Atla Annual FAQs

General Conference Questions

• When is the conference?

• Where is the conference held?

• Where can I make hotel reservations?

• How do I keep up to date with news on Atla Annual?

• What is Atla’s Photo Policy?

• What is the COVID-19 Protocol Statement?

• How do I request an Invitation Letter?

• What are the dates and locations for future conferences?

Registration Questions

• How can I register to attend?

• What are the fees to attend the conference?

• Where can I access the conference schedule?

• Will there be pre-conference sessions?

• I’m an Affiliate or Institutional member representative. How do I register my staff? 

• I want to join Atla and register at the member rate. How do I do this?

Online Conference Experience Questions

• Where is the conference schedule?

• Why do I need to set up an account on Sched?

• How do I set up an account on Sched?

• What if I already have an account on Sched?

• How do I change Sched to reflect my local timezone? 

• Can I access the sessions on my mobile device from Sched?

• What platform will the conference be hosted on?

• Will the sessions be recorded?

• What equipment do I need?

• Can I participate in the conference on a mobile device?

• What accessibility services are offered?

• What language will the conference be hosted in?

• I am presenting. Where is the Guide?

Member Benefit Questions

• Do you offer any grants or scholarships to attend Atla Annual?

• Will I have access to the Proceedings after the conference?

• Are groups meeting during the conference?

Presenter Questions

• How do I submit a proposal?

• What are the types of sessions?

• Do you have an example of the proposal form?

• How do you select proposals?

• What is the conference proposal timeline?

• What are the best practices for submitting a proposal?

• What are some resources for presenting online?

• I am a presenter. Where is the Guide?

Vendor Questions

• Where can I find information on Exhibiting or Sponsoring Atla Annual? 

• Can I host a Vendor Session?

• What is Vendor Day?

General Conference Questions

When is the conference?

The conference will be held June 19-22, 2024 both online and in person.

Where is the conference held?

The in person conference will take place at the Hilton Long Beach (701 West Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, California). 

Online attendance will be possible via Zoom, with links to sessions accessible via Sched.

Where can I make hotel reservations?

Atla has reserved a block of rooms at a discount at the Hilton Long Beach. It is important that attendees stay at the conference hotel because guaranteeing a certain number of hotel nights is how we secure meeting space at low or no cost. Book your hotel reservation in the Atla Annual conference block.

How do I keep up to date with news on Atla Annual?

Sign up for alerts to be notified when any news is posted to our website.

What is Atla’s Photo Policy?

Atla believes using photos of our members and colleagues in our print and web publications fosters a greater sense of community. There may be photography, audio, or video recording at the event. Photographs and recordings taken at the event may be used in future marketing, publicity, promotions, advertising, and training activities for Atla. By entering the event premises, you agree to allow Atla to use these photographs and recordings, which may include you, in all media formats worldwide. Atla will never post images with identifying information such as name, email address, or address. No special compensation is provided to any individual included in images taken at the event. Atla does not contact individuals to notify them if or when their images are used by Atla.

You may opt-out of inclusion by submitting the Media Opt-Out form. Once you have submitted a completed form, you should endeavor to alert photographers and videographers you see nearby to you at the event so you are not accidentally captured in crowd shots.

Fill out the Opt-Out Form.

What is the COVID-19 Protocol Statement?

The health and safety of attendees is a priority. Atla wants to provide and inform attendees of our protocols to help you govern yourself at our conference. These protocols are guided by our core value of hospitality, inclusion, and diversity.

We will follow all current venue, city, state, and any federal requirements and regulations, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on masking, distancing, and health-related matters. Sanitation protocols will be implemented to ensure a safe environment.

At this time, attendees will not be required to provide proof of vaccination or negative test results to attend. We aim to be a welcoming community, and masks remain welcome. Individuals who are fully vaccinated may desire to continue wearing a mask as a personal choice and are encouraged to feel comfortable in doing so. We encourage everyone to be accepting of everyone’s choices.

By registering to attend Atla Annual 2024 in person, you understand, recognize, and accept the risk of contracting COVID-19 (while traveling or attending) and are releasing Atla, its Board of Directors, and Atla Staff from any liability, harm, or inherent risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

How do I request an Invitation Letter?

Please fill out this application. If approved, you will receive a letter within five business days.

What are the dates and locations for future conferences?

Atla Annual 2025 will be held June 18 – 21, 2025, at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Registration Questions

How can I register to attend?

If you are a member, log in to your My Atla account, visit our Events page, and follow the instructions on the screen.

If you are not a member, begin by creating an account on the My Atla web portal. After creating your account, visit our Events page and log in using your newly-created credentials and follow the instructions on the screen.

What are the fees to attend the conference?

Where can I access the conference schedule?

https://atlaannual2024.sched.com/

Will there be pre- or post- conference sessions?

There will not be any pre-conference sessions. The local host committee will be suggesting several possibilities for groups of members to gather to go on an excursion.

