2026 Vermont Library Conference

Radical Care: Supporting Each Other and Ourselves will be a conference which will give us the opportunity to look for new ways to advocate for our libraries from the local to the federal level, while exploring how to take care of ourselves during increasingly challenging times.

Featuring keynote speaker, Canadian author Emily Austin, author of Is This a Cry for Help? Austin’s book follows a librarian’s journey as she recovers from a mental breakdown to return to work during a period of unrest in her community. With themes of intellectual freedom, mental illness, queer identity and the value of libraries, Austin’s book speaks to the wide range of challenges faced by a modern librarian.

Also booked to speak is Cassie Gillespie, UVM Lecturer of Social Work with her presentation “I Can’t Self-Care My Way Out of This: Collective Care,” and VLA lobbyist Cal Hale with a workshop on library advocacy and government outreach.

The conference will take place on June 1 in and around the Howe Library at UVM.

The VLA Conference Programming Committee invites library workers from across Vermont and beyond to submit proposals for this year’s conference through our 2026 VLA Conference Call for Proposals form.

This year’s conference theme, Radical Care: Supporting Each Other and Ourselves, encourages thoughtful exploration of how we sustain our work, our organizations, and one another. We welcome presentations that reflect on practices of care, collaboration, resilience, advocacy, and innovation within our profession.

Proposal Deadline: Monday, April 6, 2026

Please note that the VLA will not be covering the cost of the conference registration fee for selected speakers. If a proposal is accepted, one presenter will be eligible for the member early bird registration rate.

We have a room block reserved at DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont for May 31, 2026 through June 2, 2026. Book your room here.