ALA Poster Session - Subject Categories

Tips for Poster Sessions

Tips for Poster Session Titles

Poster sessions with interesting titles have the advantage when it comes to attracting visitors. Which poster session would you be more attracted to?
“A Circulation Outreach Program Encouraging Library Use Among Adult Users in Puerto Rico”

“Opening Doors In Paradise: The Power of a Library Card”
Brainstorm several different titles, and ask colleagues to rank them!
Consider choosing a title that is short enough to be cast in an extra large font, which can be read from a distance. If you want more detail in your title, include these in a subtitle.

Tips for Poster Session Abstracts

In 200 words or less, superb poster abstracts should include the following:

A concise description of the project itself.
If the topic is not brand-new, it would be helpful to explain how your work has brought something new to the state of human knowledge about the topic.
If your project is a “how our library did something good” type project, it’s important to have evidence of evaluation. Participation levels, user evaluations, peer-review, a change in relevant data (web server statistics): anything to show the relative success of your project. The evaluation does not have to be complete by the time of your poster submission, but some evaluation should be complete by the time of the ALA conference.
Some explanation of how your session will “make the most of the medium.” Will you have graphs? Models? Photographs? Sample materials?
If you plan on a laptop, it needs to run off a battery; we have no power.

Tips for New Presenters

1. Poster sessions are held in the ALA Exhibit Hall. If you are registered for the ALA Conference, your badge will admit you to the Exhibits Hall. If you are not planning on attending the conference itself, an exhibits pass can be purchased from the ALA On-site registration booth. A very limited number of exhibits passes may be available to poster session presenters who are not otherwise attending the conference. [ link to conference registration ]

2. Each poster session will last one and one-half (1 ½) hours. During this time, the presenter must remain at the display to answer questions and discuss informally the contents of the display.

3. We are sorry, but we cannot accommodate scheduling requests. You will be assigned to one of six poster session time slots. Your poster session presentation time cannot be changed. At least one of the authors must be present at the assigned time.

4. The titles and names of authors of each poster session will appear in the ALA Program, which is distributed to all who register at the conference. The ALA Poster Session Booklet, which is available to all who attend poster sessions, lists titles, authors and abstracts of each poster session.

5. The mounting of the display must be accomplished during the 15 minutes preceding your scheduled presentation and taken down during the 15 minutes following your assigned time.

6. The poster display should include a statement of the problem, objectives of the research or project, methodology used to solve the problem or implement the program, and major findings or outcomes and their significance and conclusions. There should be a logical sequence: introduction, development, and conclusion-to your display. Each sheet should be numbered.

7. While we request poster board surfaces to be four (4) feet high by eight (8) feet wide, this can vary by 6 inches depending on the conference site, so prepared for flexibility. Some boards may have an edging up to one inch. A table will also be provided for you to place handouts or other supplementary materials on. These are the only materials provided to you. You must bring pins or thumbtacks for mounting your display.

8. A heading should be prepared for your presentation using lettering at least two inches high for the title of the presentation. The name(s) of the presenter(s), and their institutional/organizational affiliation(s) should also be included on the heading, but can be printed in a smaller font.

9. ALL lettering should be simple, bold, and easily legible at a distance of (4) feet.

10. Visuals enhance the effectiveness of your presentation. Think in terms of graphic impact. However, simplicity and legibility are more important than artistic accomplishments. For example, some color combinations, although attractive, are very difficult to read, especially if the lighting is not optimal. Charts, drawings photographs, and other illustrations are encouraged. [link to photos of attractive poster sessions]

11. A copy of your abstract should be posted in the upper left-hand corner of the board.

12. While handout materials are encouraged, you may wish to instead provide a sign-up sheet to record the names and addresses of attendees who might want more information, reprints, etc. No duplicating facilities will be available.

13. If you wish to bring electronic equipment to accompany your poster session, you must also bring a power source. No electrical outlets will be available for your use.