There are 3 post-conference workshops on Saturday, June 22nd for in person attendees only. These workshops are free for full conference in-person registrants and available at a separate $50 registration fee for those who are not attending the conference. 

I’m an Affiliate or Institutional member representative. How do I register my staff? 

Register by going to our Events page and signing into your My Atla account.

You will be asked if you would like to register yourself or register a colleague. Follow the instructions on the screen. By registering for a colleague, you accept all policies and protocols on behalf of your colleague. 

Don’t see your colleague’s name on your institution’s roster? You may need to update your roster before registering your staff in the My Atla web portal. To update your library’s roster, log in to My Atla, visit the My Affiliations tab, select the ellipsis icon next to your primary affiliation, and select Manage My Roster to add or remove individuals. Only the member representative will be able to edit the library’s roster. 

I want to join Atla and register at the member rate. How do I do this?

To register at the member rate, you will first need to join Atla as an Individual or Student member. Once your membership order is complete and payment has been processed, visit the Upcoming Events tab in My Atla to continue with registration and member pricing will be automatically applied.

Online Conference Experience Questions

Where is the conference schedule?

https://atlaannual2024.sched.com/

Why do I need to set up an account on Sched?

The official conference schedule is on Sched and access to Sched is required to access the Zoom links for sessions. If you are having trouble signing up for Sched, please contact us.

Also, attendees will be able to view other attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors on Sched.

How do I set up an account on Sched?

Only registered attendees can set up and create their schedules on Sched. Once you have registered for the conference on My Atla, within one to two business days you will receive an email (from notifications@sched.com) requesting you to activate your account and inviting you to create your schedule on Sched.

What if I already have an account on Sched?

If you have an account you used before with Sched, we can add your preferred email. Contact us to make this change.

How do I change Sched to reflect my local time zone?

When viewing the main page of the event on Sched, the right-hand side of the screen will give you the option to change the time zone, as well as filter your views. Please note that the default time zone setting is Eastern Standard Time.

Can I access the sessions on my mobile device from Sched?

Yes, but the “Open Zoom” button and links are not currently supported on the Sched mobile app. Those buttons will only appear on the web version of Sched. Open your phone browser to https://atlaannual2024.sched.com/ to view the web version of the site. 

What platform will the conference be hosted on?

The online sessions of the conference will be hosted on Zoom. Links to sessions will only be available in Sched.

Will the sessions be recorded?

Sessions will be recorded and made available to conference registrants if all presenters in a session have agreed to do so. In person post-conference workshops will not be recorded.

What equipment do I need?

Online attendees will be able to access the full online program through any computer or device which supports Zoom meetings.

Can I participate in the conference on a mobile device?

The schedule will be available through Sched’s mobile app. For full mobile functionality, open your phone browser to https://atlaannual2024.sched.com/ to view the web version of the site. 

What accessibility services are offered?

Atla uses Zoom for online conference sessions. Zoom’s live transcription feature will automatically provide captions for all online presentations.

What language will the conference be hosted in?

All conference events will be in English.

Member Benefit Questions

Do you offer any grants or scholarships to attend Atla Annual? 

Yes! Visit the Grant Programs Available for Atla Annual 2024 for detailed information.

Will I have access to the Proceedings after the conference?

Yes, the Atla Summary of Proceedings is an open access publication. Members may opt-in to receive a printed edition by selecting their choice in the My Atla web portal under Publication preferences. Learn more.

Are groups meeting during conference?

Official business meetings of groups will take place via Zoom in the weeks following the conference and will be listed on Sched. Some groups may choose to hold ad hoc gatherings at conference, if the group provides Atla staff with information regarding the gathering, it will be shared on Sched. Otherwise, please check with the leader of your group for an in person gathering details.

Presenter Questions

How do I submit a proposal?

The proposal submissions process was closed Monday, January 15, 2023.

Do you have an example of the proposal form?

Yes! View a PDF of the proposal form.

What are the types of sessions?

Business Meeting (45-minute Session) — Official business meetings of groups will take place via Zoom in the weeks following the conference and will be listed on Sched. Some groups may choose to hold ad hoc gatherings at conference, if the group provides Atla staff with information regarding the gathering, it will be shared on Sched. Otherwise, please check with the leader of your group for an in person gathering details.

• Denominational Group – A meeting of an Atla Denominational Group. 
• Interest Group Meeting – A meeting of an Atla Interest Group. 
• Regional Group Meeting – A meeting of a Regional Group. 
• Other Meeting – A meeting of any other group, such as NACO, Reciprocal Borrowing, Atla Digital Library, Atla Open Press editorial boards, etc. 

Conversation Group (45-minute Session) – Presenter(s) gives brief introductory remarks (5-10 minutes) and facilitates a discussion among participants. 

