Attendee Registration Opens January 21!

Announcements

Event Code of Conduct

Rate Information

Preliminary Schedule

Speaker Information

Vendor & Sponsor Information

CLA Website

Announcement 11: Registration Open Jan 21.

Registration opens on January 21.

We are happy to announce that registration for Attendees and Speakers is now open! Registration Information Here.

Please note: Speakers Registration Link was sent to their Lead Planners in their contracts. Please do not use the Attendee registration link. Institutional Membership Registration Link was sent to the Insittutional Membership Email on file. Please do not use the Attendee registration link.

Announcement 10: Preliminary Schedule

Preliminary Schedule Now Available

We are happy to announce that our Preliminary Schedule is now available. Check it out below or head to our Preliminary Schedule Page.

2026 CLA Conference Preliminary Schedule_012026.pdf

Announcement 9: PreConference & After Hours Special Events

PreConference and After-Hours Special Events Announcement

This year our conference committee, in collaboration with our development committee have put together some wonderful PreConference and After-Hours events for those that would like to attend and give extra support to CLA.

Sunday PreConference Events

President's Reception

Sunday, April 26th at 5:00- 5:20 PM

Meet and Greet with CLA President, Erin Dummeyer and CLA President-Elect, Brenda McKinley. Free. No additional ticket required.

Documentary Screening & Discussion of "The Librarians"

Sunday, April 26th at 5:30 PM

After our short President's Reception we invite you to join us for a screening of the documentary "The Librarians" and a short discussion. There will be an option to purchase a ticket for the in-person screening or receive the virtual link to the screening. Add-on ticket. Includes hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. Cash bar available.

Hardcover BOOK Bag Craft: a CLA FUNdraiser

Sunday, April 26th @ 7:30 PM

Join Library Directors Drusilla Carter (Douglas Library of Hebron) and Sarah McCusker (Canton Library) as they help you create a one-of-a-kind "BOOK bag" or "pocketBOOK" out of real hardcover books. The best part? You get to take your bag home with you! No previous crafting knowledge is required. Add-on ticket. Includes cost of materials, 1 drink ticket and hors d'0euvres. Limited Space.

Monday After-Hours Events

Cocktails With Vendors

Monday, April 27th @ 4:50-5:15 PM

Join us as we thank our vendors. Drinks are available from the cash bar.

Grown-Up Nostalgic Book Fair: a CLA FUNdraiser

Monday, April 27th @ 5:30 PM

Did you ever wait for that time of year to come when the scholastic book fair would be at your school? For many of us it was a memorable part of our childhoods. Well, now's your chance to experience that nostalgia again with our version of a Grown-Up Nostalgic Book Fair. Join us to browse tables (and purchase at your leisure with your grown-up money) of books and book-related ephemera from our vendors and booksellers from across CT! Come on, you know you want to be a kid again- except with grown-up options! Add-on Ticket. Includes entrance and small appetizers. Cash bar will be available.

Announcement 8: Tuesday Keynote

Keynote Announcement

We are happy to announce that our Keynote for Tuesday, April 28th has been confirmed. Welcome Sea Tea Improv to the 2026 CLA Conference!

About Sea Tea Improv

Sea Tea Improv is Hartford's professional comedy company with live, original comedy shows at Sea Tea Comedy Theater; comedy classes & workshops at Sea Tea Improv Studios; a Touring Company available for hire to entertain or teach improv workshops for your workplace, school, or event; and more! We perform and teach improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy. Our performers and instructors have trained at America's top comedy institutions, including the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, The Second City, ImprovBoston, and more. We've done hundreds of shows & classes for thousands of audience members & students since 2009. The mission of Sea Tea Comedy Theater is to present high-quality, affordable, original entertainment to a diverse audience. By providing opportunities and a home for comedians and performers, we cultivate an inclusive comedy community and springboard top regional talent to a national level.

About the Keynote: Sea Tea Improv LIVE!

Watch the Sea Tea Improv Touring Company perform a completely unique comedy show inspired by the suggestions we get from you - the attendees of the Connecticut Library Association conference!

Sea Tea Improv will also be doing an Improv Workshop on Tuesday as well!

About the Breakout Session: Improv for Librarians - The Power of Communication, Support & Making Bold Choices!

Improv comedy is not about being a funny or extroverted person. Success in improv is based on principles of support and communication that are applicable to every aspect of life. Come learn about these strategies in a fun and supportive environment at our workshop.

Announcement 7: Monday Keynote

Keynote Announcement

We are happy to announce that our Keynote for Monday, April 27th has been confirmed. Welcome Nick Tanzi to the 2026 CLA Conference!

About Nick Tanzi

Nick Tanzi is an internationally recognized library technology consultant, and author of the books Making the Most of Digital Collections Through Training and Outreach and Best Technologies for Public Libraries: Policies, Programs, and Services. He is a past column editor for Public Library Magazine's "The Wired Library," and was recently named a 2025 Library Journal Mover & Shaker. He currently serves as the Assistant Director of the South Huntington Public Library, in Huntington Station, New York.

About the Keynote: It Takes a Village- Libraries, AI and the Power of Collaboration

Generative AI is impacting all of our libraries, along with those we serve. How can we create the social infrastructure needed to thrive in this changing environment? We’ll explore the essential role libraries play in navigating a disruptive technology, and the community connections necessary to make it happen.

Nick will also be joining us on Tuesday for a breakout session too! So don't worry if you can only make it one day, you will get a chance to hear from him on either day.

About the Breakout Session: Future-Ready Youth: Preparing our Patrons to Navigate the Age of AI

Children and teens are often eager adopters of new technology, but access doesn’t always mean understanding. As we navigate the age of AI, important questions arise: How is artificial intelligence impacting our youth, and what does the future hold? More importantly, how can we, as library professionals, empower our patrons to understand and engage with this consequential technology?

Announcement 6: Interest Survey

The CLA Conference Committee is seeking your feedback on the sessions, programs and topics that you are interested in. This survey will help match sessions with the different room sizes and layouts. Topics could be grouped in multiple ways, these groupings are for ease of the survey, not necessarily indicative of specific tracks. We expect a Preliminary Schedule to be available by mid-January.

Please complete the Session Interest Survey Here.
- Survey will close on December 30.

Announcement 5: Attendee Registration

Save the Date! Registration for Attendees will begin on Wednesday, January 21st.
Please note:
- Institutional Member Libraires will have a special link with registration instructions sent to the contact on file.
- Speakers will have a separate link emailed to them with their contract.
- Vendor and Sponsor Registration is already open here.

Announcement 4: Rate Information

Rates for the CLA Conference have been voted on and approved by the Board of Directors. See Rates Here.

Announcement 3: Vendor/Sponsor/Ads

Vendor/Sponsor/Ads Registration is now open.

Early Registration will close for this on April 1.
Those registering after this date as a vendor will incur a late fee.
Check our Updates Page Frequently if you have questions.

Announcement 2: Sessions and Speakers

Session Proposals for the CLA 2026 Conference are now closed.
All those that have submitted sessions should have received a response from Program Chairs on whether your program has been accepted or not by Dec. 1.
- Contracts will be sent to the Lead Planner for accepted sessions after January 1.
- Materials will need to be signed and returned no later than March 15.
More Speaker Information here.

Announcement 1: Save the Date

The CLA Conference 2026 themed "People-Powered Communities" will take place at the Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa in Groton, CT from Sunday, April 26 through Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

Check back often for more updates!

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