Planning Your Education Program Proposal
Key Dates
Proposal site opens: July 31, 2026
Proposal site closes: September 24, 2026
Proposal review begins: October 2, 2026
Preliminary Schedule Announced & Registration Opens: Week of November 9, 2026
Program Proposal Guide
Please review the more detailed OLA Program Proposal Submission Guide (links to 2026; 2027 version will be updated July 31, 2026) for explanations and definitions of the learning formats, evaluation criteria, and step-by-step instructions on submitting a proposal.
Proposal Evaluation Criteria
Super Conference Planners make their selections in accordance with the OLA Proposal Review Rubric. Carefully review the selection criteria and keep it available for reference when creating your proposal. Writing your proposal so that it clearly addresses all criteria on the rubric will make it easier for SC planners to score.
Proposals will be evaluated on each of the following:
-
- → Proposal Title & Description
- → Learning Objectives
- → Timeliness
- → Inclusion of Perspectives
- → New Approaches & Driving Change
Education Formats
Attendees at the OLA Super Conference have identified a preference for sessions that allow for active and applied learning opportunities. We have programmed a number of conference learning formats to give you a range of options as a speaker. Please choose the type that best suits your content, your learning objectives, and your personal style.
Conversations (45–75 minutes)
-
- → Peer-to-peer conversations on topics that are important and timely to the library community.
- → Led by 1–2 facilitators.
Shop Talk (15 minutes)
-
- → Bite-sized presentations on timely topics and tools.
- → Practical talks with tangible learning objectives that improve attendees’ everyday work and ability to complete or improve a task.
- → Shop Talks will be grouped based on subject matter and intended audience.
Learning Lab (45–75 minutes)
-
- → A standard conference session with active instruction and the goal of helping the audience understand a specific method, approach, or opportunity.
- → Not a show-and-tell session. This is an opportunity to demonstrate how another library system can learn from something you have done and apply it themselves.
Poster Presentation (includes 60-minute Q&A)
-
- → Poster presentations demonstrate a tangible activity, project, or concept. They do not need to follow formal research poster protocols but should be engaging, informative, and concise.
- → Presenters are responsible for their own printed poster. Poster board dimensions are 37″ × 70″. Presenters will also have the opportunity to upload a short audio track to the mobile app, giving context to their poster.
Pre-Conference Workshop (2–4 hours)
-
- → In-depth and interactive workshop.
- → Led in person by content expert(s).
Pre-Recorded Virtual Presentation for On-Demand Content Library (Flexible)
-
- → Recording will take place in Fall 2026.
- → Session will be available on demand on the conference platform for all attendees, including virtual attendees, allowing greater choice if livestreamed sessions are not of interest.
FAQs
Does OLA have a Code of Conduct for the conference?
-
- → Yes, please review the Code of Conduct that all presenters, attendees, exhibitors, and guests are required to follow.
I require an accommodation in order to speak at OLA. How should I let OLA know?
-
- → There is a space in the Call for Proposals form to let us know about any accommodations you require. If your proposal has already been submitted and accepted when your need for accommodation arises, please contact superconference@accessola.com or your OLA Super Conference Planner.
If my proposal is accepted, am I responsible for my own travel, accommodation, and registration fees?
-
- → Yes. All presenters are responsible for their travel and accommodation fees and reservations. Speaker registration rates will be available to all accepted presenters and represent a savings of more than 50%.
Submitter Resources
-
- → Want to watch a video on what to expect when you’re ready to submit? Check out our explainer video on YouTube. Note: this is last year’s version. This link will be updated by July 31, 2026.
- → A PDF version of the step-by-step process is also available here. Note: this is last year’s version. This link will be updated by July 31, 2026.
