Presenter Resources
This page contains information to help presenters prepare for their session at the 2021 AASL National Conference, occurring October 21-23, 2021, in Salt Lake City, UT. Please read the information listed and e-mail acline@ala.org with any questions. AASL will alert you when this page is updated with any changes or new information. (Last Update: 8/2/2021)
Preparing for Presentation
All concurrent presenters should have received the date and time of their presentation. Exact room locations will be posted approximately two weeks prior to conference. The communications were sent to the person who submitted the proposal, and the primary contact is expected to communicate to any co-presenters.
Two important links for presenters:
Session Format, Title, and Description – IMPORTANT
The session rooms will be set in theater style (rows of chairs), with limited options for attendees to move around. Even as pandemic restrictions begin to decrease, AASL is still planning to take steps to mitigate risks. AASL is considering AV options but currently does not plan to have microphones available for attendees to use (handheld mic to pass around or floor mic for attendees to approach). Presenters will have both a podium microphone and a lapel microphone available as options for use. If presenters do take feedback or questions from the audience, they should repeat the comment or question for the audience.
Attendee feedback from the last conference indicated that many sessions ended with 10-15 minutes of “turn to the person next to you and share.” We ask you to plan additional content for this time in your session. AASL will be offering several opportunities throughout the conference for attendees to network and share. For some presenters, these changes will require some re-working of your program outline. AASL appreciates your flexibility and hopes that this additional time will allow for expansion of your content, sprinkling Q & A breaks into your session, or adding other relevant information.
PowerPoint Template
An AASL National Conference PowerPoint presentation template is available for use: download here.
Communications
All communications will be sent via e-mail to the submitter (primary contact) of the session. It is the primary contact’s responsibility to share information with the other presenters. If a co-presenter requires an acceptance notice, please e-mail acline@ala.org to request.
Room Set
Each room will be set theater style and will be equipped with sound, an LCD screen, a projector, a podium, and a microphone. You are expected to bring your own laptop with your presentation slides loaded onto your laptop. It is strongly suggested that you bring a back-up of your presentation on an external drive. Rooms will have access to WiFi, but we cannot guarantee a strong connection. If any parts of your presentation require an Internet connection, it is recommended that you prepare simulations. AASL will not provide a wired connection for concurrent programming.
Statement of Appropriate Conduct
The AASL Statement of Appropriate Conduct applies to all participants (presenters, attendees, exhibitors, volunteers, staff, etc.). One line in particular is focused on presenter sessions: “Speakers are asked to frame discussions as openly and inclusively as possible and to be aware of how language or images may be perceived by others.”
Preparing for Travel/On-Site
Registration
If you haven’t already, we ask that you register for the conference. Use code AASLPRESENTER to register for the conference and you will receive $100 off a full conference registration.
A $100 discount is the maximum registration discount available, and so, if you registered earlier this year and already received a $100 discount, this additional discount does not apply. If you have already registered and received a discount of less than $100, please e-mail aaslnational@ala.org so that your registration discount can be adjusted.
Payment is not required at the time of registration, but you will need to select the “Check or Purchase Order” payment option to maintain a balance on your account (registrants who select this option can pay by credit card later).
Non-School Librarian Registrations
If you indicated on your submission that you will have a co-presenter(s) outside of the school library field who requires a waiver, AASL sent instructions for non-school librarian registration in your session date/time assignment.
What to Expect
- AASL will provide a “Speaker Ready Room” if you would like a quiet space to review your presentation.
- You should plan to arrive to your room ten minutes prior to start time and end on time. You will see in the tentative schedulethat most concurrent sessions are either followed by or following another concurrent session with a ten-minute break.
- If you need help a room volunteer, a floating A/V technician and staff will be available in the hallways.
- There will be an opportunity to post your presentation and any ancillary materials for attendees to download. Use this form to submit any materials for attendees.
- Approximately half of the sessions will be recorded (audio-recorded and slidecasted). If you selected the permission box on your submission to be recorded, you may be placed in a room that will be recording sessions. You will be notified whether or not your session will be recorded. The decision on which presentations are recorded is based on those who gave permission to record and whose content would translate best into an audio/slidecast format.
Promoting Presentation
Web Badges
AASL has many badges to choose from including a “Presenter” badge to add to your website, newsletters, e–mail signatures, and more. If you’re feeling extra creative, add your photo or bitmoji to the blank badge template! Add the badge with the copy: I’m presenting at the AASL National Conference! Check out my session (title). Register here: national.aasl.org/register.
Social Media
Posts
Use these sample posts for inspiration. Feel free to change them and add your own spin!
I’m presenting at #AASL21! Get ready to discuss [Session Details]. Be sure to add my session to your conference plans! national.aasl.org #AASL21
I’m excited to present [Title] at #AASL21! Register for the conference at: national.aasl.org/register
I’m speaking at #AASL21 and I hope you’ll register and check out my session! national.aasl.org/register
Let’s talk about [Topic]! I’m presenting at #AASL21 and I hope to see you there! national.aasl.org
I am thrilled to be presenting at #AASL21! Join me on [Day/Date] at [Time] to participate. You can register at: national.aasl.org/register
Posting Tips
- Start promoting your session as early as you can. This will help build interest, leading to greater exposure for you by the time of the event.
- Include the official hashtag #AASL21 in your social media posts.
- Are you speaking with someone else or part of a panel? Connect with them and help promote each other.
Profile Frames
Add a national conference frame to your Facebook or Twitter profile picture.