MLA '12: Call for Participation

To submit a paper or poster abstract, review the instructions below, then begin the online submission process. Submission deadline is November 2, 2011.

Download the Call for Participation PDF download

Abstract Submission deadline is 11:59 PM CST, Wednesday, November 2, 2011.

Over the last five years, we explored the information revolution in Philadelphia, bridged the gap and made connections in Chicago, explored the fusion of information and innovation in Honolulu, and used our time in Washington to reflect and connect. This year in Minneapolis, we are rethinking service, technology, space, leadership, engagement, research,
and outcomes.

For MLA ’12, the 2012 National Program Committee (NPC) invites you to focus on challenges, successes, and trends in “Growing Opportunities: Changing Our Game.” The theme represents a conscious decision from the 2012 NPC to examine the convergence of sustainability with sports metaphors, particularly baseball. This convergence of game changing with sustainability offers members and sections the flexibility to examine these issues individually or at their intersections.

In baseball, there are many statistics to measure performance, such as batting averages, earned runs averaged by pitchers, and runs batted in. How do you measure performance in a health sciences library environment? Both in baseball and in libraries, key players come and go, salary caps are adjusted, and collective bargaining agreements are negotiated. As the coach or general manager of your library, how do you take advantage of opportunities? How have you nurtured and sustained your career and your library? How do you cultivate new ideas and new partnerships? How do you deal with challenging environments? How did you change your game or spot and hit the change-up pitch to adapt to changes in your organization? All baseball players live for the moment when they move from the minor leagues to the majors: What does that mean to you as a librarian? How have you or your organization hit a grand slam? Were you in a batting slump? What brought you out of it? What trends will enable us to grow our opportunities and to change our game?
Our location in downtown Seattle offers abundant opportunities to explore the culture, cuisine, shopping, and quirkiness of the city. The hotel and convention center are blocks from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Pike Place Market. For a change of pace from learning and networking with your MLA colleagues, you can catch a Seattle Mariners baseball game or a flying fish at the world famous Pike Place Market. Take advantage of green transportation alternatives by taking the monorail to the Space Needle for a spectacular view of the city or by taking the Seattle Streetcar to Lake Union and points in between.

To top of page Papers

The 2012 NPC invites abstract submissions for contributed papers focused on “Growing Opportunities: Changing Our Game” in health sciences librarianship. Plan to submit your abstract, using the structured abstract guidelines at www.research .mlanet.org, by October 2011. Submission instructions will be in the August 2011 MLA News and posted on MLANET by mid-August. Papers should not repeat information submitted for posters. MLA’s Research Section will award prizes for the best research-based papers. Handouts and electronic presentations from the paper presentations will be posted to MLANET.

Contact: Linné Girouard, Section Council liaison, lgirouard@tmhs.org

To top of page Posters

TThe 2012 NPC invites abstract submissions for concepts best presented in poster format on “Growing Opportunities: Changing Our Game.” Plan to submit your abstract, using the structured abstract guidelines at www.research.mlanet.org, by October 2011. Submission instructions will be in the August 2011 MLA News and posted on MLANET by mid-August. Posters should not repeat information submitted for papers. Posters and supplemental materials will be published on MLANET prior to the meeting. MLA’s Research Section will award prizes for the best research-based posters.

Contacts: Sherrill M. Olsen, AHIP, sherrill.olsen@huntington hospital.com, and Bette S. Sydelko, AHIP, bette.sydelko@wright.edu .

To top of page Guidelines for Submission

As a guide in the submission process, review the article, “The Structured Abstract: An Essential Tool for Researchers,” which originally appeared in Hypothesis: The Journal of the Research Section of MLA. The Southern Chapter of MLA’s suggested formats for structured abstracts (http://www.scmla.org/abformat.htm) gives further examples of formats for research and non-research–based reports. Authors may postpone entering results and conclusions until after the peer-review process is completed. If the abstract is selected, authors must add results and conclusions.

All submissions must be classified as not research or by the primary research method used in the work. Use the pull-down menu in the abstract submission system to select the primary research method used. If you indicate “Other not listed,” please be sure to clearly state the method used in your structured abstract submission. The list of methods came from and is further explained in “Inventory of Research Methods for Librarianship and Informatics,” published in the January 2004 issue of the Journal of the Medical Library Association available on PubMed Central. Please also consult the MLA Style Manual for guidance on style, spelling, and grammar.

 

 



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