Recommendations for Developing
a Great Proposal
Preview the Proposal Form
Preview the proposal form to familiarize yourself with the fields you will be required to complete regarding your session, yourself as a speaker, and additional speakers for your session.
Be Inclusive
PLA seeks proposals and speakers representing a wide range of diversity, with a commitment to representation of groups that have been historically marginalized or excluded due to race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, economic background, geography, and age.
As you develop your proposal, we encourage you to review PLA’s  Strategic Plan, which places equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice (EDISJ) at the center of our work. We invite you to embrace this model with us, and to be thoughtful and intentional when incorporating EDISJ into your proposal.
Understand the Selection Process
We expect to receive hundreds more session proposals than we can accommodate. PLA Conferences typically accept only 15–20% of proposals received. Proposals will be rated and selected by the PLA 2026 Conference Program Subcommittee, which uses the following criteria to rate each proposal (full rubric available here as a PDF):
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Proposal Description: Does the description clearly, with sufficient detail, outline the proposed presentation?
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Learning Outcomes: Are the learning outcomes clear, specific, and actionable?
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Innovation: Does the content offer fresh, memorable ideas, methods, or resources?
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Relevance/Significance: Is the content relevant to public library professionals?
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Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Social Justice: Does the program have the potential to help PLA and its members advance the strategic goals and values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice?
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Speaker Reference (Optional): Have you seen this presenter previously present a program? If so, rate the speaker’s skills.
Familiarize Yourself with Past Sessions
We invite you to consider reviewing past program listings to familiarize yourself with successful sessions presented at past PLA Conferences. Some common themes include:
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PLA values a diversity of perspectives, so sessions representing multiple library experiences on a panel presentation allow us to include a wider range of viewpoints in our limited program slots.
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Sessions focused on a single library’s experience can be useful but should also reflect consideration of how their lessons learned can scale or apply to libraries serving different kinds of communities.
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Perspectives from outside the library field can add great value to a session.
Get Feedback Before Submitting
We strongly encourage all program organizers to review and revise their proposals and share with colleagues for input before submitting to PLA. Colleagues who review your proposal should focus especially on how well you have addressed each element of the rubric (full rubric available here as a PDF), which outlines the criteria that PLA member volunteers will use to rate each proposal.
Take Advantage of PLA Resources
What Makes a Successful PLA Conference Proposal?
This on-demand webinar covers the PLA Conference proposal process, provides examples of successful past proposals, and highlights specific recommendations for how to take your idea and develop it into a truly outstanding proposal. Originally presented prior to the PLA 2020 Conference, its recommendations are still applicable for those proposing a program for PLA 2026.
Membership Monday: Present at PLA Conference
And in this recent on-demand webinar, Members from the PLA Membership Advisory Group and the PLA 2026 Conference Program Subcommittee discuss their experiences presenting at past PLA Conferences, writing a successful proposal, and how to stand out from the crowd.
A Note About AI
While generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used for initial research, brainstorming, or early drafts of PLA 2026 Conference proposals, we ask that your final submission represent your own, original work.
Don’t Be Late
Finally, please be sure to submit your proposal online by the deadline, no later than 11:59 PM Eastern on May 5, 2025.