Independent Libraries Association Conference

Every year an ILA member library hosts two days of talks and networking. With weekend and day tickets available it’s a highlight of the independent library calendar and an unrivalled opportunity to meet fellow professionals, trustees, and volunteers. Talks don’t have to be scholarly and anyone interested in independent libraries is welcome!

Got an enquiry? Drop us a line: info@independentlibraries.co.uk

Read all about our previous conferences: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

IMPORTANT NEWS -2024 Annual Meeting

It is with regret that the ILA Committee cancels the Annual Conference planned to take place at The Morrab Library in Penzance on May 30th and 31st 2024, due to a low number of proposed papers/sessions. Instead, we will hold an online mini-conference and AGM on Friday 31st May, with a small number of sessions, the presentation of the draft ILA Strategy, the AGM and an opportunity for general discussion. Full details will be announced shortly.



ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND AGM….Friday 2nd June 2023…10am-4pm

Due to unforeseen circumstances the planned in-person Annual Conference and AGM will not take place. We’d like to thank our planned hosts, The Linen Hall, for their tireless enthusiasm and wonderful theme.

But the conference will still take place! Inspired by our supportive, well-attended online Town Hall meetings, we’ll be gathering online on Friday 2nd June 2023. In keeping with The Linen Hall’s theme, ‘Exciting a Spirit of Enquiry’, we’ll be taking positivity and success as our theme.

Interested in sharing some good news about your library? Alongside our wonderful talks there’s also two ‘open’ sessions - the first follows our successful Town Hall format and the second closes the day by asking ‘where next for the ILA?’. You can download the programme here, and the biographies for the contributors, and the abstracts of their talks, can be downloaded by clicking the following links:

- Our keynote address, ‘Some (Good!) News from The Linen Hall’ is by Samantha McCombe of The Linen Hall Library, Belfast.

- Darren Bevin joins us from the Plymouth Proprietary Library to share ‘The Plymouth Proprietary Library: A New Beginning’

- In keeping with the exciting, positive theme, our final talk is ‘Spirit and Ideals: Reimagining the Next 50 Years’ with Sian Williams of the South Wales Miners’ Library at Swansea University.

Like to register for the day? Use this link to register on Zoom. You should receive a confirmation email with the link - if not, please contact events@independentlibraries.co.uk

The AGM itself will take place 12.30-1.30pm. This is open to all and you can register for it here. Please note that the Annual Conference and the AGM are separate meetings and to attend both, you’ll need to register for both.

See you in June!