Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures (CORE)
Danny Joudrey Awarded 2026 Margaret Mann Citation
Danny Joudrey has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Margaret Mann Citation, sponsored by OCLC and Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures. Joudrey is currently the Professor and Director of Libraries and Librarianship Concentration at Simmons...
Best of Core Forum: Unlocking Team Potential: Leading Effective Library Teams
CHICAGO—Join Core for the webinar "Best of Core Forum: Unlocking Team Potential: Leading Effective Library Teams" on June 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. CT. eams are an increasingly important workplace construct, allowing libraries to tap into staff potential to...
Best of Core Forum: Elevating Public Spaces: Universal Design, Safety, and Community Voice in a Major Library Renovation
CHICAGO—Join Core for the webinar "Best of Core Forum: Elevating Public Spaces: Universal Design, Safety, and Community Voice in a Major Library Renovation" on June 2, 2026, at 1 p.m. CT. Embarking on a major capital renovation presents unique challenges...
Core ALA Annual Preconference: Assembling Your Consultant Tool Kit: What You Need to Know to Become a Successful Consultant
On June 26, 2025, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures will host the half-day session “Assembling Your Consultant Tool Kit: What You Need to Know to Become a Successful Consultant" on Friday, June 26, 2026, during the 2026 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, IL.
Core ALA Annual Preconference: Embedding Anti-Racism Practices into Program Innovations
On June 26, 2025, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures will host the half-day session “Embedding Anti-Racism Practices into Program Innovations" on Friday, June 26, 2026, during the 2026 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, IL.
Cara Calabrese Named Core 2027-2028 President
CHICAGO — The Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures division of ALA has announced the results of its 2026 election. Members elected Cara Calabrese, Head, Acquisitions at Indiana University – Bloomington, to the office of 2027–2028 Core president...
Core ALA Annual Preconference: Preservation in Action
On June 26, 2025, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures will host the half-day session “Preservation in Action" on Friday, June 26, 2026, during the 2026 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, IL.
Core ALA Annual Preconference: Introduction to Digital Preservation
On June 26, 2025, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures will host the half-day session “Introduction to Digital Preservation" on Friday, June 26, 2026, during the 2026 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, IL.
Core ALA Annual Preconference: Capital Improvements Project Management for Libraries: The Tools you Need to Build a Better Library Space
On June 26, 2025, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures will host the full-day session “Capital Improvements Project Management for Libraries: The Tools you Need to Build a Better Library Space" on Friday, June 26, 2026, during the 2026 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, IL.
Core ALA Annual Preconference: Activating Leadership and Cultivating Your Team: Thinking Differently about Who You Are and What You Do in the Library
On June 26, 2025, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures will host the half-day session “Activating Leadership and Cultivating Your Team: Thinking Differently about Who You Are and What You Do in the Library " on Friday, June 26, 2026, during the 2026 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, IL.
Core ALA Annual Preconference: Latest and Greatest - Merchandise Mart and Fulton Market Tours
On June 26, 2025, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures will host the full-day tour “Latest and Greatest - Merchandise Mart and Fulton Market Tours" on Friday, June 26, 2026, during the 2026 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, IL.
Core ALA Annual Preconference: Academic and Research Libraries Tour: Creating Contemporary Spaces in Historic Libraries
On June 26, 2025, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures will host the full-day tour “Academic and Research Libraries Tour: Creating Contemporary Spaces in Historic Libraries" on Friday, June 26, 2026, during the 2026 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, IL.
Best of Core Forum: From Planning to Showtime: a Librarian's Guide
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "Best of Core Forum: From Planning to Showtime: a Librarian's Guide" on May 26, 2026, at 1 p.m. CT. Public libraries are hubs of community engagement, innovation, and learning—and increasingly, they are called upon to...
Core Presents “Best of Core Forum” Webinar Collection for 2025 Event
CHICAGO–Core is pleased to present the fourth “Best of Core Forum” webinar collection, starting on March 25, 2026. These webinars are based on programs presented at the 2025 Core Forum. The presenters are adapting the program content into live webinars to...
Best of Core Forum: Mindfulness as a Leadership Tool
CHICAGO—Join Core for the webinar "Best of Core Forum: Mindfulness as a Leadership Tool" on May 13, 2026, at 1 p.m. CT. Leading a library in today’s complex landscape presents unique challenges, including political dynamics, budget constraints, and the...
Preserve Memories and Build Archives for Preservation Week 2026, April 26 - May 2
CHICAGO—Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is happy to announce that Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty is the 2026 Honorary Chair of Preservation Week from April 26- May 2, 2026. The theme for Preservation Week 2026 is Is This Thing On? Preserving...
Preservation Week: Hand in Hand: Connecting, Supporting, and Sustaining
This webinar will introduce the Memory Lab model, highlight California Revealed’s pilot program to build new community-based archives through their public library partnerships, and offer resources to reinforce the national network, including a new California Memory Lab Handbook, as well as digitization kits. We will highlight the work of the South Pasadena Public Library, who are exploring options to make their Memory Lab more ADA-friendly.
Preservation Week Honorary Chair: Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty in conversation with Sherry Williams
Please join us for a conversation with Honorary Chair of Preservation Week, Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty in conversation with Sherry Williams
Preservation Week: Helping Patrons Preserve Digital Memories
This session focuses on building library staff confidence in assisting patrons with their digital lives. The webinar emphasizes ways to explain digital preservation concepts in plain language, identify common risks to digital memory, and suggest appropriate next steps during reference work, technology help sessions, or public programs.
Best of Core Forum: How to Have an Inclusive Collection Even When Your Institution Isn’t
This webinar will look at how all libraries (with a special focus on school libraries) can create inclusive collections representative of all students and people, even when the institutions themselves might not be the most inclusive. It will highlight ways to create policies, teach challenging topics or books, create displays, and handle questions.