The 2025 ACL Conference, set for June 2-4 at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, promises to be an engaging and innovative event for Christian librarians.

We are thrilled to announce that we have selected 28 outstanding presentations covering a wide range of topics relevant to librarianship. These sessions, led by knowledgeable library colleagues, will offer valuable insights, practical strategies, and opportunities for professional growth.

For questions, please contact Miriam Liethen, ACL Presentation Coordinator, at conferenceprezo@acl.org.

Topics of Interest to the Association Include:

Listed in order of popularity based on attendee feedback

These topics have been selected based on recent trends and areas of focus in the library community, ensuring they meet the needs and interests of our diverse audience.

  • Information Literacy & Library Instruction
  • Student Workers
  • AI
  • Collection Development
  • Assessment of Student Learning or Library Services
  • Collaboration (Faculty/Departmental)
  • Library Marketing/Outreach
  • Navigating Librarian Careers: Growth or Change
  • Leadership/Management
  • Open Education Resources/Open Access
  • Integration of Faith & Profession
  • Teambuilding
  • Tech Services
  • Archives Management
  • Work/Life Balance
  • Fostering Culture Competence (library culture or culture awareness in libraries)
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI)
  • Electronic Resource Management
  • Fundraising
  • LibGuides
  • Library Types (Academic, Public, School, Special)
  • Vendor Relationships/Negotiations
  • Partnerships with the Writing Center, Student Life, or Other Campus Departments
  • Public, Access,  or Web Services
  • Research Support to Faculty or Students
  • Scholarly Communication
  • Specialized Collections or Programs
  • Student Engagement/High-impact Practices
  • Writing, Professional or Creative
  • Changing Library Environments
  • Distance Learning
  • Copyright
  • Embedded Librarianship
  • Future of Librarianship

Presentation Formats:

  • Workshop: The presenter uses a lecture or hands-on format, allowing 10 minutes at the end for questions and discussion.
  • Panel: Group of two or three experts present on the same concepts or convey varying points of view, allowing time at the end for questions and discussion.
  • Roundtable Discussion: Informal group discussion around a specific topic. The leader will be prepared with comments and questions, will keep the discussion focused on the topic and will encourage the participation of all attendees.

Presentations are typically 60-minutes long.

How are presentations selected?

A selection team reviews and chooses presentations based on several criteria included in the below rubric. We hope this tool is useful in understanding what the selection team is looking for and will assist in your proposal formation.

  • Purpose, Clarity, and Organization of the Proposal
    Does the topic address current, relevant, and/or significant issues in the field of librarianship?
    Is the proposal written professionally, and does it adequately explain the topic?
  • Outcome
    Will participants leave with inspiration, new knowledge, skills, tools, or innovative perspectives?
  • Relevance to Theme
    Does the workshop connect to the conference theme?
  • Topic/Content
    To what extent will the session result in a gain of knowledge in a specific area?
    To what extent will the session result in the development of a new skill or practice?
    To what extent will the session provide a tangible tool or best-practice model for use?
  • Speaker
    To what extent is the speaker qualified or respected in the proposed workshop content area?

2025 Expectations for Presenters

  • Presenters are required to attend at least one day of the Annual Conference in Idaho, but highly encouraged to participate in the whole conference for maximum benefit.
  • Presenters must register for the ACL Annual Conference by the end of the Early Bird Registration period March 18.
  • Selected presenters have the opportunity to receive a discount on conference registration.

2025 Timeline for Presenters

  • October 29, 2024 – Call opens for presentations
  • November 6, 2024 – 1:30 PM EST – Presentation Proposal Lab #1
  • November 12, 2024 – 2:30 PM EST – Presentation Proposal Lab #2
  • December 5, 2024 – Deadline for submitting a presentation proposal
  • January 13, 2025 – Notification of acceptance of presentations
  • January 21, 2025 – Deadline for presenter acceptance
  • February 14, 2025 – Deadline for uploading presenter photo/bio and workshop description to platform
  • March 18, 2025 – Deadline for presenters to register for conference
  • Week of May 13, 2025 – Presenter check-in Zoom
  • June 1, 2025 – Attend Presenters Meeting at conference
  • June 1, 2025 – Deadline to upload or link presentation slides and handouts to workshop profile
  • June 2-4, 2025 – Attend 2025 ACL Annual Conference at Northwest Nazarene University. Present during your scheduled presentation timeslot.