The 2026 Annual Conference will be on Friday, May 15 (in-person) and Monday, May 18 (virtual). The in-person day will be held at James B. Hunt Jr. Library at NC State University in Raleigh, NC.
Registration
Registration for both days is FREE for NC LIVE member library staff!
- Register here for the in-person day in Raleigh, NC (May 15)
- Register here for the virtual day (May 18)
Registration for the in-person day will close on Friday, May 1.
Keynote Speakers
Friday, May 15 (In-Person)
Dr. Cyndee M. Landrum is a futurist, scholar, and equity-focused national library leader with experience spanning federal, state, and local institutions. Dr. Landrum is the Allen Smith Visiting Scholar/Associate Professor of Practice at the Simmons School of Library and Information Science. She previously served as Acting Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Library Services at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal investment in the nation’s museums and libraries. During her tenure, she invested in transformative efforts to increase equity, access, and innovation in museum and library services nationwide. Dr. Landrum has served in public libraries across the country, including serving as the CEO of the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library in Indiana, and as public library administrator in public libraries in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Illinois. She is active in professional associations, advisory boards, and nonprofits. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in linguistics from Northwestern University in Illinois, an MLIS from University of Southern Mississippi, and a PhD in Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions from Simmons University in Boston.
Monday, May 18 (Virtual)
Dr. Nancy Kranich coordinates the Rutgers University Library and Information Science Master's program and teaches Intellectual Freedom, Community Engagement, and Information Policy, classes enhanced by her years of professional service leading research libraries and serving as president of the American Library Association, with a focus on libraries and democracy.
As a career-long proponent of open access to information and the catalytic role of libraries in the advancement of democracy, Kranich has sustained research in these and related topics, which has distinguished her as a leading contributor to the literature of the field of library and information science as well as a prominent advocate for the civic role of libraries around the world.
Submit Your Proposal
We are now accepting presentation proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference! The following session types will be considered:
- Presentation (45 minutes)
- Workshop/Interactive session (45 minutes)
- Lightning talk (10-15 minutes)
While proposals do not need to fit the theme, we will give priority to submissions that relate to the theme in some way. Please see more details on the theme below.
Please complete the submission form Sunday, February 22. If you have any questions, please reach out to the NC LIVE Help Desk.
Theme
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States' Declaration of Independence ("America 250"), the conference theme is "Libraries and democracy." This theme emphasizes the idea that libraries are the cornerstone of a functioning democracy through their roles as information providers, community connectors, and supporters of civic life. Some presentation topics may include:
- Resources, tools, and programs focused on digital and information literacy
- The roles of libraries in public life
- Ethical use of AI and other technologies in a democratic society
- Library programs focused on civic engagement
- Creative approaches to providing information access
Previous conference pages: