BCLA is happy to announce that the call for proposals for the 2024 BC Library Conference is now open. You can read the submission FAQs and submit a proposal via the online portal.
Conference Theme
Our 2024 BC Library Conference theme is Commitment – Courage – Community. Our work and the context we work in is complex, difficult, and at times overwhelming. However, those same challenges make our work essential. Our theme is a reminder, a call to action, and a promise:
Commitment to each other, to our patrons, and to our shared values.
Courage to stand up for what is right, admit when we are wrong, take risks, and pursue innovation.
Community will always be the answer – an inclusive, accountable community provides us with the support and strength we need to do our work, even when the work is hard, or we are faced with adversity.
We encourage potential presenters to submit session proposals that range from practical to theoretical. We welcome creative interpretations of what our theme may mean for different people in their varied areas of library work.
If you work in kids/teens or in a small or rural library, please consider putting forward a proposal! We generally receive few proposals about children and teen services, or proposals from people working in small or rural libraries, yet we hear from delegates that they are interested in those sessions.
Submitting Your Proposal
Tips & Guidelines
Crafting a successful conference session proposal takes skill. Check out our Conference Presentation: Better Practices for a recording of “How to Write a Successful Conference Session Proposal” and a list of guidelines and tips on how to create a successful session proposal.
Consider working with a co-presenter. We tend to select proposals that feature multiple presenters – sessions are stronger when they represent a variety of viewpoints and lived experiences. We can accommodate panels of up to 3 people per session.
If you have an idea for a session that would benefit from a panel approach but don’t know who to invite to co-present with you, use the “find co-presenters for your 2024 BC Library Conference session idea” thread on the BCLA Forum to find someone.
What to Expect
You will submit your session/poster proposal via the online portal. The submission questions are available for review in the submission FAQs, where you can also find a description and timeline of the process.
Accessibility
Pheedloop’s Call for Proposal form is not currently accessible for screen readers. We apologize for this lack of accessibility and continue to advocate with the vendor. We will be happy to provide support to make the process accessible until this is resolved. Please email our Conference Coordinator, Shannon Stumph, for support for this or any other access issues.
How will the 2024 Conference be different from past Conferences?
The 2024 BC Library Conference will take place April 24-25 at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront Vancouver, and will include in-person sessions, poster sessions, events, and trade show.
We are excited to include poster sessions for 2024! A poster presentation is a format where research and ideas are communicated through a printed poster, and the presenter is available to answer questions and have one-on-one discussions. This is a great entry into presenting at conferences or sharing a specific project or idea. Poster presentations will take place on Friday, April 26th only, during the breaks throughout the day. BCLA will provide a large poster stand to affix your poster to along with a chair. Presenters will be responsible for the design and printing of the poster.
Based on feedback from the 2023 Conference, we are changing our virtual option. For 2024, we will only be streaming and recording the keynotes; we will not be streaming or recording any other sessions at conference. Virtual access to the keynotes will be included with your 2024 in-person registration and available as a separate registration option. We want to ensure we are offering the best quality experiences possible within our resources, and we clearly heard that the virtual options we offered in 2023 did not meet your expectations.
In the months following conference, we will be inviting some of the conference presenters to offer a version of their presentations as standalone webinars. This will allow for a more engaging and interactive virtual experience and ensure that people who could not attend conference still have access to these learning opportunities.
We expect that our conference format will continue to evolve. We will continue to adjust and respond to your feedback and the changing nature of conferences in the coming years.
We hope to see you at BC Library Conference on April 24-25, 2024!