Advance Registration Rates for the 2026 ALA Annual Conference, coming up June 25–29 in Chicago, end on June 19! Make sure to join us for this is a milestone year as American Library Association marks 150 years. This is a defining moment for libraries and a chance to connect, learn, and move our work and our profession forward.
We’re offering more than 20 ACRL-sponsored sessions specifically geared for academic librarians that we know you’ll want to check out. Here are some of the highlights:
– ACRL President’s Program: Leading Academic Libraries through VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) in Higher Education (Saturday, June 27): In this year’s ACRL President’s Program, hosted by ACRL President Brad Warren, panelists Steven M. Adams of the Northwestern University Libraries, Maurini Strub of the University of Rochester River Campus Libraries, and Seangill Peter Bae of the IFLA RSCVD Initiative will explore how libraries are responding to rapid shifts in policy, technology, enrollment, funding, and research expectations. The discussion will highlight adaptive leadership approaches grounded in systems thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and organizational curiosity. Our panelists will examine how libraries are evolving from repositories of information to centers for knowledge application, research support, and community engagement. Don’t miss this chance to learn ways to position your library effectively to navigate change!
– Half a Brain and a Party Hat: Using Object-Based Learning to Jumpstart First Year Research (Saturday, June 27): This session presents an object-based learning strategy developed for a First Year Experience seminar to address the pinch point of getting students started with research. Drawing inspiration from museum and archival studies, social constructivism, and gamified learning, the activity promotes information literacy instruction that is active, adaptive, and collaborative.
– Digital Accessibility in Action: Collaborating for Inclusive Libraries (Sunday, June 28): This session focuses on practical strategies and shared approaches that libraries can put into practice. You’ll leave with actionable strategies, an Accessibility Index worksheet, and practical tips to guide your approach.
– Wellbeing Happens Here: Libraries as Catalysts for Campus Care (Sunday, June 28): In this session, two academic librarians will talk about establishing a Wellbeing Book Collection in their academic library, and how that became the catalyst for centering the library in the campus-wide conversation about, and support of, mental wellness and wellbeing initiatives.
– Instructional Methods to Reach Neurodiverse Students (Monday, June 29): Join the Dyslexic Positive Libraries Initiative (DPLI) for a practical session on how you can use high-quality, research-informed instructional strategies to support all college students.
– The Early-Career Resilience Toolkit: Collective Strategies for Thriving in Academic Libraries (Monday, June 29): Drawing on the perspectives of three recent MLIS graduates beginning their careers in academic libraries––one in access services , one as a special collections librarian, and one as a subject librarian––this session will examine strategies for navigating entering academia, potential setbacks, and opportunities for growth.
You’ll find hundreds more programs, discussions, and opportunities to connect with peers facing the same challenges. Explore the Preliminary Scheduler and start planning at the ALA Annual Conference website. You’ll leave with ideas you can put into action right away.