A Professional Development Conference for Library Staff
Reaching Forward North is an annual professional development conference for library support staff in central and northern Illinois. With a commitment to providing quality training and information, Reaching Forward North strives to be the premier professional development opportunity in the Chicagoland and surrounding areas.
Reaching Forward North 2026
Save the Date!
Friday, May 22, 2026
Location
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 North River Road, Rosemont, IL
Public Announcement: Sunsetting of Performers’ Showcase
After careful consideration, ILA has made the decision to sunset the Performers’ Showcase from Reaching Forward North conferences. This decision was not made lightly, and it reflects our ongoing commitment to the ILA mission “Advocacy, equity, learning, and engagement, for the benefit of Illinois libraries.”
Why This Change?
Reaching Forward North is an annual professional development conference for library support staff in central and northern Illinois. With a commitment to providing quality training and information, Reaching Forward North strives to be the premier professional development opportunity in Chicagoland and surrounding areas.
While we understand that access to performers is an important part of programming for a segment of conference attendees, limited resources require that our focus remain on quality educational sessions and networking opportunities with exhibitors for all attendees. It’s important to us to direct our time and energy to meeting the needs of all our members and Illinois library workers instead of marketing performers.
ILA and the Reaching Forward North Committee still invite providers of library programs and performers to apply to exhibit in order to provide information to and network with attendees. Applications will open in January.
Alternative Programming Resources
Thank You
We are deeply grateful to all who supported, contributed to, or participated in the Reaching Forward North Performers’ Showcases of the past. Your engagement helped shape it into what it was. We’re excited about the future as we focus our resources to better serve the needs of Illinois library workers. Sincerely, Cynthia Robinson, Executive Director, Illinois Library Association
If you have any questions, please email ila@ila.org
Reaching Forward Awards
Two awards are presented at the Reaching Forward Conference.
The Oberman and Rich Reaching Forward Conference Grant recognizes the contributions of a support staff member to the library community and the role of support staff in libraries. The recipient will receive free registration to the current year Reaching Forward Conference, $100 for expenses, and a framed certificate.
The Robert Doyle ILA Conference Grant for Support Staff encourages ILA membership and support staff attendance at the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference. The recipient will receive a one-year ILA membership and full registration and expenses to attend the ILA Annual Conference, up to $1,000, and a framed certificate.
Conference Schedule
|
8:30 - 9:00 a.m
|
Morning Coffee, Exhibits, and Networking
|
|
9:15 - 10:15 a.m
|
Breakout Session 1
|
|
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
|
Breakout Session 2
|
|
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m
|
Luncheon and Awards
|
|
12:45 - 1:15 p.m.
|
Exhibits Break
|
|
1:15 - 2:15 p.m.
|
Breakout Session 3
|
|
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
|
Breakout Session 4
|
iREAD Summer Reading Programs
Latest Library JobLine Listings
