Making the Case for the Annual Meeting

The Society for Scholarly Publishing’s 43rd Annual Meeting will be held online from May 24-May 27, 2021. Engage with the experts and thought leaders in the field in this four-day education and networking event!

• Pre-meeting seminars designed to offer an opportunity for in-depth learning on various topics the week before the main conference kicks off;
• Dynamic keynote speakers addressing critical topics including amplifying knowledge in a world of misinformation, and fighting racial inequality in the publishing industry;
• Innovative new content addressing topics including ethics, business models, professional development, equity and inclusion, editorial and production, and, of course, the impacts of COVID-19;
• Unique new networking opportunities, no matter where you are in the world;
• The SSP Previews session with lightning-round presentations of new technologies and products;
• Industry Breakout sessions with more opportunities to meet and learn; and
• New Poster sessions highlighting case studies and best practices in publishing.

Why Attend?

The SSP Annual Meeting is the focal point for those engaged in scholarly communication. By bringing professionals together in an open exchange of the newest technical information and ideas, the meeting provides the highest standard in professional communication.

Who Should Attend?

SSP Annual Meeting attendees include professionals in the various sectors concerned with scholarly publishing, including publishers, technology providers, scholars, librarians, database producers, funders, and other stakeholders.

What to say?
So, you’ve decided you want to attend but now you have to submit your request to leadership. This is going to be a great opportunity but how do you get your organization on board? We’ve got some tips to get you started so get ready to plan your rationale and leverage your communication skills!

Offer to seek out information.
The Annual Meeting not only benefits attendees but also provides tangible takeaways for an entire team. It’s not just about your professional development, it’s about how your entire team—in fact, your company—will benefit from the information and insights you’ll gain.

Could you meet with vendors in the exhibit hall and gather information about new products? Could you bring back market knowledge by attending the event’s roundtables with librarians, researchers, and administrators? What could you learn by reaching out to an attendee in a role similar to yours at another organization? How will your presence at the conference increase company exposure, either on social media or within your community?

After the event, offer to share your takeaways from the conference over a zoom meeting or chat. You might also take detailed notes and distribute them. Be specific in what sessions you will attend and what benefits you expect to bring back.

Create a sample agenda with a list of sessions you’d like to attend.
Before you discuss the conference with your manager, be sure you’ve thoroughly explored the conference program and speakers. Familiarize yourself with all the options available and start thinking about which sessions align best with your organization’s objectives and aspirations. Then, determine which sessions are likely to contribute to these goals. Create an outline of your selections with a brief justification for each choice. In your justifications, be specific.

Explore bulk registration options.
We all know the last year has asked us to do more with less and control costs wherever possible. Sending a group to our Annual Meeting is more affordable than ever before, with significantly reduced registration rates, no travel expenses, and discounts beginning with the third registrant from a single organization.

Create a plan and a budget.
Although you don’t have to factor in travel this year, the cost to attend a virtual conference includes more than just registration. In this time of divided attention, you will have to factor in time away from work. All things considered, leadership will want to hear thoughtful justifications for your attendance. Less time away from work is certainly an advantage when trying to convince your manager to approve a professional development activity. A virtual conference won’t take you out of the office for a prolonged length of time, giving you more flexibility to complete your regular work tasks.

Although there is no substitute for an in-person meeting to share knowledge, evidence, and experience in the same place, our virtual Annual Meeting provides many new innovative ways to connect with exhibitors, mentors, and collaborators. Without dwelling on the tumultuous events of the past year, we recognize their impact, igniting—and sometimes forcing—innovation to meet changing demands.

Join our vibrant community of publishers, librarians, academics, service providers, funders, technologists, and others with a stake in how research is shared as we chart a new course, and embrace the chaos to ignite innovation. Talk to your manager now–early bird registration rates are only available until April 24.