Call for Proposals: ASCLA programs, preconferences and institutes for 2014

ASCLA is now accepting proposals for:

  • Institutes for the 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia
  • Preconferences for the 2014 Annual Conference in Las Vegas
  • Programs for the 2014 Annual Conference in Las Vegas

Institutes and preconferences are ticketed events held on the Friday of the conference. Programs are held throughout the Annual Conference and are included as a part of conference registration.

You can access the online program proposal form here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ascla2014progpreconproposal

You can also download a PDF of the form in preparation for submitting the online form. Only online submissions will be accepted!

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, May 15 Saturday, June 1!

We have a limited number of slots available for each type of event, so put your best foot forward when submitting a proposal.

Who can propose a program, institute or preconference? Any current ASCLA member can propose one of these events, however we strongly encourage support and sponsorship from one of our interest groups! If you’re not an interest group member, consider joining one and using the group as a springboard for your conference event ideas. Check out the list of our interest groups, contact information for interest group leaders and instructions on how to join.

What sorts of topics are of interest? The best topics represent ASCLA’s core member areas–state library agencies, special populations librarians, independent librarians and library consultants, and resource-sharing librarians at networks and cooperatives–but are also of interest to librarians throughout the profession from all types of libraries. Keep in mind that topics should still be relevant in January and June 2014 when they are finally presented! You can browse our interest group list here for inspiration.

If my event is accepted and approved by ASCLA, what will I be responsible for? You will be responsible for recruiting and serving as a liaison to the event speakers, as well as being on-site the day of the event to help coordinate event details. You will work with the ASCLA office to set up the event details with ALA Conference Services. The ASCLA office will promote your event, and will give you the tools to help spread the word.

I’m not an ASCLA member, but I’d like to get involved with program planning. The best way to do this is to join ASCLA, and then join one of our many interest groups.

Anything else I should know? If you’re going to go through the trouble of planning an in-person event, we want to maximize the reach of that information! Consider offering a webinar or other online learning opportunity in conjunction with the in-person event that will enhance the learning experience! So for example, you might offer a webinar in early May as a teaser for the content that will be covered at your conference program in June. In late July, you might host a follow-up discussion using a tool like ALA Connect, Google Hangout or Blackboard Collaborate that brings program attendees together to continue the conversation about what you’ve discussed at the previous two events.

Questions about the program planning process? Please contact Liz Markel, ASCLA marketing & programs manager at lmarkel@ala.org.

We look forward to receiving your proposals!

Prison Librarians @ Annual Conference: Interest group meetings moved to Sunday morning

NEW DATE, TIME & LOCATION at ALA Annual Conference!! ASCLA’s two interest groups for prison librarians will now be meeting Sunday, June 24, 8-10a.m. in the Palm East room of the Sheraton Park Hotel.

The Library Services to the Incarcerated and Detained Interest Group and the Library Services for Youth in Custody Interest Group will meet together during this time. This session is an opportunity for open discussion among librarians and staff who serve–or want to serve–adults and youth who are incarcerated or detained. LSYC agenda includes new resources, review and award program, sharing of ideas and resources. LSID agenda includes future leadership and work products, sharing of ideas and resources.  The groups are co-hosting a tour of a local juvenile detention facility on the afternoon of Monday, June 25–learn more here (scroll to the bottom of the page) and register by June 5!

Other prison library-related programs and events in Anaheim:

PRECONFERENCE: The Nuts & Bolts of Building a Public Library/Jail/Prison Partnership
Friday, June 22, 8:00a.m.-12:00p.m.

Hear from speakers who’ve successfully built public library/correctional setting partnerships, and learn how to build these kinds of relationships step-by-step. Public librarians and correctional librarians interested in creating literacy and reading program partnerships for youth in detention centers and adults in jails or prisons will not want to miss this half-day workshop that will cover such difficult issues of collection development, security, and staff interactions.
Registration Rates: ASCLA members, $129; ALA members, $149; non-members, $169; Student and Retired ALA members, $109.
Who should attend: Public librarians and correctional librarians interested on creating literacy and reading program partnerships for youth and adults in jails or prisons.

Speakers:

  • Kathleen Houlihan, youth outreach librarian, Austin Public Library, Second Change Books
  • Amy Cheney, Alameda County Library, Write to Read program Juvenile Hall Literacy

REGISTER NOW.

Writing a Way Out: The Success of Writing Programs in Correctional Settings
Saturday, 8:00-10:00
Writing programs in correctional settings have produced dramatic results for those who experience them. This program will include successful inmate writers, program instructors and correctional librarians who manage or assist in the programs. Speakers: R. Dwayne Betts, Perry Gaidurgis

Touching Literacy:  iPads in the School Library Serving Incarcerated and Detained Youth
Sunday, 1:30-3:30p.m.
Are tablets available to your patrons yet? This program introduces you to three library staffers and their project to bring iPads to school libraries serving detained youth in New York City.  We will examine the practical “how to’s” of technology pilots; the process of collaborating with multiple institutions; and maintenance, marketing, funding and collection development for tablets. This session will appeal to all librarians who have not yet integrated tablets or e-readers into their libraries. Speakers: Jessica Fenster-Sparber, Anja Kennedy, Claudio Leon

2013 Programs, Preconferences and Institutes: Proposals due June 1, 2012

The deadline for a call for ASCLA proposals for institutes at the ALA 2013 Midwinter Meeting in Seattle and programs and preconferences at the ALA 2013 Annual Conference in Chicago has been extended to June 1, 2012.

What’s this all about? Midwinter Institutes are ticketed full or half-day workshops held the Friday of the Midwinter Meeting. Annual Preconferences are ticketed full or half-day workshops held the Friday of Annual Conference. Programs are part of the ALA Annual Conference, are included with conference registration, and are held Saturday through Monday of the conference. Check out what ASCLA’s doing at this year’s Annual Conference.

What’s the best way to propose a program? We encourage members with programming ideas to partner with one of our ASCLA interest groups to sponsor the program. Review our list of interest groups and learn how to join a group at the ASCLA website.

More information about the proposal process–including some important notes about overall scheduling changes to both Midwinter and Annual–is in this post in ASCLA’s ALA Connect space. Please check out this post before making your submission.

Learn more about ASCLA, and join this small and mighty group of ALA members who are making a difference for library users from all corners of the world!

We look forward to receiving your proposals!