Breakout Sessions

***The deadline for proposal submissions was November 22, 2013; proposals are no longer being accepted.***
***Thanks to everyone who submitted a proposal!***

We invite you to submit proposals to be considered for presentation at the 42nd Annual LOEX Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 8-10, 2014.
The conference theme, Creative Visualization: The Art of Information Literacy, focuses on the creativity librarians must bring to ensure students and faculty can visualize and utilize the concept of information literacy.

Successful proposals should showcase effective and innovative library instruction & information literacy practices, provide useful information that participants can utilize at their libraries, support collaboration, and be as applicable as possible to a wide range of academic institution types.

Breakout Session Formats

Two types of proposals will be accepted:

  • Presentation: A 50-minute session that includes time for a 40-45 minute presentation and 5-10 minutes of question and answer. Most feature a successful program, practice or key issue related to instruction or information literacy. Presentations are intended for an audience typically of 30-70 people. Presenters should include in the proposal a description of the topic and an outline of the presentation.
  • Interactive Workshop: A 50-minute session where the presenter facilitates a learning experience in which attendees develop or explore teaching and/or research techniques. Presenters are expected to facilitate a well-planned and interactive session. Workshops are intended for an audience typically of 30-50 people. Proposals should include a description of the topic and details on how the presenter will make this session a “hands-on” experience for attendees.

For all sessions, the exact number of participants won't be known until the session takes place; however, estimates of attendance and room size based on results of interest surveys will be provided to the presenters before the conference.

Proposal Tracks

Proposals should reflect elements of one of seven tracks:

  • Priming the Canvas: Leadership and Professional Development
    Providing the right environment for innovative and effective programs takes vision and practice. How can we gain the right expertise to expand in new directions and to new levels? Our canvas must include both leading from within and then leading from the library out into the world at large.

  • In the Studio: Teaching and Learning Spaces
    The studio is where the librarian works with her patrons to experience the art of library instruction. How do you find new uses for old spaces, develop and operate brand new spaces, or construct meaningful and functional virtual spaces?

  • Impressions/Expressions: Evaluation and Assessment
    All artists must face the reviews of critics - whether it is from their audience, their peers, their arts patrons, or themselves. How do you use assessment to measure the impact of your instruction program? How do you create and assess learning objectives for your instruction sessions? What do you measure and how do you collect that information?

  • Brushes, Paints & Palettes: Technologies and Innovation
    What new or innovative tools of the trade have you used to transform your library session into an information literacy work of art? With such resources as tablets, clickers, Webscale discovery tools, tutorials, and web & social media software on your pallette, how do you produce your masterpiece?

  • Inside the Frame: Visual Literacy
    They say seeing is believing, but should it be? In an increasingly visual world, our students should be aware of messages / meanings conveyed by their visual surroundings. How can we help our students and faculty effectively and ethically use and decipher the visual cues they come in contact with everyday? How we ensure they can critically consume and competently contribute to this visual culture in which many of them are immersed?

  • Mixed Media Magic: Collaborative Relationships
    Mixing media can create a beautiful work of art! Who have you "mixed" with to develop collaborate information literacy initiatives? Suggested partners include other librarians, classroom faculty, local schools, campus departments, and other organizations.

  • Theory & Technique: Instructional Design and Performance
    Artists create their work by effectively utilizing what they feel are the best theories and techniques, whether learned in school or in the field. Suggested topics include session design, lesson plans, self-paced student modules and student engagement.

Submission Information


The deadline for proposal submissions was November 22, 2013; proposals are no longer being accepted. 

Proposals can be submitted only through the online submission form (see below) and must be received by Friday, November 22, 2013. The primary contact for the proposal will receive a message indicating receipt of the proposal when it is submitted and will be notified if the proposal has been accepted for presentation by Monday, January 13, 2014 (changed from January 10th, per email sent to submitters on Jan 8).

If your proposal is accepted, then up to three presenters will be automatically registered for the conference and required to pay registration in full by Monday, March 31, 2014. Presenters are encouraged to submit a full paper version of their presentation (see due dates below) for inclusion in the LOEX Conference Proceedings. Note: Failure to pay the registration fee will result in the cancellation of presentation and conference registration. All presenters are responsible for paying their own travel and lodging expenses.

All proposals must include the following:

  • session title (limit 20 words);
  • short description of the session (limit 100 words);
  • long description of the session (limit 500 words);
  • list of 1-3 learning outcomes (visit Tips on Writing Learning Outcomes from the University Library at UIUC for guidance);
  • type of audience(s) for which the session is intended

You do not need to be a LOEX member to submit a conference proposal. We take the best proposals, regardless of institution or membership. LOEX membership only matters for registration, which occurs on February 7, 2014.

Contact for presenters: Christina Radisauskas at sessions2014@loexconference.org

Proposal Timeline

  • November 22, 2013: Deadline to submit proposals
  • January 13, 2014: Notification of acceptance of proposal
  • May 8-10, 2014: 42nd Annual LOEX Conference in Grand Rapids, MI
  • May 2 and May 30, 2014: Deadline for all Presentation and Interactive Workshop presenters, respectively, to submit full papers (up to 2500 words) for inclusion in the LOEX Conference Proceedings.

Proposal Selection Criteria

The committee will be using a rubric to score the proposals during a double-blind review process. Along with the criteria listed under the session format descriptions, the rubric grades each proposal on:

  • Content and objectives of presentation
  • Relevance to the selected conference theme and track and to the field of library instruction
  • Originality and creativity
  • Demonstrated expertise of the presenter(s) on the topic 
  • Methods used to inform and also engage the audience 

In addition, the rubric grades each type of presentation:

  • Presentations on how well they address different learning styles
  • Interactive workshops on the degree and type of audience participation

Presenter Benefits

The solid reputation of the LOEX Conference ensures that presenters benefit as much as their audience. Presenters can expect to contribute to:

  • the field of library instruction and information literacy;
  • receive professional recognition at the conference;
  • highlight their institution's accomplishments;
  • publish a full paper on the presentation topic in the LOEX Conference Proceedings;
  • obtain valuable feedback from colleagues; and
  • receive automatic registration for up to three presenters at the LOEX Conference.