The Vermont Library Association (VLA) is seeking presenters for “Libraries Empowering Communities: Standing Together in Uncertain Times,” our 129th annual conference scheduled for Monday, May 20, 2024. Proposals are due by Monday, March 4, 2024.

Libraries are facing unprecedented challenges to our profession. Through this one-day conference, we seek ways to empower and connect our communities with resources, prepare to protect intellectual freedom, and offer solidarity from our smallest libraries to our biggest. Learning from each other is powerful and we hope you will share your expertise with fellow library professionals.

We seek presentations of varying topics, but especially encourage proposals on the topics suggested below and sessions that can be scaled to suit smaller and larger libraries.

Topic suggestions:

• Intellectual Freedom
  • Banned books
  • Book and/or program challenges
  • Censorship
  • Privacy
• Writing policies to prepare and protect our communities
• Mitigating the effects of climate change on our collections,  buildings, communities
• Providing services to unhoused populations/underserved populations
• Practical ideas for smaller libraries
• Protecting the self (e.g. self-care, managing stress, preventing burnout)

Sessions will be 50 minutes in length and will include:

• Hands-on workshop with an activity / discussion
• Traditional presentation with time for questions
• Panel with best practices / case studies
• Author talk with reading
• Vendor presentations
• Book Awards and VLA Awards
• VLA Division roundtable discussions
• Brief presentation of a single example or project as part of a longer program: 5 Minutes of Fame/Spark presentation

Please submit your proposal online using this form. If your proposal is accepted, the main presenter will receive free admission to the conference. The deadline for proposals is Monday, March 4, 2024.

Thank you in advance for your participation.