Wednesday, April 1
8:30–10 a.m.
General Session: Bryan Stevenson
Stevenson, author of the memoir Just Mercy and the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Ala., will speak to PLA attendees about his legal efforts to represent economically disadvantaged people in the U.S. judicial system.
10:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Advancing Antiracism, Equity, and Justice Through Programming Design
This two-hour “deep dive” panel explores social justice principles and gives participants research tools to model their own community programs.
10:15–11:15 a.m.
AI Book Clubs and Digital Literacy for Older Adults
Autumn Hassett, executive director of the Cotuit Library of Cape Cod, Mass., will share how her library used generative AI tools to facilitate a hybrid AI book club for older adults.
10:15–11:15 a.m.
Beyond Drag Queen Storytime
Annapolis Pride board member Jayne Walters, of the Anne Arundel County (Md.) public library, will talk about opportunities for connection and positive representation between libraries and the LGBTQ+ community.
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Advocacy at the Core of ALA’s Next 150 Years
As the American Library Association turns 150, ALA executive director Dan Montgomery, 2025–2026 president Sam Helmick, 2026–2027 president-elect Maria McCauley, and public policy and advocacy office leader Lisa Varga will discuss ALA’s strategic plan, ways to raise awareness of local libraries, and resources for advocacy.
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Prompting AI to Harness Your Grant Proposal Potential
Miriam Anderson Lytle, director of grants at Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, Ill., and Stephen Markve, an English professor, will talk about grants to support community needs and suggest winning strategies for grant writing.
11:45–12:45 p.m.
Speak Up: Using Middle Grade Books to Build Allyship Muscles
Tanvi Rastogi, founder of the nonprofit Good Books Young Troublemakers, joins Sir Callie series author Esme Symes-Smith and Los Angeles children’s librarian Caitlin Quinn in a conversation about how inclusive books can generate conversations with young readers.
11:45–12:45 p.m.
Creating a Spark: Developing Library Programs for Justice-Impacted People
This program will detail best practices for collaborating with correctional facilities and providing digital literacy skills training for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.
12:30–1:45 p.m.
Audio Publishers Association Lunch
Authors Sayantani DasGupta, Jennifer Hillier, Kody Keplinger, Isabel J. Kim, and Ariel Sullivan will be the guests at a celebration of audiobooks. Ticketed event.
1:30–2:15 p.m.
Author Spotlight with Mac Barnett
The 2025–2026 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and author of Make Believe: Telling Stories to Children (Little, Brown, May) and the picture book Rumpelstiltskin, illustrated by Carson Ellis (Orchard, out now), appears in a virtual conference session. Add-on available to in-person conference-goers. (Virtual event.)
2–3 p.m.
Beyond the Binder: Summer Reading Strategies for Rural Libraries
Because summer reading programs can be cost-prohibitive and labor-intensive for rural and small libraries, this session will provide scalable examples of successful designs and community partnerships.
2–3 p.m.
Supporting Indie and Self-Published Authors Through Library Submissions
Librarians Christi Aldellizzi and Valerie Smith of the Ocean County (N.J.) library system will share tips for adding author-publishers’ work to collections and working with local storytellers.
2–3 p.m.
Transforming Library Public Policy and Advocacy in a New Political Era
Members of ALA’s public policy and advocacy office will share strategies for combating threats to funding, copyright law, and the right to read.
Thursday, April 2
7–8 a.m.
Children’s Author Breakfast
Katherine Applegate, Marley Dias, Donna Barba Higuera, and Sara Pennypacker will introduce their latest books for young readers. Ticketed event.
8–9 a.m.
General Session: Big Ideas with Dr. Ruha Benjamin
Benjamin, author of Imagination: A Manifesto and founding director of the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab at Princeton University, explores creative solutions to social inequities in her PLA keynote address.
9:30–10:30 a.m.
Legislative and Executive Orders: What to Know
Public policy experts will discuss effective responses to federal, state, and local actions that threaten to impair library services.
10:15–11:15 a.m.
Capital Funding in a Tumultuous Time
In the wake of 2025 Government Accountability Office findings that U.S. library facilities need infrastructure improvements, a funding strategist, library director, architect, and former state official will discuss investments in capital building projects.
10:15–11:15 a.m.
Understanding First Amendment Rights for Everyday Courage in the Stacks
Joyce McIntosh of ALA’s Freedom to Read Foundation joins right to read advocates Dorcas Hand of Houston’s Students Need Libraries, MacKenzie Ledley of Pulaski County (Ind.) Public Library, and Linda Stevens of Harris County (Tex.) Public Library for a review of First Amendment protections that cover librarians and patrons.
10:15–11:15 a.m.
From Kimchi to Korean Book Discussion: Culture and Community
San Diego Public Library youth services librarian Ann Ban, ALA president-elect Maria McCauley, and San Francisco Public Library city librarian Michael Lambert will share experiences creating Korean American heritage events that promote cultural awareness and generate strong community demand.
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Masters of Mystery
Esme Addison, Nicolas DiDomizio, Lisa Gardner, Jennifer Hillier, and David Heska Wanbli Weiden will talk about writing thrillers and sign books.
