2026 Connecticut Library Association Conference: 

People-Powered Communities

REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 21, 2026

April 27 & 28 (APRIL 26 PRECONFERENCE)

Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa in Groton, CT

Join us for an exciting line-up of featured speakers, plus two full days of workshops and sessions, and plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues and exhibitors. Our preconference and after-hours events will include an optional add-on Screening of the documentary "The Librarians" (choice of in-person or virtual) during our President's Reception, Fundraisers: Hardcover Book Purse Craft (Sunday evening) and Grown-Up Nostalgic Book Fair (Monday evening) and cocktails with our vendors.

Preliminary Program Schedule NOW Available HERE. (Please note this schedule may change)

Registration:

Notice: By registering for any portion of the CLA Conference, you are agreeing to follow our Event Code of Conduct and agree to our Privacy Policy. As noted by our privacy policy, at this time, CLA retains the right to share your information (Name and email) with our business partners. We do not currently have an option to opt-out. By registering for the conference, your name and email will be shared with our conference sponsors and vendors.

Inclusions:

When purchasing a 1-day or 2-day registration, your ticket includes all of the following:

• Parking;

• Access to all regular sessions and exhibit hall;

• Buffet Breakfast, Morning Snacks, Buffet Lunch, Afternoon Snacks, All-day Water, Coffee, Tea and Soft Drinks. Preliminary Food Menu Here.

Payments:

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or check as payment. If paying by check, please be advised that your registration will not be completed until payment is received. You will be notified via email when your check is received and your registration is processed.

• If registering in advance, payment in full must be received by CLA 5 days in advance of the conference.

• Walk-in registrations will be accepted with an additional processing fee. If registering at the door, payment in full is required.

• We cannot provide refunds, but if you are unable to make it to the Conference, you can transfer your admission to someone else. Please contact the CLA office at least 2 days before the event at 860-346-2444 to make these arrangements.

• Payments by check must be mailed to:

Connecticut Library Association

55 N Main Street Unit 49

Belchertown, MA 01007

Early-bird Registration: CLICK FOR RATES

Register before March 15, 2026 to get this rate. 

Notes: Student, Unemployed and/or Retired do not have an early-bird rate as that price is already discounted. Speakers do not have an early-bird rate, but must register using their speaker link that will be provided in their contract emailed to them by February 15th. Institutional Members will be accommodated with registration only through their special link emailed to the Institutional Membership email we have on file.

*Speakers will have a different link for registration to get their discount. This will be emailed to you by February 15th.

*Institutional Members will have a separate registration link emailed to them, please do not register through this event.

Payments for Early Bird Registration must be received at the CLA office by 3/28/2026 to receive the discounted rate. If you are paying by check, the CLA office must receive your check by 3/28/2026. If we do not have payment, your registration will be cancelled, and you will need to re-register at the full rate. Thank you for your cooperation with this!

Standard Registration: CLICK FOR RATES

After March 14, 2026 the following rates apply for Member and Non-Member registration:

Note: Students, Unemployed, or Retired must be CLA members to register at the reduced rate. This rate requires a 2-hour volunteer commitment per day. This is non-negotiable.

*Students, Unemployed, or Retired must be CLA members to register at the reduced rate. This rate requires a 2-hour volunteer commitment per day. This is non-negotiable.

*Speakers will have a different link for registration to get their discount. This will be emailed to you by February 15th.

*Institutional Members will have a separate registration link emailed to them, please do not register through this event.

Other Registrations:

• Exhibit Hall-Only Passes are available to purchase at the door for $25 each day. These only allow access to the Exhibit hall during non-exclusive times.

• Walk-In Registration is available at the cost of the standard rate plus a processing fee of $10. Walk-In Registration is only available for 1-day options.

Add-Ons:

Join your colleagues for some pre-conference and after-hours fun!

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. After a short introduction, there will be a screening of the documentary "The Librarians"- please purchase a separate ticket for this.

Cash Bar available.

Screening 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. 

Ticket Options:

In-person (includes soft drinks and hors d'oeuvres). Cash Bar will be available for anything else.= $10, limited space

Virtual link only (accessible 4/26-5/2 only, limited availability): FREE

CLA Fundraiser

Hardcover BOOK Bag Craft

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. Ticket includes cost of all materials, 1 drink ticket and hors d'oeuvres.

Cost= $30

Limited space available.

CLA Fundraiser

Grown-Up Nostalgic Book Fair

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!

Ticket= $10 (includes hors d'oeuvres)

Cash Bar Available.

Not a CLA member yet?

Don't miss out on all the great benefits, in addition to qualifying for the discounted conference rates. Click here to join CLA

Directions & Parking

The Mystic Marriott is located at 625 N Rd, Groton, CT 06340. A map and more detailed directions are available on their online map. All CLA Conference attendees can park for free in the hotel parking lot!

Special Hotel Conference Room Rate:

Rooms at the Mystic Marriott are offered at a special group rate of $182/night – (state and local taxes may apply). Reservations can be made at this discounted rate until Monday, March 30, 2026 at 4:00 PM or until our block is full (whichever happens first).  After that date the rate will no longer be available. Use the Hotel Reservation Link or call (860) 446-2600 and ask for the CLA Conference rate.

P.E.G.  (Proficiency Enhancement Grants)

Need help paying for the conference? PEG provides funding to help members of the Connecticut Library Association improve their knowledge and skills. PEG funds some expenses for continuing education programs, workshops, seminars, courses, institutes, and other activities. More info here.

Special Accommodations

The Connecticut Library Association seeks to provide reasonable accommodations by request for physical access, communications, or other needs to ensure that services, activities, and programs are available to individuals with disabilities. Accommodation requests may include, but are not limited to, sign language interpretation, assistive listening devices, or written material in alternative format.

If you have a request for accommodation, please submit information at least 21 days in advance of the conference to Marilynn Lewicki, ADA Section Chair at marilynnlewicki@gmail.com. Include a description of the accommodations you are requesting, and describe any equipment you are requesting to be provided.

The Americans with Disabilities Act does not require the Connecticut Library Association to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

We look forward to seeing you at the conference!