Proposal Guidelines

Proposal Submission Site

Library Assessment Conference 2022 Call for Proposals—Deadline April 29

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the University of Washington Libraries, and the Library Assessment Conference Steering Committee invite paper; poster; short, practical learning session; and challenge talk proposals for the 2022 Library Assessment Conference: Building Effective, Sustainable, Practical Assessment. This ninth biennial conference will be offered in a virtual format November 1–4, 2022.

The conference aims to build and further a vibrant library assessment community by bringing together interested practitioners and researchers who have responsibility or interest in the broad field of library assessment. The event provides a mix of formats that stimulate discussion and provide workable ideas for effective, sustainable, and practical library assessment.

Proposal Topics

Proposals that cover any aspect of library assessment in any type of library are invited, as well as the special topics listed below:

  • Assessment program establishment/development/sustainment
  • Collaborative assessments (including intra-institutional, multi-institutional and accreditation)
  • COVID-19 and libraries
  • Critical and/or theoretical perspectives on assessment
  • Data presentation and visualization
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Usability/user experience/accessibility

Presentation Formats

Session descriptions and full details for submitting a proposal are below. Proposals are required to include a title, author names and short biographies, format, and abstract (maximum 500 words across all boxes).

Papers

Papers can present practical or conceptual approaches on research. Research should be concluded or well underway.

Proposals should submit a structured abstract addressing the following points:

  • Purpose & Goals: What issue, question, or problem is the paper addressing?
  • Design & Methodology: What materials, traditions, methods, data, and/or literature are you drawing on to explore your question?
  • Findings: What conclusions (even tentative) do you anticipate / have you drawn?
  • Practical Implications & Value: How do you envision the community acting on your work? How does this contribute to the overall body of work in library assessment or related areas?
  • Current Status: Share what status the work is currently in.
  • Audience: What audience is the paper addressing?
  • Topics & Keywords

Logistics

  • Presentation Time: 15 minutes, maximum. 
  • Format: All presentations must be pre-recorded and submitted by October 24. There will be an opportunity for presenters to engage with conference participants during the virtual conference November 1–4. 
  • Final Papers: Due by November 30 and are expected to be 3,000–5,000 words in length for the conference proceedings.

Evaluation Criteria

Paper proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

  • Relevance to effective, sustainable, and practical library assessment
  • Importance, uniqueness, or utility of the issue, question, or problem undertaken
  • Potential for influence on future community action
  • Potential of content to contribute to the overall body of work in library assessment or cognate areas
  • Clarity of expression

Posters

Posters may report in-progress work, pilots, or finished work. Proposals should submit a structured abstract that addresses the following points:

  • Purpose & Goals: What issue, question, or problem is the poster addressing?
  • Design & Methodology: What materials, traditions, methods, data, and/or literature are you drawing on to explore your question?
  • Findings: What conclusions (even tentative) do you anticipate / have you drawn?
  • Practical Implications & Value: How do you envision the community acting on your work? How does this contribute to the overall body of work in library assessment or related areas?
  • Current Status: Share what status the work is currently in.
  • Audience: What audience is the poster addressing?
  • Topics & Keywords

Logistics

  • Presentation Time: 5 minutes, maximum. Poster presentations will be grouped by topic and presented during synchronous sessions with time available for discussion.
  • Format: All posters must be submitted by October 24. There will be an opportunity for presenters to engage with conference participants during the virtual conference November 1–4. Sample templates and size dimensions will be provided after the poster submission/acceptance process is completed.

Evaluation Criteria

Poster proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

  • Relevance to effective, sustainable, and practical library assessment
  • Importance, uniqueness, or utility of the issue, question, or problem undertaken
  • Potential for influence on future community action
  • Potential of content to contribute to the overall body of work in library assessment or cognate areas
  • Clarity of expression

Assessment Accelerator Learning Sessions

Assessment Accelerator sessions are short classes teaching practical knowledge on an assessment topic with colleagues. These presentations may share innovative strategies or approaches related to or necessary for library assessment; orient other library professionals to new perspectives to consider in their practice; or update colleagues’ knowledge to meet current needs. Session presentations are 60–90 minutes.

Because these sessions will serve to educate colleagues on a topic that is related to current issues and needs in the library assessment community, the recommended session structure is as follows:

  1. Introduction: Explain the topic and its context in an engaging mini-lecture.
  2. Structured Activity: Include an activity to involve active engagement of participants.
  3. Extension: Facilitate guided discussion. 
  4. Summary: Include key takeaways. 

