Information for Presenters

IMPORTANT DATES FOR PRESENTERS

Dec 15th - Jan 3rd	Conference planners will be in touch with presenters to finalize session details
Jan 3rd	Conference Registration Opens
Feb 11th	Deadline for presenters to complete online registration process
Feb 28th	Deadline for submitting equipment needs for your presentation
Mar 9th	Deadline for submitting presentation materials and handouts for conference web site
Mar 16th-17th	LibTech 2011 Conference

CONFERENCE SCOPE
The Library Technology Conference is intended to be a conference that mixes traditional lecture-style presentations, panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and poster sessions highlighting many of the technologies affecting how users interact with libraries, as well as how libraries are using technology to create new and better ways to manage their resources. The focus is on sessions that are interactive and which provide practical information that will allow participants to apply what they've learned at their own library. The total number of conference participants will be limited to 450 in order to help ensure a quality conference experience and to help facilitate the interactive and hands-on nature of many of the sessions.

WHO IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND
Library professionals and technologists from as many as 150 institutions are expected to attend. While the conference attracts a majority of its attendees from the midwest region (Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, as well as North and South Dakota), it is also expected that a significant number will be attending from around the United States as well as from Canada. In previous years, the highest percentage of attendees have come from academic libraries but we also had a high number of participants from public libraries. A smaller number of attendees have come from school (K-12) and special libraries. Because of the wide range of participants, presenters should aim their presentation to be of interest to as wide a library audience as possible.

PRESENTER REGISTRATION
Session presenters are encouraged to participate in as much of the conference as their schedule will allow. To help facilitate this and in recognition of their contribution to the conference, presenters are given one-day complimentary registration on the day of their presentation. Presenters who choose to participate in the second day of the conference will be expected to pay the single-day conference registration rate. All conference presenters should complete the online registration process once it is made available in order to indicate lunch and session preferences. Conference registration includes attendance at conference sessions; access to conference presentation materials, participation in sponsor exhibitions and events, continental breakfast, lunch and breaks each day, as well as all other conference-related activities.

PRESENTATION MATERIALS AND HANDOUTS
In an effort to keep the conference as 'green' as possible, we ask that presenters only bring printed handouts that are absolutely necessary. All presenters are expected to provide presentation materials (Powerpoint slides, etc) and any additional supporting handouts to be made available to participants on the conference web site and to be placed in the conference repository. The deadline for presenters to do this is Wednesday, March 9th. Submission in PDF or PowerPoint format is preferred. These should be sent to laura.wight@msugf.edu or libtechconference@macalester.edu. Presenters who choose to distribute print handouts are responsible for duplicating these on their own.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN EACH PRESENTATION SPACE
Wired and wireless internet as well as projection capabilities will be available in all conference presentation spaces. The following resources will also be available upon request by a presenter: laptops (PC or Mac) for use during your presentation; audio equipment for sound files, projection equipment for transparencies, a whiteboard or easel pad, and other audio/visual equipment. Every effort will be made to meet any other needs as requested by presenters. Please contact laura.wight@msugf.edu or libtechconference@macalester.edu with any additional needs.

LOADING SOFTWARE ON LAB PRESENTATION SPACE COMPUTERS
We recognize that specific software may need to be installed and made available on presentation and/or lab computers, especially for lab-based hands-on sessions. We will work with presenters to facilitate this prior to the dates of the conference. Presenters needing to have software available should contact laura.wight@msugf.edu or libtechconference@macalester.edu to coordinate this effort.

SCHEDULING AND FINALIZING SESSION DETAILS
Session details including final title/description and presenter information for your session need to be completed no later than January 3rd - the date that registration is scheduled to open. Conference planners will be in contract with the primary contact person for each submitted session to coordinate the gathering of this information.

The final schedule for presentation sessions will be set by that date. Every effort will be made to schedule sessions during time slots that were identified in the proposal submission as a preferred time. However, because a limited number of sessions will be offered during each time slot and some session times are typically heavily requested, we regret that not all specific time requests may be able to be met. We will work with presenters to find a convenient and appropriate time slot for their presentation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF CONCURRENT SESSIONS

• Traditional Lecture-Style Sessions
  Sixty minute lecture-style presentation highlighting a technology, resource or service. Typically having no limit on participants unless one is requested by the presenter. Presenters should plan to leave a few time at the end of their session to respond to questions from participants.
  
  
• Hands-On Sessions
  Ninety minute session offering participants a more in-depth, active learning opportunity or hands-on experience working with a technology or learning the details of a software resource. Typically limited to a maximum of 30 participants unless a different maximum number of participants has been requested. Lab spaces will include from 15-30 PC or Macintosh computers and may require session participants to work in groups of two per computer workstation depending on number of conference participants that sign up for the session. Conference participants will also be encouraged to bring their laptop or wireless internet device to the conference for use in some sessions.
  
  
• Technology Dialogue / Panel Sessions
  Sixty or ninety minute session offering participants a more in-depth opportunity with a technology-related topic.  Should be interactive / active learning experience for participants.  Typically no limit on number of attendees unless requested by the presenter(s).  Conference participants will also be encouraged to bring their laptop or wireless internet device to the conference for use in some sessions.
  
  
• Poster Sessions
  Sessions will include posters and handouts describing and explaining a technology resource or service of interest to libraries. Easels and chairs will be provided. If requested, additional resources (such as table space, computer workstation/laptop, audio/visual equipment, etc) will be provided as availability allows. Primary poster session period will be during the 'poster session reception' to be held on Thursday of the conference. Poster session presenters should plan to be present at their poster to offer further explanation and answer questions during the primary poster seesion time. However, poster session participants are encouraged to set up their poster by 8:00am on Thursday, if possible, and have the poster available for viewing throughtout the day.