Conferences & Events

ALA, its Divisions, Round Tables and Affiliates host many conferences, and in-person and online events to showcase cutting-edge developments in library advocacy, information literacy, and other areas of interest.
ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition, Chicago, June 25-29, 2026, For Our Libraries. For 150 Years More.

ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition

Chicago  |  June 25 – June 29, 2026

As part of the American Library Association’s 150th Anniversary, ALA Annual 2026 will bring together thousands of library professionals to celebrate our collective achievements and chart a bold course for the future of libraries. Expect special anniversary programming, influential thought leaders, signature events, and forward-focused learning designed to strengthen your library and advance your career.

Join the once-in-a-generation event that will shape libraries for years to come. Register Today and SAVE with early rates.

 

ALA Division Conferences

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ALA's offices and divisions sponsor various nationwide library promotions throughout the year, encouraging libraries to help raise public awareness of library issues.

Learn more about ALA policies, criteria, and general considerations regarding conference site selection.

Details on upcoming ALA Annual conferences and archives of previous ALA conferences.

March 2026
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Laptop with headphones and notepad

Who Manages, Who Leads: Part Two: Mentor, Progress, Succeed, Lead

March 30, 2026

"Who Manages, Who Leads Part Two" is a four-week program for managers and leaders to learn advanced theory and practice in leadership, succession, and mentorship, benefiting both experienced and newly hired leaders.

Reference
Administration & Leadership
eLearning
Online
Laptop and Window

Who Manages, Who Leads: Part Two: Mentor, Progress, Succeed, Lead

March 30, 2026

"Who Manages, Who Leads Part Two" is a four-week program for managers and leaders to learn advanced theory and practice in leadership, succession, and mentorship, benefiting both experienced and newly hired leaders.

Administration & Leadership
Programs & Services
eLearning
Online
Core Webinars

Best of Core Forum: Assessing Study Room Use and Patron Needs

March 31, 2026

Study room spaces have become a critical resource offered in large academic libraries, yet their standard configuration and policies may not be serving the diverse needs of all patrons. To address this, we conducted an assessment project at a large, land-grant university to gather data on study room usage and user preferences. This presentation will share the results from our study and discuss how we applied these insights to enhance the study room experience, including promoting our “Library of Things” collection as study room resources.

Administration & Leadership
eLearning
Online
PLA 2026 Conference event logo over a background of the Minneapolis skyline.

PLA 2026 Conference

April 01, 2026

Registration is now open for the highly anticipated PLA 2026 Conference, April 1–3, in Minneapolis Minnesota!

Conference
In-Person
Online
Core Webinars

Lean Thinking for Transformation: Actionable Change

April 01, 2026

This webinar outlines lean thinking management philosophy for an academic library setting as well as the strategic change management to embed lean thinking into an academic library’s organizational culture.

Administration & Leadership
Programs & Services
eLearning
Laptop with headphones and notepad

The Accidental Law Librarian: Legal Reference for Public Service Librarians

April 06, 2026

Where can I find child support guidelines? What are the laws in Nevada on gun ownership? How do I copyright my name? Any librarian who serves the public is apt to get such questions. With no legal training, however, many librarians find such question daunting. This course will rectify that situation, offering proven techniques to turn anyone into an Accidental Law Librarian.

Programs & Services
Reference
eLearning
Online
Core Webinars

Best of Core Forum: How to Create a Patron-Centered Administration

April 07, 2026

Do you want to take your library’s customer service to the next level? If so, this session is for you. We’ll share a step-by-step overview of how libraries have overhauled their customer service philosophy and elevated the patron experience from questioning and conflict to collaboration and coming to a consensus to find solutions. We’ll dig into how we created staff-driven library service success via innovation and leadership to pursue customer service excellence. In addition to sharing our own experiences, we’ll share our best tips for gaining buy-in from trustees, staff, patrons, and even those “responsibility warriors”!

Administration & Leadership
eLearning