MLA '05 Website

MLA '05: Poster FAQ

Submitting Posters

Preparing for the Meeting

At the Meeting/Final Preparations

Submitting Posters

To top of page What are the steps to submit a poster abstract using the MLANET electronic system?
Submit your abstracts online and log on to the online abstract submission system using your self-assigned login name and password.

After logging in, complete the steps in the process. Be sure to print out a summary confirmation of your submission, with the abstract control number, for your records.

You may change an abstract until the deadline. All abstract submissions and changes must be completed by the extended deadline of Monday, November 12, 2004, at MIDNIGHT central standard time (CST).

To top of page What is an electronic poster?
Great question! It can be many things, so be creative. Any way to convey your message effectively using computer technology will likely make an excellent electronic poster. The link below is an example of the electronic poster.

http://www.mlanet.org/am/am2003/e_present/014_tanase_bluhm-stieber.ppt

To top of page Can I rent computers and other equipment onsite to present my electronic poster?
Yes, rental will be through MLA's audiovisual (AV) vendor, Projections. An AV order form with pricing will be available when your abstract is accepted.

Preparing for the Meeting

To top of page My poster abstract has been accepted. Help!
An excellent resource, by Fred Stos, is listed below. It was developed for clients of the Sciences and Engineering Library at SUNY-Buffalo. All sorts of resources are presented, including tips on creating, developing, and presenting a poster, even electronic ones. Start here; it is a great site!

http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/bio/posters.html

Another great resource is the chapter on posters from Preparing Scientific Illustrations by Mary Helen Briscoe (Springer, 1996).

To top of page What are some general rules I should think about when designing a poster?

    1. Your poster should be about 20% text, 40% graphics, and 40% white space.
    2. Use the active voice on all text on the poster.
    3. Keep text to the absolute minimum.
    4. Text should be, at the minimum, twenty-eight or thirty-two points in size. Remember, for text, bigger is better.
    5. Posters are graphical presentations; emphasize your charts, tables, and photos.
    6. Backgrounds using light colors work well.
    7. Match your handouts to work with the poster elements.
    8. Consider transportation when designing the poster: four panels are easier to handle than one large panel; a laminated rolled piece transports easily.
    9. If you laminate your poster, consider using a matte or low-glare finish. People will be able to read your poster more easily from a distance, no matter what the lighting angle (and it will photograph better, too!).

To top of page When is the poster session?
For MLA '05, two poster sessions—either Monday afternoon or Wednesday afternoon. Presenters will be required to staff their poster displays during the assigned time, 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Print posters should be put up on Monday, May 16, 2005, and displayed until Tuesday, May 17, 2005.

To top of page When is setup?
This information will be confirmed with all presenters whose posters have been accepted.

To top of page When is tear down?
This information will be confirmed with all presenters whose posters have been accepted.

To top of page What equipment is supplied with each poster?
Each poster presenter will receive:

  • a 6-foot table
  • an 8-foot by 4-foot poster board
  • one chair
  • electricity (if identified as an electronic poster).

To top of page What size is the poster backdrop? How much room is really available for my poster?
A corkboard, measuring eight feet by four feet, will be available for all posters, both electronic and traditional. There is a border around the corkboard that is about 1½ inches wide. Other than the border, the remaining space is all corkboard, usable for the poster.

To top of page How big is the table?
A standard, 6-foot-long by 18-inch-wide, skirted table is provided for traditional posters.

To top of page Are counter-height tables available for laptop presentations?
We know that viewing laptop presentations on a normal-height table can be somewhat difficult, so all electronic posters will automatically receive a complimentary table higher than the standard-size table.

To top of page I will need a Internet connection for my poster. What is the cost for that?
Internet connections will be about $950. Phone line connections will be about $200. Ordering information will be provided upon poster acceptance.

To top of page My poster will show off our new Website, but I do not want a live connection. What should I do?
Using WebWhacker, HTTrack, or similar programs to download Websites to a hard drive, you can display your Website offline with great speed and reliability. The best part is that the audience cannot tell you are not online. Information about WebWhacker is at www.bluesquirrel.com; HTTrack is at www.httrack.com.

To top of page What kind of attachment equipment do I need (tape, pushpins, etc.)?
This depends greatly on the style of your poster, the thickness of the paper or material used to create it, and many other factors. T-pins have always worked well but take some strength to get them into the board. You are responsible for bringing the materials to mount your posters. So think creatively; velcro might work, as well as regular push pins or tape.

To top of page What else might I need to bring to the poster sessions?
Consider bringing the following: scissors, pens, and paper for viewers to write down their names and addresses for more information or to ask you a question; business cards; and a power cord and surge protector for electronic posters using computer equipment.

To top of page Should I bring handouts? How many should I bring?
Bring at least 150 handouts. Try to keep it to one page, back and front, if you can. Remember, you will carry these things at least to the poster session, so make it easy on yourself!

To top of page Is there an electronic file of the meeting logo that I can place on my poster?
Yes, download the official meeting logo for presentations.

At the Meeting/Final Preparations

To top of page Will there be a sign indicating the title of my poster or do I need to include that in my design?
No, this element needs to be part of your poster's design.

To top of page Can I ship the poster ahead of and after the meeting?
Yes, shipping information will be sent to all presenters whose posters have been accepted.

To top of page Any "disaster preparedness" tips?
Remember Murphy's Law: anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Save your poster to a disk and bring it with you; leave it on the server at home (and arrange your own access to that server); or give it to a friend to hold. Be sure you have another way to get the information if anything should happen to your poster.

To top of page Anything else I should do?
Have fun! Presenting posters is a great way to talk to others about a topic you know a great deal about. Not only will you share your knowledge, but people visiting your poster will share their knowledge with you. Energy is always very "high" at the poster sessions, so wear comfortable footwear and enjoy the experience!

To top of page Who should I contact for assistance with posters?
Questions about electronic or print posters should be sent to Mari Stoddard at stoddard@ahsl.arizona.edu; Regina Kenny Marone, AHIP, at regina.marone@yale.edu; or Rick Brewer at rabrew02@pop.uky.edu.

 
   

  


Thanks to Oxford University Press for their sponsorship of the MLA '05 Meeting site!


Thanks to Wiley InterScience for their sponsorship of the MLA '05 Meeting site!

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