Call for MAC 2024 Poster Presentations

The Midwest Archives Conference will hold its 2024 Annual Meeting May 2-4 at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown in Des Moines, Iowa. The capital city of Iowa, Des Moines is known for arts, culture, and its place in the heartland of America’s agricultural production.

Poster Proposals:

The 2024 Program Committee invites poster proposal submissions on all aspects of archival practice and research, as well as on topics from allied and related fields. The Program Committee seeks a diverse slate of presenters representing a variety of personal and institutional backgrounds, perspectives, and voices. We seek to foster a culture of inclusion in the MAC program and encourage submissions from anyone who is interested in presenting, including students, new professionals, first-time presenters, and those from allied professions. MAC membership is not required to present. Poster presentations will be onsite only and at least one author must be present.

DEADLINE EXTENDED to Monday, February 12, 2024. 

Posters should loosely correlate to the overall theme of the conference, “Sowing Seeds of Change.” Potential areas of focus for posters include:

  • Areas of growth in archival theory, technology, and practice
  • Approaches to reference and instruction 
  • Community archiving approaches and practices
  • Encouraging advocacy and collaboration

For more ideas, see the earlier conference Call for Session Proposals here.

Proposal Evaluation:

The MAC PC Poster Subcommittee will evaluate all proposals submitted by the deadline. Proposals will be evaluated in two ways: Merit and clarity of the 1750-character abstract; and completeness of the proposal, particularly having well-developed content to understand all relevant aspects of the topic. Individuals with proposals chosen for inclusion in the MAC 2024 Annual Meeting will be notified in February 2024.

To submit a proposal, please fill out the MAC 2024 Poster Proposals Submission Form. DEADLINE EXTENDED to Monday, February 12, 2024. Please note that this year there will also be an opportunity to submit a pop-up session, voted upon by the MAC membership and meeting attendees. You are welcome to submit both a poster and pop-up session on the same topic; however, only one or the other will be accepted.

We look forward to seeing you in Des Moines!

Poster Prizes:

Prizes, to be determined, will be awarded for posters based on the following criteria:

  • Originality
  • Relation to meeting theme (“Sowing the Seeds of Change”)
  • Creativity displayed in the poster

Poster Session Tips:

Poster sessions are a means to communicate and exchange ideas, programs, research, and projects to fellow MAC meeting attendees. Poster sessions may present any of the following:

  • A description of an innovative archives program
  • An examination of a practical, problem-solving endeavor
  • An explanation of a research investigation
  • Novel archival projects or case studies
  • Student research or projects

Posters typically include pictures, data, graphs and/or diagrams with narrative text on paper backing that are approximately 36x24 inches. MAC will provide easels, thumb tacks, and appropriately sized foam board. 

Authors are required to present their posters in person during scheduled times during the meeting (Friday morning and afternoon breaks). These presentations are more like elevator speeches that summarize the poster content with attendees that stop by the poster to view it and ask questions. Helpful tips on creating posters are available at these links:

Poster sessions cannot be used to advertise products or to display vendor items. If you are unsure if your proposal qualifies or if you have questions about the poster submission process, please email Jessie Knoles, Poster Coordinator, at [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Question: Will MAC pay my travel expenses and/or registration fee to attend the annual meeting if I am presenting a poster? 

Answer: No, MAC cannot reimburse you for your travel or conference registration expenses. However, MAC offers travel scholarships for first-time meeting attendees. Applications for the  Mark A. Greene Award for First-Time Meeting Attendees are due February 19, 2024.

2. Question: What if I have a conflict between my poster session presentation time and a meeting? 

Answer: At least one author of the poster must be present during the poster sessions. This is the opportunity to give feedback to conference attendees who stop to ask questions. Poster sessions cannot be presented unless at least one author is present during the allotted times.

3. Question: What happens if I have to cancel my poster session because I can't attend the conference? 

Answer: Please plan on a backup person who will be able to represent your poster if an emergency arises. If an alternate presenter is unable to be arranged, your poster will not be included in the poster session.

4. Question: Can I have an internet connection or other electrical support? 

Answer: If your poster session includes electrical equipment, you may need to provide your own source of power (e.g., batteries). We cannot guarantee electrical support or Internet connections in the poster session area. Audio-visual presentations that include sound are not encouraged, as they can be distracting to the other presenters and attendees. However, if you are able to supply headphones for viewers/listeners, sound is acceptable. 

Please note in your proposal if you request specific electrical support.

5. Question: What about simultaneous submissions? Can I submit a poster session proposal about a project for which I've also submitted a manuscript for publication in a journal? 

Answer: Yes, poster submissions for articles that have been simultaneously submitted for publication are welcomed, as long as you note the simultaneous submission on the proposal form.

6. Question: What is the difference between the MAC Exhibit area and the MAC Poster Session Area? 

Answer: The poster session area is expressly not for vendors to display or promote new products, or for organizational displays.