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.

Presentations from library colleagues are a cornerstone of the ACL Annual Conference, enriching our shared learning experience. We are looking for in-person presentations that balance both theory and practice, are well-researched, and are presented in an engaging manner.

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

Top 5 Reasons to Submit a Presentation Proposal for the 2025 ACL Annual Conference

  1. Share Your Expertise and Contribute to Christian Librarianship: Showcase your knowledge and experience to a community of Christian librarians, contributing to the professional development of your peers while advancing the profession within a Christian context—where faith and scholarship align.
  2. Grow Professionally: Presenting at the conference allows you to enhance your presentation skills, build confidence, and add valuable experience to your CV.
  3. Represent Your Institution Positively: Highlight your institution’s contributions and innovations while demonstrating leadership in the field of Christian librarianship.
  4. Collaborate and Network: Engage with fellow librarians, build new connections, and foster collaborative relationships through meaningful discussions around your topic.
  5. Enjoy Exclusive Benefits: Presenters not only get to be part of this landmark event—held for the first time in Idaho—but also receive the option of a registration discount, making it an even more rewarding experience.

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 15, 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.