The Independent Libraries Association’s annual conference 2018 continued the aim of bringing together those working in and around the independent library sector. 2017’s conference followed the theme of ‘collections’, the core of any library; but what are texts without their readers? In 2018 the conference focused on people. The membership of independent libraries is growing healthily, but individual institutions often battle against perceptions of exclusivity and anonymity.
People who use independent collections, as well as the people who make the collections accessible were all welcomed under this year’s theme. Papers on library founders, readers, members, subscribers, librarians, archivists, interns, volunteers, trustees, benefactors, partner institutions and/or the general public were all part of this year's programme.
The keynote address was 'Bibliographers, Biographers, and Independent Libraries', by Dr Kelsey Jackson Williams, Lecturer in Early Modern Literature, University of Stirling. For the first time the keynote address was joined by a creative performance, with delegates treated to an exclusive cast reading of 'The Lamp', a play inspired by and written for the Library of Innerpeffray by writer and playwright Linda Cracknell.
We were delighted to be holding the 2018 conference in Scotland, with joint hosts the Library of Innerpeffray, by Crieff, and the Leighton Library, Dunblane. The Associations’ intention is to foster networking between all those who work in or around libraries, archives, and special collections.
For a conference report of the whole weekend, see Mhairi Rutherford's report here, and Jessica Hudson's report here.
Download a PDF copy of the 2018 conference programme.