Spring Forward 2027

Session Formats

Learn Together (60 minutes)

• These sessions are all about the group learning or doing something together via participant engagement, skill-building, and/or collaborative activities. The interactivity is the session, instead of being tacked on at the end. Participants should walk away from these with a practical skill or idea they can pursue. The session leader role is one of facilitation, not a sage on the stage. The best proposals include a clear description of engagement strategies that have an obvious tie-in to the content itself. 

Lead a Conversation (60 minutes)

• For this session format, guide a conversation on a topic in library work. While some introduction to the topic is expected, the bulk of the time should be for participants to share ideas and experiences. Conversations can be with the whole group, in breakout rooms, or using an online tool (Zoom chat, Padlet, Miro, etc.). An excellent proposal for this format will include a clear topic, example discussion questions, and method for facilitating the conversation (without it devolving into a venting session).

Lightning Talks (7-10 minutes)

• Share an idea, a tool, or a success (or failure!) story in a shorter live session. No interactivity required.

A Secret Fourth Thing (negotiable)

• Have an idea for a live session that doesn’t fit one of these formats? Bring it on.

Asynchronous Content:

• The Arcade (Written article, video, podcast, infographics, or other visually engaging content)

• Show us something cool you’ve done, and how others can do it too.

Forward Libraries strives to bring workers from all types of libraries together to learn and grow with one another. We’re looking for proposals that are fun, engaging, and will leave our attendees ready to try out new things at their institutions, with a support system of new friends and colleagues behind them!

A preview PDF version of our submission form will be available soon, if you'd like to know what documentation you will need to have in place before you submit your proposal.