Stop by the ALA Connect Lounge to get the latest news and resources from across the association.
- Connect with fellow attendees to discuss issues facing library workers and share stories and ideas with our 20 Minute Huddles (see the schedule below).
- Meet volunteers and members from across the Association to find out what ALA Divisions, Offices, and Round Tables are working on–and how you can get involved!
- Connect with staff from the ALA Member Relations and Services team–staff will be available in the booth during set hours to answer your questions about ALA membership.
- Find materials and information from across the Association, including resources, opportunities, and tools for you and your library.
- Discover how ALA membership can help enhance your career and gain information that will help you improve library services to your community.
ALA Lounge Hours:
- Friday, June 27 – 9:00am – 6:00pm
- Saturday, June 28 – 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Sunday, June 29 – 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Monday, June 30 – 9:00am – 2:00pm
What’s going on in the ALA Connect Lounge?
Unite Against Book Bans at the ALA Connect Lounge!
Learn about the ways in which Unite Against Book Bans is fighting censorship and supporting communities from Unite partners, staff, and volunteers! Unite leaders will be on hand at the ALA Connect Lounge to talk about intellectual freedom, the work of the initiative, and how our communities can help support libraries and library workers.
ALA Annual 2024 Bingo
Game on! Pick up your BINGO card and score a win by meeting new people, attending sessions, exploring the Library Marketplace, and more. Bring your completed card to the ALA Connect Lounge anytime during the conference to claim your prize (while supplies last)!
ALA Lounge Volunteer Spotlights
Who’s behind the desk? All conference long, volunteers from ALA Divisions and Affiliates are taking over the ALA Connect Lounge reference desk. Stop by, say hi, and hear what they’re working on—you might just find the project that’s been waiting for you.
Schedule:
Saturday, June 28, 2025
- 11:00am – 1:00pm United for Libraries
- 2:00pm – 3:00pm Public Library Association
ALA Round Table Counter
Curious about ALA Round Tables? Visit the Round Table Counter in the ALA Connect Lounge to meet passionate volunteers and explore how you can get involved.
Schedule:
Friday, June 27, 2025
- 9:00am – 11:00am: Social Responsibility Round Table
- 11:00am – 1:00pm: Library Research Round Table and Government Documents Round Table
- 1:00pm – 3:00pm: Retired Members Round Table and Film & Media Round Table
- 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Film & Media Round Table and Library Instruction Round Table
Saturday, June 28, 2025
- 9:00am – 11:00am Film & Media Round Table
- 3:00pm – 5:00pm Maps & Geospatial Round Table
Sunday, June 29, 2025
- 11:00am – 1:00pm Learning Round Table
Monday, June 30, 2025
- 11:00am – 1:00pm Government Documents Round Table and Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table
20 Minute Huddles
Pop in for one of our 20 Minute Huddles scheduled throughout the weekend. Find a topic that interests you and join an intimate discussion group to share thoughts and generate ideas. All ideas welcome!
Schedule:
- 10:00am – 11:00am LSSRT Sticker Swap!
Meet up with the Library Support Staff Round Table leadership to collect a notebook, swap some stickers and learn how you can get involved with LSSRT.
Saturday, June 28, 2025
- 1:00pm – 1:20pm Social Responsibilities Round Table - What does library advocacy and social responsibility look like to you?
Increasingly, libraries of all types and organizations like ALA are targeted by legislation designed to withhold funding for those institutions or to remove books and other materials from library shelves under the pretext of protecting children. Social media is rife with contentious school/library board meetings.
This 20-minute huddle will focus on the following questions: What are some ways to push back against these negative depictions of libraries and librarians? What does advocacy and social responsibility look like now in this era of disinformation/misinformation? What are some ways librarians and library workers can rebuild a positive image with their communities afterwards?
- 1:00pm – 1:20pm Reference & User Services Association - How do you maintain quality control of your LibGuides?
How does your library maintain quality control of LibGuides? What aspects of LibGuides are covered by your library’s guidelines or standards and how is compliance assessed or enforced? What are some advantages and disadvantages of creativity and standardization within a library’s LibGuides content?
- 2:00pm – 2:20pm ALA Public Programs Office - What programs, services, or resources would you like to support with grant funding, and where do you plan to apply for that funding?
- 3:00pm – 3:20pm Reference & User Services Association, Federal and Armed Forces Librarians Interest Group - How do you define your own professional success?
“No one knows what they’re doing” has been a common refrain in public discourse meant to ease personal and professional doubts and fears, especially when taking on new roles or recovering from inevitable mistakes. If that is true, then are there elements within one’s professional journey than can instill confidence in not only their general competence but also success? Participants in this huddle will discuss markers of professional success that matter to them personally.
- 4:00pm – 4:20pm Retired Members Round Table - What do Retired Members do anyway?
Sunday, June 29, 2025
- 11:00am – 11:20am ALA Editions | Neal-Schuman Author Hilda Weisburg - What are you doing to get parents to value libraries and support them?
Reaching parents through shared values and emotions.
- 11:30am – 11:50am ALA Editions | Neal-Schuman Author Megan Lotts - How can play advance teaching and learning in libraries?
- 12:00pm – 12:20pm Public Policy and Advocacy Office - What are best messaging practices for statewide and local advocacy?
Facilitated by Amelia Aldred, Deputy Director of State and Local Advocacy
- 12:30pm – 12:50pm Public Policy and Advocacy Office - How can your library support digital equity (E-Rate, hotspots, Digital Equity Act, etc.)?
- 1:30pm – 1:50pm Public Policy and Advocacy Office - AMA (Ask Me Anything!) with Lisa Varga, Associate Executive Director of ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office
What do you want to know about the ALA Washington Office?
- 2:30pm – 2:50pm Reference & User Services Association - What new skill are you promising yourself that you will learn in the year ahead? How will you use it?
Monday, June 30, 2025
- 10:00am – 10:20am ALA Editions | Neal-Schuman Author Chris Rosser - Can libraries afford to ignore Generative AI?
