RBMS 2026 Call for Proposals

Extended CFP deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026
Session Formats: Lightning Talks, Posters, and Virtual Presentations

We look forward to hearing your case studies, works-in-progress, and timely reports for the shorter form categories, and welcome submissions from graduate students, staff members, and early career professionals for inclusion in-person in Milwaukee, and online.  

This second call is for in-person posters and lighting talks, as well as virtual programs, including virtual discussion sessions, virtual lightning talks, and virtual panels. Deadline: March 6, 2026

Special collections and archives are transforming. Digitization, collaboration, expanded instruction, community engagement, and new approaches to stewardship are reshaping how we work and who we reach. In this moment of change, advocacy is more important than ever.

Advocacy takes many forms: making the case for collections, colleagues, and salaries; championing inclusive description and repair; demonstrating the impact of instruction; or securing support through data and storytelling. No matter where we are in our careers—just starting out, leading projects, or shaping institutional direction—finding our voice and using it effectively is how we ensure our work endures.

We invite proposals that explore advocacy in all its dimensions. How do you raise awareness, build support, or create change? What strategies help you amplify your voice—or the voices of others? How do you engage your communities, connect with donors, or make your case to decision-makers?

We welcome proposals that share successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Together, we’ll explore how advocacy empowers us to move beyond sustaining our work to strengthening and reimagining it.

Join us in inspiring colleagues at every level to find their voice—and make it heard.

Submit your proposal! 
Deadine: March 6, 2026

Session Formats

Six session formats are available. Please review the session formats and choose carefully to match your desired content and outcomes.

Modality Options

All presenters in the same session must be either ALL in-person in Milwaukee, WI or ALL virtually presenting from their own location(s). Please note, slots for virtual presentations are limited.

Collaboration Spreadsheet

Seeking someone to collaborate with on a presentation? Use this spreadsheet to help find someone!

Selection Criteria

The proposal form must be completed in full to be considered. The RBMS 2026 Conference Committee will evaluate proposal content on the following criteria:

• Applicability and timeliness
• Clarity, organization and outcomes
• Educational value and suitability for session format
• Point of view and creativity
• Connection to the conference theme (not mandatory, but preferred)

You may submit multiple proposals for consideration, but if accepted for more than one program, you may be asked to choose one.

Requirements

RBMS 2026 presenters will be required to: 

• register and pay to attend the conference (or attend by scholarship), either in-person or virtually, depending on session modality;
• participate in online speaker training (for virtual presentations); and
• adhere to the ALA Statement of Appropriate Conduct for Professional Conference and Events and the ALA Online Code of Conduct. 

Notification

All applicants will be notified no later than early February 2026.