MLA ’27 Call for Proposals: Share Your Ideas. Elevate Your Impact.

Submitted by: Shannon D. Jones, AHIP, FMLA

It’s time to get excited for MLA ’27: Elevating Impact!

Taking place in Denver, Colorado, MLA ’27 will bring together health information professionals from across the profession to learn, connect, and explore new opportunities to advance health information, healthcare, education, and research. Centered on the theme Elevating Impact, the conference will focus on empowering attendees to deepen their expertise, expand their professional networks, and increase the value they bring to their organizations, communities, and the people they serve.

Throughout the conference, participants will discover innovative ideas, engage in meaningful conversations, and learn how collaborative efforts are shaping the future of librarianship and information work. One of the most impactful ways to contribute to this experience is by sharing your own knowledge, research, and expertise.

The MLA ’27 submission site for contributed papers and immersion sessions is now open, and the National Program Committee (NPC) invites proposals that educate, inspire, and elevate the profession.

Whether you have developed a successful program, conducted innovative research, implemented a new service, or want to facilitate a deep discussion on an emerging issue, we encourage you to submit a proposal and join your colleagues in shaping the conference experience.

Two Opportunities to Submit

MLA ’27 will feature two rounds of proposal submissions, providing presenters with multiple opportunities to participate and receive feedback throughout the review process.

Round 1: Open Now Through October 29, 2026

Round 1 includes submissions for Contributed Papers and Immersion Sessions.

Contributed Papers

Contributed papers are 15-minute presentations that showcase innovative work, research, and practical applications in health information settings. Submissions may fall into one of two categories:

• Program Papers describe the creation, improvement, implementation, or evaluation of products, services, technologies, administrative practices, or programs developed by librarians and information professionals.
• Research Papers report on the design, execution, analysis, and findings of research projects.

Presenting a contributed paper is an excellent opportunity to share your work, gain presentation experience, receive valuable feedback, and build connections with colleagues across the profession.

Immersion Sessions

Immersion sessions are interactive, in-depth explorations of a single topic and are 75 minutes in length. These “deep dive” sessions can take many forms, including panel discussions, facilitated conversations, workshops, or other creative formats designed to actively engage participants.

MLA caucuses and communities are especially encouraged to collaborate on immersion session proposals that help advance skills and competencies important to their members.

Round 2: December 10, 2026–January 21, 2027

Additional presentation opportunities will be available during Round 2 for lightning talk and poster presentations.

Resources to Support Your Submission

MLA offers several resources to help presenters navigate the submission process and develop strong proposals. Before submitting, we encourage you to review the Contributed Content FAQs and submission guidance materials.

To strengthen your proposal, consider asking colleagues or peers to review your abstract before submission.

Important Deadline

Paper and Immersion Session proposals must be submitted during Round 1. The deadline is October 29, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., eastern time.

Submitting early is strongly encouraged to avoid last-minute technical issues and to allow ample time to seek assistance if needed.

Be Part of MLA ’27

The success of MLA’s annual conference depends on the knowledge, experiences, and creativity shared by members and health information professionals. Whether you are presenting for the first time or are a seasoned conference speaker, MLA ’27 offers an opportunity to contribute to important conversations, inspire colleagues, and help shape the future of the profession.

We look forward to learning from you in Denver as we come together to Elevate Impact.

Ready to Submit?

 Questions? Contact Debra Cavanaugh at debra.cavanaugh@mlahq.org.