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Call for Proposals
Libraries in Motion:
Turning Innovation into Impact
The technology landscape around libraries is moving quickly. AI is changing how information is created, searched, summarized, and discovered. New digital tools are reshaping staff workflows, patron expectations, and the ways libraries connect people to content, services, and community.
As BiblioCommons commemorates its 20th anniversary, BiblioCon 2026, happening virtually from September 23-25, offers a timely opportunity to reflect on how far the online library experience has come, and, more importantly, where libraries are taking it next.
For BiblioCon '26, Libraries in Motion: Turning Innovation into Impact invites libraries to share how they are navigating change with purpose. We are looking for sessions that move beyond the idea of innovation itself and show what it makes possible: stronger services, more effective workflows, better digital experiences, deeper community engagement, and measurable outcomes for patrons.
This year’s program will focus on practical, library-led stories grounded in real experience. Your session does not need to be a polished success story. Some of the most valuable BiblioCon sessions come from honest reflection, work in progress, and lessons learned along the way. We want to hear what your library tried, what changed, what worked, what did not, and what other libraries can learn from your experience.
Conference Highlights
Dates & Location
September 23-25, 2026
Virtual
Theme
Libraries in Motion: Turning Innovation into Impact
Program Pillars
Trust, Transformation, and Impact
Format
Virtual conference with focused, practical sessions
Session Structure
25-minute presentation (including 5-minute Q&A)
Presentation Topics and Suggestions
BiblioCon 2026 sessions will showcase how libraries are putting innovation into motion and turning new ideas, tools, and approaches into meaningful impact for patrons, staff and communities. We welcome proposals that explore how libraries are transforming services, improving workflows, strengthening digital experiences, and deepening patron engagement while upholding the values that matter most: trust, equity, privacy, and community.
Possible session areas include:
AI in Practice
Share how your library is approaching AI internally or externally, including real-world use cases, staff productivity gains, patron-facing experiences, governance models, transparency practices, or lessons learned from early experimentation.
The Digital Library as a Service Hub
Explore how your library is rethinking the online experience as a central place for patrons to discover collections, services, events, programs, recommendations, and community resources.
Accessibility and Inclusive Digital Experiences
Share practical approaches to accessibility, including Title II readiness, content governance, organizational planning, inclusive design, and ways to measure accessibility progress.
Staffing Capacity and Workflow Transformation
Show how your library is doing more with the team you have through workflow improvements, automation, cross-functional collaboration, clearer priorities, or new approaches to staff support.
Demonstrating Library Impact
Share how your library communicates value to boards, city councils, funders, and community stakeholders. This may include data storytelling, strategic planning, digital engagement metrics, or examples of making the case for investment.
Personalization Without Compromising Privacy
Explore how libraries can create more relevant, preference-based experiences while protecting patron privacy, maintaining transparency, and respecting consent.
Presentation Format
BiblioCon 2026 sessions are designed to be focused, practical, and easy for attendees to apply.
Sessions will follow this structure:
- 25-minute presentation (including 5-minute Q&A)
Choose the format (or combination of formats) that best fit your story:
- Case studies
- Panel discussions
- Practical walkthroughs
- Lessons-learned presentations
- Strategy or planning sessions
- Product- or workflow-focused examples
- Library-led discussions with BiblioCommons support, where relevant
Whether you are sharing a practical case study, leading a discussion, presenting lessons learned, or walking through a workflow transformation, we encourage sessions that provide clear takeaways for other libraries.
Conference Format
BiblioCon 2026 will be a virtual conference designed to bring the BiblioCommons partner community together for practical learning, shared strategy, and peer-led discussion.
The program will include:
- Day 1: Two concurrent tracks open to all attendees, including BiblioCommons customers and non-customers
- Day 2: Product-focused sessions, recommended for current BiblioCommons customers
- Day 3: Office Hours, deep product discussions for BiblioCommons customers only