Actionable Advocacy

This year's conference will be in-person at the Hilton and City Center in Saratoga Springs, New York on November 5-8.

2025 Program Proposal Form

Advocacy is about more than meeting with your legislators. It is about telling stories. Stories that show how your library helps or can help your patrons. Marketing is the key to telling these stories. All library staff are involved in marketing whether aware of it or not. Everyone has stories they can tell and relationships they can build. Whether you are working at a circulation desk, an information desk, or meeting with the local chamber of commerce. Any interaction is an opportunity to promote the library and build relationships. All these activities are actionable advocacy.

Come to our 2024 Annual Conference to strengthen existing relationships with colleagues and build new ones. The conference is a great opportunity to learn, build relationships, and take action!

The program proposal submission deadline is March 21, 2025.

Submission Form Information

The form is designed to collect proposals for:

• Program/Workshop - 75-minute programs

• Preconference Program - 3-hour programs

• Unit/Partner Meetings

• Special Events (Unit/Partner Luncheons, University Alumni Events, Receptions etc.)

Please note anyone wishing to participate in our event, must submit a proposal form in order to be added to the schedule. We kindly request that information is completed in its entirety. If for some reason select information is unavailable at the time of submission, please contact the office at [email protected] for the form to be updated. All submitted proposals are subject to review by the Continuing Education and Conference Committees for selection.   

Proposal Submission Resources

NYLA Annual Conference Proposal Review Guidelines

Submitted proposals will be reviewed by the Continuing Education Committee. The committee will use the guidelines below to assist in evaluating each proposal. NYLA has adopted an anonymous review process in order to ensure an unbiased review by the committee. 

• Does the program title clearly describe the program as proposed?  
• Is it engaging and inviting for attendees? 
• Does it clearly market the program? 

• Does the program description clearly, with sufficient detail, outline the proposed presentation? 

• Who is the target audience and why would this session be relevant to them?  

• Does the content offer fresh, new, innovative ideas, methods, or resources?  

• Are learning outcomes clear, specific, observable, and actionable?

• Is the proposed presentation likely to engage participants actively in discussion, thought, or active learning?

NYLA 2025 Proposal Submission Planning Documents (Fillable PDF)

The documents below can be used to assist in completion of your electronic proposal submission form. Please note these documents are solely to be used to help individuals plan their submission and will not be accepted as an official submission form. 

Program Proposal Submission Timeline 

• Proposal Submission Form Opens - January 13th
• Proposal Submission Form Closes - March 21st
• NYLA Staff Notify Program Speakers of Program Status - Early May

Proposal questions can be emailed to [email protected].