Exhibitor (45-minute Session) – Exhibitors present or demonstrate their products and services to conference attendees during a concurrent time slot. Sponsorship or additional fees may be required. 

Lightning Round (5-10-minute Session) – Have a new idea to share with attendees? Present your idea in ten minutes/10 slides or less. This can also be a narrowly focused data blitz.

Listen & Learn (45-minute Session) – The session leader(s) introduces a new product or idea, showcases best practices in an area of librarianship, and/or provides suggestions for practical application in attendees’ library settings — time for questions should be included. 

Panel Presentation (75-minute Session) – A panel presentation is a small group (a moderator and a maximum of three panelists) in which the individual participants interact and present differing viewpoints on a topic. The purpose of a panel presentation is to be able to hear a wide range of perspectives on a given topic and to hear support and reasons for those positions from a group of experts. 

Paper (45-minute Session) – Presenters give an executive summary of a paper that includes a research-based component. Presenters are encouraged to post their papers to the conference website one month prior to the conference to allow attendees to review the paper in advance of the presentation. At the conference, the presenter should designate a respondent to facilitate discussion. 

Pre- or Post- Conference Workshop – Workshop leaders operate in a classroom environment to deliver in-depth practical training on a specific topic. 

• Full-Day (8 hours)
• Half-Day (4 hours)
• Quarter Day (2 hours)

Worship – Groups or individuals organize worship or other observance including identifying program and officiant and possibly a location other than the conference hotel. Atla staff will follow up in the Fall to discuss logistics and feasibility.

How do you select proposals?

Each year, the Conference Committee asks for proposals from members of Atla and the theological library community to build the conference schedule for the coming year. Submissions are collected by Atla staff and forwarded to the committee for the initial review prior to the committee’s winter meeting.

Rubric

A copy of the scoring rubric the Conference Committee uses to evaluate proposals is provided below. 

• Contribution to Organizational Ends – Is the proposed session consistent with the organizational ends of Atla?
• Purpose and Session Type – Does the session description match the session type? Is there appropriate engagement for the session type?
• Currency, Timeliness, Appropriateness – Does the proposal address a recent and/or significant development or issue in theological librarianship?
• Quality of Proposal – Does the proposal represent accepted standards of professional communication (i.e., tone, grammar, spelling, etc.)?
• Audience Applicability – Does the proposal have a broad audience for librarians at institutions of different sizes and types?
• Attend – Would you attend or recommend attendance at this session?

Each category is scored on a scale of 1-4 (1=definitely not, 2=probably not, 3=probably, 4=definitely).

During the meeting, committee members discuss each proposal in turn, noting the strengths of each proposal; the places where more clarification is needed to make the intent clearer to the committee and the eventual conference attendees; any similarities between proposals received that might warrant a joint presentation; and if there are additional topics not present that should be included (and if so, where we might find members able to present on these topics).

The committee then attempts to create a rough schedule for the conference. The final schedule aims to place topics of interest for the same general audience at different times when possible and to keep one person from making different presentations close together. The time period requested for each session is considered also as the committee develops the general timetable for each day.

Following the meeting, committee members contact each proposal submitter with information about the acceptance process, including requests for additional information or suggestions to consider joining forces with another member who has proposed a similar topic. The final schedule is built from these accepted proposals.

Overall, the goal of the conference committee is to ensure that the topics proposed are in line with conference objectives, are clear and appropriate for the type of session and time slot selected and represent a broad range of the interests of Atla Annual attendees. The committee welcomes sessions from both new and returning conference presenters.

As Atla members themselves, the committee shares an interest in making the Atla Annual as helpful and educational as possible.

What is the conference proposal timeline?

• November – Call for proposals
• Mid- January – Deadline for submission of proposals
• Late January/Early February – Conference Committee meets to review and select proposals
• Mid- to Late February – Notification to proposal submitters

What are the best practices for submitting a proposal?

For tips on creating and submitting a compelling proposal, check out this video, and reach out to us if you have any other questions.

What are some resources for presenting online?

• Setting Up Your Computer For An Online Presentation (Video)
• Top 5 Tips For Creating Slides (Video)

I am a presenter. Where is the Guide? 

We are in the process of updating the Presenters’ Guide for 2024. It will be posted and shared with presenters soon. Check back for updates as the event draws closer.

Vendor Questions

Where can I find information on Exhibiting or Sponsoring Atla Annual? 

We have posted our Prospectus here: https://www.atla.com/for-publishers/atla-annual/

Can I host a Vendor Session?

Contributing Sponsors, Major Sponsors, and Premier Sponsors will have the option for a concurrent session on either Thursday, June 20, or Friday, June 21. The time slot is 45-minute and in person only. Subject to availability.

This session will be streamed for conference attendees and recording will be required. These sessions will be disseminated to all conference attendees, allowing attendees to catch up on what they missed.

Session description and speaker list are due by May 1, or earlier. More information will be provided closer to the date.