Events & Activities
Social connection with colleagues is as important as the professional collaborations we build. Join ILA Conference attendees for fun and laughs before the conference and in the evenings.
Everything Dope Bronzeville Tour
MONDAY, OCTOBER 13
1:30 PM–3:30 PM
DONALD E. STEPHENS CONVENTION CENTER: LOBBY
Join us for a bus tour of the historic Bronzeville neighborhood led by Chicago’s very own, Dilla. This engaging and unconventional tour provides an informative way to learn about the rich history and legacy of Bronzeville and its contributions to the arts, politics, and social movements of Chicago and beyond. The tour lasts about two hours and covers various landmarks, such as the Victory Monument, the Chicago Bee Building, and the former home of Ida B. Wells. The bus will pick us up and return us to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
Space is limited, add your name to the lottery between July 1 and September 15 to see if your name is chosen for a spot on the bus.
Once 48 lucky conference attendees are randomly selected, they will receive a registration link. Participation is $45 and must be paid by October 7th to attend. If payment is not received, by October 7th, the seat will be given to the next person in the lottery.
Chicago historian, Dilla, as he is affectionately called, is a fascinating blend of modern historian, cultural worker, and public employee. Dilla has become a Chicago social media sensation by going viral on Tiktok. His 60-second history videos on everything Chicago have been viewed over 20 million times, and he has amassed a following of 210K followers across all social media platforms. Dilla has been featured on all manner of Chicago media and has also appeared nationally on both The Today Show and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Dilla is a proud lifelong resident of Chicago’s South side. He lives by the saying that "Everything dope about America comes from Chicago.”
ILA Silent Auction
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14
6:30 PM–8:30 PM
DONALD E. STEPHENS CONVENTION CENTER: ROOM 26
The ILA Fundraising Committee is hosting a Silent Auction Fundraiser at the ILA Annual Conference 2025 in Rosemont, IL on Tuesday, October 14th from 6:30–8:30 pm. We are excited to host the silent auction online so everyone can bid whether you’re able to join us in-person or not.
The silent auction will open Sunday, October 12th at noon CST and run until Tuesday, October 14th at 8:20 pm. Our silent auction will include many handmade crafts, gift baskets, and library-themed gifts. Each item up for bid has been generously donated by our supporters, partners, staff, and sponsors, with all proceeds directly benefiting ILA continuing education, events, awards, and grants for the Illinois Library Community.
Items won in the auction can be:
- picked up on Tuesday evening after the auction closes,
- collected from the ILA Help Desk before the conference ends on Thursday afternoon, or
- shipped to a preferred location for an additional $50 fee.
Donations are still being collected!
Ms. Quiz Presents: A Trivia Night For Library Folks!
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14
7:00 PM–9:00 PM
DONALD E. STEPHENS CONVENTION CENTER: ROOM 26
We share a professional field blessed with brainiacs, nurtured by nerds, and swimming with smartypants…the perfect crowd for a challenging, high-energy, totally rad quiz night!
Doors open at 6:15 pm, with trivia starting promptly at 7:00. We’ll play several multi-format rounds of both general and libraryland-oriented questions. Prizes will be awarded to the top-scoring teams and for best team name!
Registration is appreciated–but not required. To register, we’ll need to know a team captain, a team name, and how many people are on your team. Teams may be between 4–8 people. Walk-in participation is absolutely welcome! If you would like to play but do not have a team, just show up or register solo and we’ll assign you to a team that wants an extra brain.
You are welcome to bring your own small snacks and non-alcoholic beverages! There will also be a cash bar available.
Your hostess, cheerleader, and question-setter is Ms. Quiz (Rory Parilac, Children’s Services Supervisor at the Bourbonnais Public Library). She’s thrilled to present a hand-crafted quiz just for Illinois librarylanders!
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