Annual Conference

Audio Visual Resources

PowerPoint Tips and Internet Access Needs

NASIG has always produced high quality and accessible conferences for the serials community. We hope that by including your presentation in our program, we will have another outstanding conference. A chronic problem in all aspects of our professional and personal lives is cost containment. Producing NASIG 2008, "Take the Sting out of Serials" is no exception. Audio-visual support at conferences is a very expensive proposition, and this year, costs for these services could be even higher. Internet access is an added cost not included in basic AV support.

In addition, comments on the conference evaluations for the past few years have indicated that powerpoint presentations are not always as well received or as desirable as we might hope. Frequently, attendees end up copying down slide information instead of listening to speakers. Low lighting for best viewing of slides is detrimental to note taking. And often, the slides simply aren't done well; they are used as a speaker's crutch instead of an added value illustration.

We hope that audio-visual support is one area where we can curtail spending and at the same time, give conference attendees what they've told us they want. To do this, the Board has asked the Program Planning Committee to convey to potential and confirmed speakers a request to keep AV needs, especially the need for Internet connections, to only what is truly needed.

Before you request audio-visual support, please consider using handouts in lieu of powerpoint slides. In cases where you might use a live demo, consider downloading the demo to a local device instead of using an Internet connection. The Program Planning and Conference Planning Committees will try to accommodate your requests as we abide by the Executive's Board's budget directive. Below is a list of websites with tips for delivering effective presentations and for using powerpoint slides wisely.

PowerPoint Presentations: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly by Steven H. Kaminski

10 Tips for Successful Speaking With (or Without!) PowerPoint by Nan Andrews Amish and Liz de Clifford

The Making of the Gettysburg PowerPoint Presentation by Peter Norvig

Scoring Power Points by Jamie McKenzie

What to do and What to avoid with PowerPoint Presentations by Anand Natrajan