Assessment Accelerator proposals provide a structured abstract addressing the following points:

  • Detailed Outline of the session content including descriptions of the four areas listed above
  • Three Learning Outcomes
  • Target Audience
  • Presenter Experience/Expertise in Teaching/Topic

Final conference format: Synchronous, not recorded.

Evaluation Criteria

Assessment Accelerator proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

  • Relevance of the topic to effective, sustainable, and practical library assessment
  • Feasibility of learning outcomes within time requested
  • Active engagement of participants in learning activities
  • Demonstrated content and pedagogical expertise/experience of presenters
  • Clarity of expression

Challenge Talks

Challenge Talks are short presentations to share an assessment effort that did not go as planned. Issues described in these talks may be currently occurring, persistent, chronic, or resolved. Challenge Talks will use a single PowerPoint slide in quad chart style describing:

  1. Key project details: What did you do? What did you intend to happen? Include the who, what, when, where, why information.
  2. The central issue, problem, or challenge: What tricky spots or sticking points emerged/exist/persist?
  3. Complications: What didn’t work, and why? 
  4. Lessons learned, ideas for moving forward, and/or questions that presenters would like feedback on from attendees.

The emphasis of the 5-minute talk should be on lessons learned, ideas for moving forward, and/or questions for attendees. Sessions will be presented in groups of 4–5 talks, followed by a 20-minute discussion period with attendees. Talks are limited to 1 presenter, although up to 3 other team members may participate in the discussion with the lead presenter.

Challenge Talk submissions will use a structured abstract with these headings: (1) Key Project Details, (2) Central Issue/Problem/Challenge, (3) Complications, (4) Lessons/Ideas/Questions.

Final conference format: Synchronous, not recorded.

Evaluation Criteria

Challenge Talk proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

  • Relevance to effective, sustainable, and practical library assessment
  • Incisiveness and broad appeal of questions posed for feedback
  • Lessons learned that are potentially applicable beyond the project, activity, or institution
  • Clarity of expression

Proposal Submission, Evaluation, Notification, Publication

To submit a proposal, please visit the proposal submission site.

What You’ll Need to Complete the Proposal:

  • Format
  • Title
  • The abstract text (limit is 500 words total—across all boxes). For papers and posters, we’ll ask for the purpose and goals; the design, methodology, or approach; the findings; the practical implications/value; and the current status of the work. Skip these boxes if you’re submitting a challenge talk or assessment accelerator.
  • Author names, affiliation/institution, country, email, and short bios (for presenting authors only)
  • Topics (choose up to 2 topics; this helps us match you to a reviewer)
  • The audience
  • Assessment Accelerators abstract text. We’ll ask for an outline; three learning outcomes; and presenter experience/expertise in the topic.
  • Challenge Talk abstract text. We’ll ask for key project details; the central issue or challenge; complications; and lessons/ideas/questions.

Do I need to have this in hand before going to the submission site?

It’s best to have most of your components drafted, but you can submit it and log back in to edit your proposal, including adding authors, anytime before the deadline (April 29 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific).
  • The primary author will be required to create a profile. One author should complete the form submission and enter co-author information. 
  • Proposal submissions are due Friday, April 29, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific daylight time. Those submitting proposals will be notified of their status in June. 
  • Drafts of papers will be due by October 17 and final papers for the proceedings will be due by November 30.

The Library Assessment Conference Review Committee will evaluate proposals based on the criteria presented for each format.

Each accepted presenter will be guaranteed a conference registration place and will be expected to pay the registration fee by August 31. Registration will be available in June. We estimate registration fees will be between $100 and $200.

Papers will be published in the conference proceedings, which will be freely and openly available via the conference website. Poster abstracts and PDF versions of posters will also be available on the conference website. Authors retain the copyright to their original work and are encouraged to publish their work in other established venues and professional journals.

Summary Due Dates:

  • April 29: Proposal submissions due by 11:59 p.m. PDT
  • June 2022: Proposals acceptance notification 
  • October 17: Draft papers due by 11:59 p.m. PDT
  • October 24: Paper presentations must be pre-recorded and submitted by 11:59 p.m. PDT
  • October 24: Posters due by 11:59 p.m. PDT
  • October 24: Challenge Talk quad charts due by 11:59 p.m. PDT
  • November 30: Final papers for proceedings due by 11:59 p.m. PST

More Information

For additional information, email LAConf@arl.org.