We invite breakout session proposals that highlight real-world strategies, bold ideas, and replicable (scalable) models. Whether you are leading change in a single community or building statewide momentum, we want to hear from you.

Breakout Session Focus Areas
Proposals should align with one or more of the conference themes as outlined below:

  • Movement: Building a national movement of rural leaders committed to moving outcomes for all rural young people.
    • How are you positioning your library as part of a broader rural movement for equity, opportunity, or literacy?
  • Activate: Influence and activate places, organizations, and people to invest in and support leaders in moving outcomes for rural youth.
    • How has your library activated partners, community members, or systems (policies) to expand your impact or move cradle to career educational outcomes?
  • Strengthen: Strengthen the capacity within rural places to adopt and implement what works, and the capacity of those outside of rural places to understand, align, and connect with rural places.
    • What systems has your library helped to build, align, or reinforce (e.g., education, workforce, broadband, early learning)?
  • Bright Spots: Identify and amplify programs and practices that work in rural areas.
    • What’s working in your library that others should know about—and possibly replicate?
    • What library collaborative models are working (e.g., libraries and schools, libraries and health departments, family and community outreach/engagement)?


Breakout Session Type:

  • Live Breakout (60 mins) – Interactive session with at least 10-minute discussion or Q&A
  • Collaborative Panel – Joint presentation by two or more libraries or partners


Selection Criteria
Sessions will be selected based on:

  • Alignment with one or more conference themes
  • Relevance to rural libraries and their communities
  • Creativity, replicability, and real-world application
  • Clarity and engagement of the proposal

 
Submit Your Proposal
Submit your session proposal by October 22, 2026.
For questions, contact Dr. Regina Washington at regina.washington@partnersrural.org.

Below: Click the "Submit Session Info" button below to start. You'll be directed to a page where you can create an account. After setting up your account, you'll be able to begin the submission process. Once your submission is complete, you can log back into your account at any time to make updates or changes.