Welcome to the Valley of the Sun, the Big Saguaro, the Silicon Desert. Phoenix is known for its picturesque landscapes, hearty succulents, and scorching heat, but come January 24–27 the city will usher in a different kind of vibrancy and warmth: the community, creativity, and connections of the American Library Association’s (ALA) LibLearnX conference.
LibLearnX 2025, dedicated to the learning experience of library workers, will bring together authors, thought leaders, and subject matter experts at the Phoenix Convention Center for educational programs, awards, celebrations, and networking opportunities. This year’s programmatic theme is “Reimagine, Refocus, Reset: Charting a Path for the Future.” LibLearnX will not be held in 2026, while the Association considers what’s next for the conference and its most popular events.
Returning to LibLearnX this year are Timely Topics, session collections pertaining to critical issues in librarianship. Topics include the defense of intellectual freedom, information practitioners’ relationship to artificial intelligence (AI), and accessibility practices that go beyond compliance.
This preview offers a sample of what to expect. For registration information and a complete list of events, including up-to-date information on dates, times, and locations, visit liblearnx.org.
New York Times–bestselling authors and illustrators Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud will open LibLearnX with a discussion of their upcoming collaboration, The Cartoonists Club, 8–9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 25. In this middle-grade graphic novel, characters Art, Howard, Lynda, and Makayla form a club to learn about making comics. The book aims to inspire readers to tap into their imaginations to create their own storytelling adventures.
Nick Brooks, critically acclaimed author of Promise Boys and award-winning filmmaker, will discuss his forthcoming book, Up in Smoke, 1–2 p.m. Saturday, January 25. This young adult thriller follows Monique, a girl determined to clear her brother’s name for murder, and Cooper, a boy desperate to keep his own name out of the line of fire.
Children’s author Harshita Jerath will talk about her recent picture book, Cooler Than Lemonade, 3–4 p.m. Saturday, January 25. Illustrated by Chloe Burgett, the story is about discovering ideas in unexpected places, never giving up, and finding the perfect recipe for success.
Kyle Edwards is an award-winning Anishinaabe journalist and writer from the Lake Manitoba First Nation and a member of the Ebb and Flow First Nation in Manitoba. Edwards will appear as part of the ALA President’s Program, 8:45–10 a.m. Sunday, January 26, to discuss his new novel, Small Ceremonies. The book is a coming-of-age story that follows the hopes and struggles of a group of Native high school students from Winnipeg’s North End, illuminating the experience of growing up forgotten, urban, poor, and Indigenous.
Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz is a storyteller and curandera, or traditional healer, who writes and speaks about culinary medicine, folk herbalism, and Native American food sovereignty. She will discuss her picture book, Nana Lupita and the Magic Sopita, illustrated by Carlos Vélez, 3–4 p.m. Sunday, January 26. The semi-bilingual book follows characters Luna and her brother Sol on a search for the magic ingredient in their grandmother’s secret sopita recipe.
Tech journalist and prize-winning author Vauhini Vara will close LibLearnX with a talk about her forthcoming book, Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age, 11 a.m.–noon, Monday, January 27. Searches explores how Big Tech is both shaping and exploiting our human need for connection, and proposes that by harnessing our collective creativity, we might transform our relationship with machines and one another.
It’s Not Bragging If It’s True: Reimagine Your Interview Experience 1–4 p.m. Friday, January 24 Hear from Johnson County (Kans.) Library’s operations managers—who have interviewed more than 500 candidates for their system—about how to up your interview game and get that dream job. In this interactive session, participants will embrace discomfort and build confidence with mock questions and self-marketing strategies.
The Library as a Civic Space for All: Bridging Divides One Conversation at a Time 1–4 p.m. Friday, January 24 Presenters will share Story-Corps’ methodology for building connections between people who seem to have nothing in common, and its researched impact on individuals and communities. Attendees will leave with low-lift program ideas to try at their libraries.
Wellness Is Not a Perk: Reimagining Work-Life Balance for Library Workers 1–4 p.m. Friday, January 24 Wellness isn’t a bonus or productivity booster but an intrinsic part of a fulfilling work experience. Employees of Oklahoma State University Library in Stillwater will delve into strategies for fostering a work culture—whether remote, hybrid, or in person—that prioritizes caring for ourselves and one another.
Ditching Dewey: How Refocusing to Library of Congress Cataloging Supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 10:50–11:10 a.m. Saturday, January 25 For academic libraries, the Library of Congress Classification can provide more efficient access to diverse voices and inclusive topics than the Dewey Decimal System. Join this presentation to learn why University of Arkansas Fort Smith changed its cataloging scheme and how the switch is supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
Handbook of Black Librarianship: An Empowering Resource 11 a.m.–noon Saturday, January 25 Since the first edition was published in 1977, the Handbook of Black Librarianship has served as an invaluable resource on leadership, history, and empowerment for Black/African American librarians in all library settings. Presenters will examine the history of the handbook, late coeditor E. J. Josey’s vision, the process of bringing the third edition to fruition, topics and issues the book addresses, and why this resource is still necessary in the 21st century.
