Conferences & Preconferences
Upcoming Conferences
PLA at 2024 ALA Annual Conference
June 27–July 2, 2024
San Diego, CA
Join us at the 2024 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 27–July 2 in San Diego, for top-quality education and best practices; featured thought-leaders; and special programming for library professionals looking to further develop their libraries, communities, and careers.
PLA 2026 Conference
April 1–3, 2026
Minneapolis, MN
Offered biennially, the PLA Conference is the premier event for public libraries, drawing thousands of librarians, library support staff, trustees, friends, and library vendors from across the country and around the world. This multi-day event offers more than 100 thoughtfully curated education sessions, inspiring speakers and authors, engaging networking opportunities, career services, micro-learning moments, and a bustling exhibits hall featuring the latest in products, services, and innovations.
- Also upcoming: PLA 2028 Conference, April 5–7, 2028, Salt Lake City, UT
Past Conferences and Preconferences
Links to past events are provided here—handouts and/or archived recordings may be available.
PLA 2024 Conference
April 3–5, 2024
Columbus, OH
The Public Library Association (PLA) welcomed more than 7,500 public library workers, supporters, and vendors from across the country and around the world to celebrate all things public libraries at the PLA 2024 Conference, April 3–5, in the vibrant city of Columbus, Ohio! This three-day event offered more than 100 thoughtfully curated education sessions, inspiring speakers and authors, engaging networking opportunities, career services, micro-learning moments, and a bustling exhibits hall featuring the latest in products, services, and innovations.
LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience
January 27–30, 2023
New Orleans, LA
LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience is back, and this time it’s happening in person in New Orleans, January 27–30, 2023! At ALA’s newest conference offering, the focus is on innovative learning. You’ll have access to more than 120 education sessions on a variety of topics presented in formats to match your individual learning style and objectives. Here are just a few of the sessions you can look forward to:
- All Together Now: Changing Lives through Library Adult Education and Learning Resources
- An Open Access Future: Leveraging Wikimedia for Increased Visibility
- Building a Practical Toolkit for Censorship and Challenges at your Public Library
- Career Navigators in Libraries: a Person-Centered Emerging Service Model
- Finding Your Public Library Leadership Pathway
- How to Start Conversations about Justice and Equity
- Innovative Literacy Classes for New Americans
- Leverage Federal Funds to Advance Digital Equity in Your Community
- Not Your Typical Summer Camp: Engaging Teens in Responsible and Responsive Advocacy
Check out the full list of sessions on the LibLearnX website.
PLA at 2023 ALA Annual Conference
June 22–27, 2023
Chicago, IL
Below is a list of programs offered by PLA at the 2023 ALA Annual Conference, June 22–27 in Chicago.
- A Procrastinator's Guide to the 2023/2024 Solar Eclipses
- Accessible Digital Libraries: Navigating Library Reading Apps with Vision-Impaired Patrons
- Approaches to Collaborative Programming From Local to Statewide
- Collecting Stories from Underrepresented Communities: How to Co-Design a Community Archive at Your Public Library
- Conquering Cataloging: new perspectives with a new tool
- Culture In My Neighborhood: Bringing the Arts To Every Community and Every Library
- Data-Driven Planning and Advocacy for Public Libraries
- Designing Community-Responsive Mental Health Programs
- Diversi-TEAM: Building effective teams with diversity in mind
- Leadership by Design; A human-centered approach for library leaders
- Library of Things: Increasing Engagement & Digital Literacy to Empower Your Community
- Library Resilience from Coast to Coast: Lessons from Disaster Research to Engage Your Community and Empower Your Staff
- News You Can Use—Plug into DigitalLearn: New Programs and Opportunities for your Library
- PLA Legal Issues in Public Libraries Forum
- Programming for Accessibility: Workshops, Graphic Design and 508 Compliance (Core co-sponsored by PLA)
- Reconsideration Committee: Strengthening our Response to Customer Challenges
- Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit for Libraries
- Scalable Media Labs: Building Your Own Public Library Media Space
- Security in Today's Libraries
- Socioeconomic Mixing: Creating Public Libraries Where Everyone Belongs
- Telehealth in Libraries: What You Need to Know
- The Data Storytelling Toolkit for Librarians
- Therapy Cards: Mental Health Resources at the Library
- Transforming Community: A Rural Librarians Story
- Transforming Public Libraries’ Approach to Digital Literacy: Tools for Success
- Trust the Kids: How Chicago Public Library Supports Youth Autonomy
- Understanding Community by the Numbers
- Wish there was an App for that? Build one! Learn the processes needed to create a custom application and take your library from wishing to the app stores.
PLA 2022 Conference
March 23–25, 2022
Portland, OR
Thanks to everyone who attended the PLA 2022 Conference, either in-person in Portland or virtually! We hope you’ve been energized by the top-rated programs and inspiring speakers both the in-person PLA 2022 Conference and PLA 2022 Virtual Conference had to offer. Take a look back at the highlight videos on the conference homepage, and order your PLA 2022 Conference memorabilia at the ALA Gift Shop! The next PLA Conference will be:
