation in the conference.
- Presenters, including MLA members, must register and pay for the day(s) they attend Spring Institute.
Selection Notification
MLA will contact each submitter in writing with regards to final decisions of the acceptance process by February 21, 2025.
Selection Criteria
The MLA Spring Institute workgroup will use the following criteria in assessing the viability of each poster presentation in the Share Fair.
- Purpose — Does the proposal clearly identify one focus or idea?
- Practicality — Is the topic appropriate for a poster session in content and target audience?
- Relevance — Is the topic of current interest, bringing new ideas and a fresh perspective to its intended audience and theme?
Share Fair Poster Specifications
- Poster presenters are required to provide their own poster content.
- Presenters should include contact information on the poster for conference attendees who may have follow-up questions.
- One (1) tri-fold presentation board with dimensions of 36’’ height by 48’’ width (24’’ center panel and 12’’ side panels) will be provided to each poster presentation at no cost to the presenter. Presentation boards will be provided at check-in during Spring Institute. The usage of the MLA-provided presentation board is not a requirement; presenters may provide their own board if desired.
- Posters will be displayed on easels and should be able to stand on their own with some support. No table space will be provided.
- Poster presenters are required to provide their own means of adhering content to the poster board via tape, tacks, clips, putty, etc.
- Tri-fold boards will be available for pickup beginning at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
Questions
Please feel free to contact MLA Program and Event Director, Amber Sheerin, or Jill Anderson, Spring Institute 2025 Conference Chair, with any questions you may have prior to your submission.
|