Creating Interactive Literacy Activities for Your Patrons Living with Dementia 1–2 p.m. Saturday, January 25 Discover practical ways to develop programs and resources designed around the interests, needs, and abilities of patrons living with dementia. Based on the principles of person-centered care, this session will provide guidance for focusing on participants’ strengths rather than their losses.
The Rhythm of Connection: Infusing Music, Movement, and Culture into Youth Programming 1–2 p.m. Saturday, January 25 Explore the transformative power of rhythm, music, and movement in creating engaging and culturally relevant youth programming. Shaunterria Owens, a youth services specialist at North Miami (Fla.) Public Library with 20 years of experience as a storyteller and Zumbini instructor, will show attendees how to seamlessly weave these elements into storytimes, outreach initiatives, and other services.
Birding Backpack Lending Program: Providing Access, Creating Partnerships, Enhancing Programming 2:15–2:35 p.m. Saturday, January 25 Birding backpacks—which contain binoculars, a field guide, and local trail maps—give patrons access to equipment they might not otherwise be able to afford. Learn how lending these backpacks can be an entry point to inclusive nature programming, such as nature storytimes, outdoor teen book clubs, bat-watching nights, and citizen science programs.
Critical Indigenous Librarianship: Centering Indigenous Peoples in Library Spaces, Collections, and Research Services 2:30–3:30 p.m. Saturday, January 25 Presenters from the Labriola National American Indian Data Center at Arizona State University in Tempe will discuss how to approach Indigenous space- and place-making in non-Indigenous libraries, as well as strategies to center Indigenous perspectives and approaches in collection stewardship and research services.
Watching Clouds for NASA: Reimagine Your Library as a Center for Community Science 2:30–3:30 p.m. Saturday, January 25 In this session, hear from libraries engaging patrons with citizen science programs and NASA resources. Gain an understanding of how to use the GLOBE Observer app to observe clouds, as well as ideas for activities, funding, experts, and partners that can support a community science program.
Reinvigorating Green Spaces for Library Services 10:15–10:45 a.m. Sunday, January 26 Has your library considered collaborating with a community garden? Presenters from Queens (N.Y.) Public Library share this effective way to introduce patrons to outdoor spaces, provide programming in a unique venue, foster relationships with local partners, and incorporate green events at your own facility.
Adapting to Change: What Do Students Want in Collections and Services from Academic Libraries Post-Pandemic? 11–11:30 a.m. Sunday, January 26 In recent years, the library at California State University, Monterey Bay has seen a decline in physical book circulations and reference questions but an increase in makerspace attendance and romance novel requests. What do students want from their post-pandemic academic library? In this session, participants will sketch out their own student surveys so that they can make data-driven decisions regarding trends that boost engagement.
Guerilla-Style Usability Testing: The Importance of Flexibility and Mobility in Reimagining the Library Website 1–1:20 p.m. Sunday, January 26 How do students really use the library website, and what do they think about it? This presentation will look at student feedback and analytics, including usage patterns and preferences, to rethink and redo a functional yet underutilized website through the practices of trial and iteration.
Overcoming Recruitment Challenges: Implementing the Search Advocate Program for Inclusive Hiring Practices 1:40–2 p.m. Sunday, January 26 How do we recruit a pool of diverse candidates, especially in the academic library setting? Participants will learn about the Search Advocate program, launched campuswide by the Office for DEI at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, leaving with strategies to make hiring more inclusive and mitigate bias in the recruitment process.
¡Para Todos! Leveraging the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival to Support Your Curriculum and Community 1:40–2 p.m. Sunday, January 26 The Latinx Kidlit Book Festival is a free multiday virtual event held during Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15) that showcases Latinx authors, illustrators, books, and publishers. Find out how you can integrate content and educational tools from the festival into your library activities and curriculum in a way that fosters empathy and representation.
Pathways to Librarianship: Designing an Inclusive Profession 4–5 p.m. Sunday, January 26 This presentation will cover the barriers to participation in the library profession for people of historically marginalized identities and provide an opportunity to discuss community solutions that remove these barriers.
Below is a handful of sessions representing the conference’s Timely Topics: intellectual freedom, AI, and accessibility beyond compliance.
AI in the School Library: Navigating a New Course in Digital Learning 9:45–10:45 a.m. Saturday, January 25 School librarians will share how they support educators in using AI technology that advances lifelong learning while meeting the diverse learning, cultural, and social-emotional needs of individual students.
