PLA now accepting proposals for PLA 2014 Conference

CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) is now accepting preconference, program and ConverStation proposals for the PLA 2014 Conference, March 11-15, in Indianapolis. Proposals may be submitted through an online form. Faxed, emailed or mailed proposals will not be accepted.

PLA welcomes all proposals designed to be educational, thought-provoking and engaging for public library professionals. Broad session topics include: Administration/Management; Collections/Tech Services; Facilities; Leadership; Marketing/Advocacy; Serving Adults; Serving Youth; Staffing; and Technology.

Preconferences are offered as half-day, full-day or one-and-a-half day sessions. Concurrent program sessions are 60 or 75 minutes in length and are set in large rooms, averaging 300-500 seats, set theater-style. ConverStations are facilitated discussions, also 60 or 75 minutes in length, and are intended to include audience participation, with discussion of the predetermined topic led by a facilitator. Rooms are set in rounds of 10 to encourage discussion among attendees. When determining what kind of session to propose, PLA asks for submitters to consider not only the length that will most closely match the amount of content, but also whether the content lends itself to a lecture/panel (preconference and program) or interactive discussion (ConverStation).

Deadlines are as follows:

• March 29, 2013 – Proposals for preconference workshops and concurrent session programs are due. Applicants will be notified by May 31, 2013.
• Aug. 16, 2013 – Proposals for ConverStations are due. Applicants will be notified by October 1, 2013.

After the deadline, the corresponding proposal form will no longer be available, and new proposals will not be accepted. The PLA 2014 Conference Program Subcommittee, chaired by Georgia Lomax, deputy director, Pierce County (Wash.) Library System, will review all submitted proposals and select conference sessions based on their relevance to the profession and general interest to conference attendees.

Offered biennially

, the PLA Conference has a reputation for excellence. The conference includes more than 100 top-quality continuing education programs, talk tables, several social events and networking opportunities and a bustling exhibits hall. For more information, contact the PLA office at (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA.

PLA is a division of the American Library Association. PLA’s core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve, and its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.