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PaLA - call for online presenters!

PaLA - call for online presenters!

The Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) is seeking presenters for our online educational offerings to take place in 2026 and beyond. Online sessions are 60 minutes in length and are to be presented live via Zoom with time allotted for questions and audience interaction. All categories of presenters (consultants, industry professionals, library directors and staff) are welcome to submit.

NEW! This call for presenters allows you to select whether your topic is appropriate for one or multiple events. We will keep this form open until June 2026, and use it for ongoing reviews as we consider future programming opportunities.

Note: This form and any submissions will not be used for consideration for our in-person Annual Conference in October. If you are interested in presenting in-person, the call for those presenters opens in January and will close at the beginning of March.

Submission Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026OnlinePrsntr

Upcoming online events that are confirmed are detailed below:

Frontline, OnlineWednesday, February 4, 2026, 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Our audience will include frontline library workers, or anyone with direct contact with library patrons. Three concurrent sessions run during each time slot. Sessions for this program are recorded during the live event, and available for attendees for 30 days after the program.

Potential topics could include:

  • Library Programming
  • Readers’ Advisory
  • Customer Service
  • Patron Interactions – including difficult behaviors
  • Library Displays
  • First Amendment Audits
  • Book Challenges
  • Information/Resources
  • Technology
  • and any other topics relating to a library employee’s day-to-day work

We will begin reviewing session proposals for Frontline, Online on September 18Programming will be finalized in October/November. A schedule of programs will be released when registration opens in December. Submissions before September 18 are encouraged!

 

Library Friends & Trustees InstituteSaturday, March 7, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Co-sponsored with the Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries and the Pennsylvania Library Association, this event is tailored for Library Board or Friends Group members or anyone who is involved in library governance and operations, library fundraising or advocacy. Three concurrent sessions run during each time slot. Sessions for this program are recorded during the live event, and available for attendees for 90 days after the program.

  • Potential topics could include:
    • Advocacy – local and regional efforts
    • Budgeting for your library, and best practices to strengthen finances
    • Fundraising
    • Governance best practices, and how to run effective meetings
    • Legal issues for library boards
    • Library policies
    • Marketing & PR for your library
    • Media, or crisis communications for your library
    • Recruiting, hiring, retaining a library director; and HR policies.
    • Referendum – pros/cons of launching a referendum effort, and basic steps involved.
    • Understanding PA sales tax requirements and small games of chance
    • We are open to your ideas too, so feel free to submit a topic not listed here!

We will begin reviewing session proposals for Library Friends & Trustees Institute on November 10. Programming will be finalized in December/January. 


Future Continuing Education Programs

Not sure where you fit in? We will also retain submissions for future continuing education programs to be developed. These could be for a specific type of library or type of library work. We invite you to share ideas, inspiration, tips and procedures on how to make things easier or better for each other!


Submission Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026OnlinePrsntr

Thanks for sharing your experience and expertise with your colleagues!

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