Storytelling in Action: A Practical Approach to Intellectual Freedom Advocacy 9:45–10:45 a.m. Saturday, January 25 As libraries continue to face a swell of censorship issues and book challenges, advocates have an opportunity to reclaim the narrative and tell the story of how libraries impact communities. Presenter Kerol S. Harrod, professor at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, will share ways to incorporate storytelling elements into advocacy speeches, op-eds and letters to the editor, interviews, and elevator speeches, as well as practical tips for dealing with media requests.
To Infinity and Beyond: Integrating a Wellness Perspective into Our Library Accessibility Services 9:45–10:15 a.m. Saturday, January 25 Presenters from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, will discuss successful accessibility initiatives, including the opening of the Wellness Desk in the library, hands-on workshops for students with disabilities, and the creation of sensory-friendly study spaces.
Unbannable: The Impact of Book Bans on Library Patrons and How Libraries Can Push Back 1–2 p.m. Saturday, January 25 This session will explore how library-driven initiatives, including Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library’s Books Unbanned, Chicago Public Library’s Book Sanctuary, and the Digital Public Library of America’s Banned Book Club, are actively combating censorship and safeguarding access to knowledge for all.
Adaptive Libraries: AI Applications for Inclusive Design 4:30–4:50 p.m. Saturday, January 25 How can we use AI to improve user experience and wayfinding for our patrons with disabilities? At this session, hear perspectives from patrons with disabilities and professionals from different library types on adaptive, next-generation tools for universal design and enhanced reach.
Books for All: Creating and Curating Collections to Serve Children with Vision Loss 11–11:20 a.m. Sunday, January 26 Learn how libraries can provide equitable access to resources for children with vision loss and the educators who teach and empower these children.
AI in Action: Reimagining Metadata and Cataloging with Chatbots and OpenAI 12:15–12:35 p.m. Sunday, January 26 How can academic librarians use tools like OpenAI to assign headings and keywords to digital and traditional collections? Presenters will speak about the applications—and ethical implications—of leveraging AI in cataloging tasks.
An Introduction to Law for Librarians 2:30–3:30 p.m. Sunday, January 26 In this program from ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, speakers will introduce legal topics to help library workers understand the rights they have when curating information, when providing access to information, and in protecting themselves from threats by patrons, local officials, or state leaders.
Let’s Talk Accessibility: Five Ideas to Support Equitable Library Service and Practice 10:20–10:40 a.m. Monday, January 27 Accessibility should be the default. But when it’s not, where does one begin? Learn about five methods Kwantlen Polytechnic University Library in Surrey, British Columbia, has integrated to enhance accessibility and service equity.
ALA Gives Back 9–10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Friday, January 24 ALA has partnered with Burton Barr Central Library, the main location of Phoenix Public Library, on the LibLearnX 2025 community service project. Help assemble packets for a seed library where patrons can check out a variety of fruit, vegetable, and perennial seeds. Tickets for this volunteer opportunity are complimentary but registration is required.
I Love My Librarian Awards 6–8 p.m. Friday, January 24 The I Love My Librarian Award honors the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, and university librarians. Join ALA in celebrating the 10 librarians selected this year for their outstanding public service. A welcome reception with food, drinks, and music immediately follows the ceremony.
Martin Luther King Jr. Sunrise Celebration 6:30–8 a.m. Sunday, January 26 The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance and Sunrise Celebration commemorates King’s legacy and recognizes the connection between his life’s work and the library world. This year’s event will center themes of protest and resistance, feature a tribute to the late Satia Marshall Orange, and include appearances from author and professor Gloria J. Browne-Marshall and librarian and documentarian Rodney Freeman Jr.
RUSA Book and Media Awards 10:30–11:30 a.m. Sunday, January 26 The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) annually recognizes the year’s best in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, audiobooks, and reference materials at these awards. During this prerecorded event, RUSA, in coordination with Booklist, will announce the winners of the 2025 Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.
ALA Youth Media Awards 8–9:30 a.m. Monday, January 27 More than 20 awards recognizing outstanding books, videos, and other materials for children and teens will be announced, including the Newbery and Caldecott medals, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, and the Michael L. Printz, Pura Belpré, Stonewall, and Schneider Family awards.
1–5 p.m. Friday, January 24 The ALA Governance Institute (AGI) offers skills for impactful leadership and effective decision making, whether in association governance or for career development. This year’s in-person event will be open to the first 185 registrants who sign up. Institute faculty will include seasoned ALA member leaders, ALA staff members, and other subject matter experts.
Saturday, January 25 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ALA Council Orientation 2:30–3 p.m. ALA-APA Council 3–5 p.m. ALA Council I
Sunday, January 26 2–3 p.m. ALA Executive Board Candidates Forum 3–5 p.m. ALA Council II
Monday, January 27 1–5 p.m. ALA Executive Board Meeting
All times listed are Mountain. Times and dates of sessions may be subject to change. Check the LibLearnX scheduler for the most up-to-date information.
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