<div dir="ltr">Please send out the following email from the OLA/PNLA Annual Conference Committee. <div><br></div><div>Thank you,</div><div>Meghan Thompson</div><div>2026 OLA/PNLA Annual Conference </div><div>Communications Subcommittee<br><div><br></div><div><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-e425db64-7fff-4636-b80e-079a4fcd2493"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">We’re happy to announce that submissions for the 2026 joint Oregon Library Association (OLA) / Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) Conference sessions are now open!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSBt_ue_csmvIvft_xMoLSTtJJ9N7U5tZ_dwQR5cXkJwmrAA/viewform?usp=header" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">2026 Conference session proposal form</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The deadline for program session submissions is Monday, October 20. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">This year’s theme is “Get Loud for Libraries,” a galvanizing call to action to unify libraries for mutual support and deep collaboration.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Proposals from all library types are encouraged. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Great sessions inform, inspire, and empower. Great proposals identify the target audience and expected takeaways. We will prioritize providing a wide variety of learning opportunities, including sessions that model a flipped-classroom approach, offer opportunities for sharing experiences, and encourage participants to tell their stories. Note there will be no pre-conference sessions.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Consider the following categories when submitting your proposal:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:36pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Digital Innovation and Emerging Technologies in Libraries</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:36pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Building Inclusive and Diverse Communities</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:36pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Collaborative Strategies for Lifelong Learning</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:36pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Strengthening Library Partnerships: Local to Global</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:36pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Sustainability, Advocacy, and the Future of Libraries</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:36pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Mutual Aid for Libraries and Library Communities</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:36pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Legislative and Social Activism and Advocacy</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:36pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Have an out-of-the-box idea? Let us know!</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Sessions will be reviewed by a committee using an EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism) lens. Presenters who submit similar proposals may be asked to combine sessions. Session reviewers may reach out for clarifications or requests regarding proposals.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Lead presenters will be notified of their session’s status by January 6. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EWJbAeFtlDyqruhgcyLm7VMXrlk-AQKX/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113647703222968405507&rtpof=true&sd=true" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Tips for a great program proposal.</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-left:18pt;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(36,36,36);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The 2026 OLA/PNLA Conference will be held in Portland from Wednesday, April 22 through Friday, April 24.</span></p></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div></div>