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Call for Annual Conference Proposals

The ILA 2023 Annual Conference Program Committee is seeking program proposals for this year’s conference. The deadline for submissions is April 4, 2023.

In 2023, we will convene in Springfield, Illinois with the theme Connect, Cultivate, Collaborate.

Every library in Illinois seeds connections to resources, cultivates stories, and collaborates with community and partners to grow. We are seeking programming that explores the connections between and beyond libraries. We ask that you consider how we cultivate existing partnerships or sow new ones. Consider how the partnerships, services, and programs that we’ve grown over the last few years can act as a roadmap into the future. For this conference, we intentionally shed our silos that divide us and seek to discover the multitude of ways our collaborations make us stronger for our profession and our communities.

To find additional guidance about submitting proposals, including program tracks, formats, learning outcomes, and collaborating with ILA forums and committees, visit the Conference Proposal Submission Information page.

Please Note: Conference speakers who are employed by or a trustee of a library (academic, public, school, special), a library agency, or library school located in Illinois are required to register and pay the appropriate registration fee for the conference. Speakers from outside the Illinois library community will receive a one-day waiver of their registration fee. 

Submit a Program Proposal

Financial Assistance Available

Financial assistance is available to offset registration fees for a limited number of speakers who would not otherwise be able to attend the conference. Librarians and library staff who have faced structural barriers to participation, including small and rural libraries, are encouraged to apply. Assistance will be awarded based on the following criteria:

• Financial need
• Geographic diversity
• Speakers from underrepresented groups in the library profession
• First-time speakers
• Topic adds diversity to conference programming

Before applying for assistance, you must submit your program proposal. Previous recipients are not eligible for funding. Questions can be directed to Kristin Pekoll at kpekoll@ila.org.

Apply for Speaker Registration Assistance

Need Some Help?

Have an idea for a program that's not fully formed? Looking for a co-presenter to bring in additional perspectives? Are you a first-time presenter and need/want some assistance putting together your first session? You can submit a request for speaker support and the committee will help you develop your program.

Submit a Speaker Support Request