Wisconsin Library Association

09/04/2026

🌱 Get your WLA Conference gear! 🌱

The 2026 WLA Annual Conference is Rooted in Community—and now you can wear the theme, too!

Our official conference T-shirts are available now through Bonfire. Grab yours before the conference and show your WLA pride while celebrating the connections, ideas, and communities that keep Wisconsin libraries growing strong. 🌳📚

Order yours today: https://www.bonfire.com/wla-conference-2026-rooted-in-community/

Then wear it to the 2026 WLA Annual Conference, October 20–23 in Middleton!

Every shirt helps fund advocacy, leadership, and library development in Wisconsin.. Celebrate Wisconsin’s library community with the official Wisconsin Library Association...

09/03/2026

📚 Library Trustees & Friends: Wednesday is your day at the WLA Conference!

Join us October 21 in Middleton for a full day of programming designed with library Trustees and Friends in mind.

For a $275 one-day registration, dig into practical topics you can take straight back to your library and community, including:

🌱 Trustee 101: Learn the Basics of Being a Library Trustee
🌱 The Board as an Employer
🌱 Open Meetings & Public Records
🌱 Building Stronger Library & Local Government Relationships
🌱 Succession Planning for Library Boards
🌱 Best Practices in Board Engagement

You’ll also join fellow library supporters for a special Trustee & Friends Luncheon featuring practical tips for board success and a viewing of the PBS documentary Free for All: The Public Library.

Whether you’re a new trustee, a longtime board member, or an active Friend, this is a chance to learn, connect, exchange ideas, and come home with new tools for supporting your library.

📅 Wednesday, October 21
📍 WLA Conference | Middleton, WI
🎟️ Friends & Trustees Day: $275

Strong libraries are rooted in strong communities—and Friends and Trustees are an essential part of those roots.

09/02/2026

The WLA office will be closed on Monday, September 7th for Labor Day.

08/31/2026

Early Bird Registration is now open for the 2026 WLA Annual Conference, October 20–23 at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton!

This year’s conference, Rooted in Community, brings Wisconsin’s library community together for four days of learning, connection, inspiration, and fun. Register early to take advantage of our lowest conference rates and start planning your conference experience.

There’s a lot to look forward to!

Conference highlights include:

55 educational breakout sessions and four dynamic keynote speakers

A Fall Harvest Opening Reception with exhibitors on Tuesday evening

Trustee and Friends Day on Wednesday, October 21, with a full day of programming tailored to library trustees, board members, and Friends groups—including the Trustee & Friends Keynote Luncheon

A screening of Free for All: The Public Library

The popular WLA Foundation Trivia Contest with pizza, salad and cannolis

An exclusive Raven Software tour

The Awards & Honors Dinner celebrating Wisconsin’s library community

A post-conference Hubbard Avenue Diner Pie Social at Middleton Public Library

Plus, enjoy great meals, exhibitors, networking opportunities, professional headshots, and plenty of opportunities to reconnect with colleagues from around the state.

Register early for the best rate and start planning your conference experience!

We can’t wait to see you in Middleton, October 20–23!

08/25/2026

One week to go! Early bird registration for the 2026 WLA Annual Conference opens next week.

Join us October 20–23 in Middleton for Rooted in Community! Four days of inspiring keynotes, practical breakout sessions, Wisconsin library connections, special events, tours, and plenty of opportunities to learn from your peers.

From small and rural libraries to large systems, academic libraries, and everything in between, there’s something for everyone.

📅 Registration opens next week!

Start making your plans now, and watch for more details coming soon: https://www.wisconsinlibraries.org/2026-wla-conference
We can’t wait to see you in Middleton

08/21/2026

WLA on the Road will be making TWO stops in September! The first will be in New London and the second will be on September 29 in Beaver Dam. Please see details on the flyer below. We hope to see you at one or both of these amazing libraries!

08/20/2026

The next stop for WLA on the Road will be at the New London Public Library on September 25, 2026. Please see the details on the flyer below.

08/20/2026

WLA Executive Director Kara Sullivan and Ben Miller, State Librarian with the Wisconsin DPI Bureau of Libraries, recently hit the road to visit four IFLS libraries: New Richmond, Hammond, River Falls, and Eau Claire.

Each library has recently completed a major building project—new libraries in New Richmond and Hammond and renovations and expansions in River Falls and Eau Claire. Several of these projects were supported in part through Wisconsin’s Flexible Facilities Program.

We loved touring these beautiful and thoughtfully designed spaces and hearing how they are already being used by their communities. Along the way, we also had some great conversations with library leaders about everything from how patrons are using their buildings to the ways librarians are experimenting with AI in their work.

A big thank you to our hosts for the tours, conversations, and warm welcomes. It’s always energizing to get out and see firsthand the incredible work happening in Wisconsin libraries!

08/19/2026

Nominations are now open for 2027 WLA leadership positions!

Thinking, “I don’t have enough experience,” “I’m too new to WLA,” or “I don’t have time for a huge commitment”? Consider those myths busted. https://youtube.com/shorts/C0W0hXkrE7g?feature=share

WLA needs members at all career stages and with all kinds of leadership styles. Most roles are designed to be manageable alongside your day job—and you won’t be doing it alone.

Please visit: https://wla.memberclicks.net/2026-elections for more information and to submit a nomination.

08/06/2026

Interested in making your library more sustainable? Join us for two free introductory webinars through WLA's partnership with the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI)!

Whether you're just beginning to explore sustainability or are ready to learn more about becoming a Certified Sustainable Library, these sessions are a great place to start.

Introduction to the Sustainable Libraries Initiative
September 9, 2:30 p.m. CT

Introduction to the Sustainable Library Certification Program
September 23, 2:30 p.m. CT

These webinars will introduce you to the resources and opportunities available through WLA's partnership with SLI and help you discover how sustainability can strengthen your library and community.

Learn more and register:
• Introduction to the Sustainable Libraries Initiative September 9th https://www.sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/event/introduction-sustainable-libraries-initiative-21039
• Introduction to the Sustainable Library Certification Program September 23 https://www.sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/event/introduction-sustainable-library-certification-program-21041

We hope you'll join us to learn more about this valuable member benefit!