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Reading Railroad: 250 Black Men as Reading Conductors
Representatives of the Dayton (Ohio) Metro Library describe their Reading Railroad initiative, which mobilized Black men to serve as reading ambassadors, offer storytimes, and uplift youth literacy in 2025.
12:30–1:45 p.m.
Author Lunch with Ann Patchett and Kate DiCamillo
PEN/Faulkner award winner Patchett, author of Whistler (Harper, June), will share the stage with two-time Newbery Medalist DiCamillo, most recently the author of chapter book Orris and Timble: Star Stories, illustrated by Carmen Mok (Candlewick, Apr.). Ticketed event.
1–1:20 p.m.
How to Survive and Thrive in the Politics of Library Leadership
Maureen Hartman, director of the St. Paul Public Library, will share management insights, with an emphasis on navigating challenges and setbacks in tense workplaces. (How-To Stage)
2–3 p.m.
Serving Migrants at Ground Zero
Leaders from the Queens Public Library will explain how to implement “know your rights” workshops, language and informational services, and community learning projects for people new to the U.S.
2–3 p.m.
Trust and Verify: Information Accuracy in the Age of SEO, AI, and Algorithms
This session will cover practical tips for building resilience against misinformation and disinformation in digital spaces.
2–3 p.m.
Building a Public Library Foundation from Scratch
Leaders from the Library Support Network and Boston Public Library will share how they launched the mission-aligned, community-centered Boston Public Library Fund.
2–2:20 p.m.
How to Create an Ongoing Cat Adoption Space in Your Library
Two Steubenville, Ohio, library workers will share how a partnership with a Humane Society chapter contributed to early literacy and resulted in more than 100 cat adoptions. (How-To Stage)
4–5 p.m.
How Gen Z Use (and Don’t Use) Public Libraries
Kathi Inman Behrens and Rachel Noorda of Oregon’s Portland State University publishing program will present findings from their survey of Gen Z reading and library preferences.
4–5 p.m.
Pride Plus: Your Library as a Sanctuary for LGBTQIA+ Folks
Jordan Ostrum of Dayton (Ohio) Metro Library will share suggestions for inclusive, year-round programming for all ages.
4–5 p.m.
Re-Entry Starts Here: Building Services for Justice-Impacted People
Presenters from the St. Louis County (Mo.) Library will detail how they connect people with resources during and after incarceration.
4:30–4:50 p.m.
How to Play Ukulele for Library Programs
St. Paul Public Library children’s specialist Rose Oyamot will teach beginner-friendly uke chops and share guidance for respectfully sharing Hawaiian history through music. (How-To Stage)
Friday, April 3
8–9 a.m.
Advocacy Strategies for Getting Things Done
Five leaders from Oklahoma public libraries will explain how they pushed back against controversial library bills in their state.
10–10:20 a.m.
How to Use IMLS’s Library Data Tools
Marisa Pelzcar, program analyst at the Institute of Museum and Library Services, will give an overview of tools that enable users to search for peer libraries, explore library data, and set benchmarks. (How-To Stage)
10:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Accessibility Adventure: Experience the Possibilities in New Ways
2025–2026 PLA president Brandy McNeil will offer this two-hour “deep dive” program, which includes a presentation on accessibility plus hands-on, perspective-taking activities.
10:15–11:15 a.m.
Black Men in Libraries: Our History, Our Heroes, and Our Horizon
According to this session’s organizers, Black men hold less than 1% of MLIS degrees in the U.S. yet serve in an abundance of leadership roles from large urban library systems to small rural branches. Presenters will address workforce culture and diverse perspectives on librarianship.
10:15–11:15 a.m.
Smart Training for Tough Moments: A VR/GenAI Tool for Public Library Staff
In this workshop, a panel of information science and UX researchers will introduce a virtual reality experience that simulates workplace situations and uses an AI avatar to train users in de-escalation skills.
11:45–12:45 p.m.
Responding to ICE at the Library: Real World Stories
This presentation, which complements an on-demand webinar available from PLA, will address professional, legal interactions when agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement enter a public library.
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
From Prompt to Productivity: Build AI Agents to Boost Program Engagement
In this interactive session, attendees learn how to create a no-code AI programming assistant and prompt it to support marketing and reader-engagement tasks.
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Crossover Appeal: Books That Work for Teens and Adults
Authors Michelle Jabès Corpora, Emiko Jean, Marissa Meyer, and Randy Ribay will discuss reaching audiences of all ages.
12:30–1:45 p.m.
Author Lunch with Colson Whitehead
National Book Award recipient and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Whitehead, whose Cool Machine (Doubleday, July) completes his Harlem trilogy, will join PLA attendees. Ticketed event.
3:30–4:30 p.m.
Closing Session: Sean Sherman
Oglala Lakota culinary expert Sherman, aka the Sioux Chef, cofounded the Minneapolis restaurant Owamni in celebration of Indigenous foodways. The coauthor of Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America will speak about locally sourced food’s connection to social, economic, and environmental justice.
