SPEAKER INFORMATION
The 2025 ILA Annual Conference is set to be an exciting event!
Prepare to be inspired by our amazing keynote speakers, gain valuable insights from an informative legislative panel discussion, and engage in captivating sessions led by seasoned leaders and visionaries in their fields.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Dorcas Hand
Dorcas led ALA’s Ecosystem Initiative Task Force, which authored the Ecosystem Toolkit, and she is the lead author of Strengthening Library Ecosystems: Collaborate for Advocacy and Impact. She will serve as our Opening Keynote speaker.
Bob Leonard
Bob, author, reporter, former professor, former Knoxville Public Library board member, and library advocate, will be our closing keynote. Many of you may recall Bob’s work on his Substack early last year when he wrote about the anti-library bills that were making their way through the legislature at the time.
I’m confident both speakers will underscore our conference theme: “Libraries: The Heart of Iowa Communities” and speak to the cultural moment we’re navigating both statewide and nationally. ~Eric Jennings, ILA President
Legislative Panel Discussion
Join us at the 2025 ILA Annual Conference for an exclusive legislative panel discussion featuring Iowa legislators!
Delve into critical issues impacting libraries, community services, and support for communities. This is your chance to hear directly from the policymakers shaping our future and gain invaluable insights that will empower and inspire you. Don’t miss this pivotal conversation!
Pre-Conference Session Line-Up
Great Firewall Gallery Talk
with Lindsay Buehler and Jennifer Bates
Join Jennifer Bates and Lindsay Buehler for a pre-conference gallery talk at Morningside College, where they will discuss their thought provoking work, Great Firewall, which explores themes of information access and control through a large-scale art installation.
Conference Session Line-Up
We are excited to introduce an exciting series of expert sessions at the Iowa Library Association conference! Hear from esteemed colleagues and field specialists who are dedicated to supporting the mission of ILA. Their insights and expertise drive impactful initiatives within their communities. Each session promises valuable perspectives and practical knowledge that can be applied to your library. You'll be inspired by their contributions!
A detailed agenda outlining each session and its corresponding topics of discussion.
A comprehensive list of sessions, including details on speakers, scheduled times, and room locations.
Download the SCHED app to make it convenient for you to find your sessions at Conference!