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 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.
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