CALL FOR PROPOSALS *MLA Spring Institute 2015* Growing, Networking and Inspiring!March 26 – 27, 2015 Sheraton Ann Arbor Hotel Ann Arbor, Michigan *Call for Breakout Session Program Proposals* *Submissions <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19WrWAJMNSimyA3cIY9_dpszQx3zBi92Rjj_ECE_z6tY/viewform> welcome through October 23, 2014* The MLA Spring Institute 2015 Conference theme is *Growing, Networking and Inspiring,* reflecting the experiences that the event will focus on. The conference will work to achieve the following goals and outcomes. - *Provide quality professional development for those serving youth in libraries.* - Attendees will gain at least three ideas that they can apply or adapt at their libraries. - *Enable an opportunity for those serving youth in libraries to exchange relevant, actionable knowledge through networking.* - Attendees will connect with new professional contacts with whom they can exchange ideas. - Attendees will build professional relationships that will provide future support. - *Revitalize and inspire those serving youth in libraries.* - Attendees will return to their library with renewed enthusiasm for their work. *Program Submission General Guidelines* - Program submitter may or may not also be the presenter. Either is acceptable. - Communications by MLA will be to all members who are a part of your submission. Contact information is required for each presenter. - Presenters are not reimbursed or compensated for session time, mileage, or any other such item. - Presenters must register for the day(s) they attend Spring Institute if they intend to stay beyond their allotted presentation time. *Agreements and Selection Notification* - MLA will contact each program’s submitter and subsequent presenters in regards to final decisions on or before October 28. - MLA will send all presenters a Presenter Agreement indicating date, time, and details of their presentation. This will be confirmed by the presenter and returned to MLA. *Program AV & Room Setup* - All presentation rooms will be supplied with a projector and screen; a microphone will be available as applicable. - Internet access may be available but is not guaranteed. *Be sure to indicate if Internet access is required on the submission form.* - Presenters will provide their own laptops and have presentations on laptops, flash drives, cloud, etc. Remote mouse devices/pointers are the responsibility of the presenter. Apple users will be responsible for also providing their own adaptor for connection to the projector. *Program Handouts & Evaluations* - Printed handouts will not be reproduced by MLA for the conference. Presenters may provide handouts themselves if desired. - Handouts may be posted to the MLA website before the conference. Call for handouts will be on March 13, 2015. *Selection Criteria* The Spring Institute work group will use the following criteria in assessing the viability of including a program on the schedule. The work group retains the right to reject, modify, or combine proposals. - Purpose: Does the proposal clearly identify a goal and outcome(s), and are those in line with goals and outcomes of the conference as a whole? - Audience: Is the target audience clearly identified? - Clarity: Is the proposal easy to understand with technological or industry jargon explained, if necessary, correct grammar and professionalism? - Practicality: Is the topic appropriate for a conference breakout session in content, time, audience? - Timeliness/Relevance: Is the topic of current interest, bringing new ideas and a fresh perspective to its intended audience and conference theme? - Qualifications: Does the speaker(s) have sufficient background experience to present on said topic? *Timeline (on or before)* - October 23, 2014—*Final day* to submit program proposals - October 28, 2014—*Selection notifications* emailed from MLA to program presenters - December 30, 2014—*Presenter agreements* sent from MLA office to program presenters - March 13, 2015—*Handouts received* for posting on MLA website - March 26 – 27, 2015—*Spring Institute Conference*, Sheraton Ann Arbor Hotel, Ann Arbor, MI *Questions* Please feel free to contact the work group chair Laura Wright ( lwright@portagelibary.info <lwright@portagelibrary.info?subject=Spring%20Institute%20Question>) with any questions you may have prior to your submission. *Program proposal submission form* <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19WrWAJMNSimyA3cIY9_dpszQx3zBi92Rjj_ECE_z6tY/viewform>