Session Format - ACRL 2027

ACRL 2027 offers speakers the option to present in-person in Portland or remotely from their own location depending on session type. Individuals presenting remotely should select the Virtual Presentations or Virtual-Only Community Chat formats to be considered for one of the select number of virtual presentations.

Contributed papers should challenge current assumptions and provoke conference participants to think creatively about issues facing academic and research librarians. Papers may report the results of completed research, describe research in progress, or present a position on a compelling problem or issue relevant to one or more of the conference tags. The paper must be delivered in a maximum of 30 minutes, including time for Q&A, and presenters are expected to discuss their ideas rather than read their papers. Completed papers should be about 2,500-5,000 words and should be scholarly, well organized, clearly written, and rigorously argued. Papers must be provided no later than March 2027 and will be published in the online conference proceedings.

Workshops offer two to three contact hours that provide active and in-depth learning. Participants will engage an issue, learn a new skill, or develop an action plan or other activity where hands-on learning is integral. The learning experience should excite and encourage the participants to take risks, question assumptions, and fully engage in the learning process. Participants should leave the session with information to share with their home institutions. Participant size will be limited in order to provide a meaningful environment for active learning.

Poster Sessions offer an opportunity for informal, interactive presentation and discussion of various topics in the field of library and information science. Poster proposals can explore innovative projects, best practices, and original research findings. Posters should be visually appealing representations of a topic, including graphics, tables, charts, text, and/or images. Proposals should include a brief abstract, emphasize the unique value of the work, and summarize the contributions or results being presented. A maximum of two presenters per poster is recommended. Accepted presenters will need to provide a PDF of their poster for inclusion in the ACRL 2027 Virtual Conference site.

Roundtable Discussions are small, informal group discussions providing an opportunity for participants to exchange information, discuss best practices, and network with others around common themes and shared professional challenges. Roundtables are topically relevant, peer-to-peer learning experiences happening through facilitated conversational exchange. Individuals submitting roundtable proposals should address the topics to be covered and three questions they would use to keep the discussion moving. Roundtable discussions are limited approximately ten individuals per table, including participants and facilitator(s); no audio-visual support is provided.

ACRL's virtual platform provides a unique opportunity for a select number of speakers to present from anywhere via Zoom. Attendees can participate online and interact with the speaker and each other in real-time. This is an excellent option for those who wish to present at ACRL 2027 but are unable to attend the conference in Portland. Virtual presentations provide a chance to share topics of interest, research, lessons learned, or quick glimpses of new ideas while actively engaging the online audience. Zoom Meeting will be used to deliver virtual presentations, and breakout rooms can be created to facilitate interaction. The length of virtual presentations vary, with 30 or 60-minute slots available.

Here’s your chance to discuss, commiserate, and laugh with others who share similar interests and identities. This informal format creates space for unique communities to connect, in person or virtually. Topic suggestions include (but are not limited to) Parenting & Caregivers, LGBTQIA, BIPOC, Disability, Community Colleges, Tech Services, Romantasy, Knitters, Musicians, or any identity, interest, or passion that motivates you to gather. Community chats may have up to two facilitators, who will help guide and sustain the conversation. Group size may be limited based on room capacity (in-person or virtual). In‑person chats use minimal technology—just microphones, with no projectors or slides needed. In your proposal, please include three questions you plan to use to spark and maintain conversation, rather than traditional learning outcomes.