Leadership Development
The 2027 ALA/AIA Library Building Award Application is Open Now!
The American Library Association (ALA) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) are currently accepting applications for the AIA/ALA 2027 award which honors the best in library architecture and design. Deadline to apply is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Announcing the 2026 Core Forum Keynote Speakers!
Core is proud to announce our Forum 2026 keynote speakers, Nick Laracuente and Frank X Walker!
Applications Open for the 2026-2027 Core Leadership Mentoring Program
The Core Leadership Development & Mentoring Committee is now recruiting mentors and mentees for the 2026-2027 cohort of the Core Leadership Mentoring Program . This program connects Core members who are established leaders or mid- to advanced-career...
Core Webinar: Building Equitable, Actionable Feedback Cultures
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "Building Equitable, Actionable Feedback Cultures" on November 11, 2026, at 10 a.m. CDT. Feedback is one of the most powerful tools a leader has, and one of the most misused. This session invites library leaders at...
Core Webinar: Best of Core Forum: Building an IDEA Strategy for Public Libraries
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "Best of Core Forum: Building an IDEA Strategy for Public Libraries" on October 13, 2026, at 1 p.m. CDT. Public libraries increasingly seek to advance Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA), yet many...
Core Webinar: Best of Core Forum: How to Have an Inclusive Collection Even When Your Institution Isn’t
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "Best of Core Forum: How to Have an Inclusive Collection Even When Your Institution Isn’t" on October 6, 2026, at 1 p.m. CDT. How can you ensure your collection is inclusive for all, even if your institution isn’t...
Core Webinar: International Librarianship Panel
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "International Librarianship Panel" on August 25, 2026, at 10 a.m. CDT. What is it like to build a library career beyond North America? Join three experienced librarians who have worked internationally as they share...
Core Webinar: Anti-Trans Bias and the New Federal Paradigm
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "Anti-Trans Bias and the New Federal Paradigm" on August 26, 2026, at 1 p.m. CDT. Anti-transgender rhetoric has been spreading for many years, but the inauguration on January 20, 2025 marked a sea-change in the...
Core Webinar: Best of Core Forum: Accuracy Matters: Evaluating the Value of AI Tools
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "Best of Core Forum: Accuracy Matters: Evaluating the Value of AI Tools" on September 16, 2026, at 1 p.m. CDT. Since the introduction of ChatGPT in 2022, the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence on library...
Best of Core Forum: Assessing Study Room Use and Patron Needs
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "Best of Core Forum: Assessing Study Room Use and Patron Needs" on July 22, 2026, at 1 p.m. CDT. Study room spaces have become a critical resource offered in large academic libraries, yet their standard configuration...
Best of Core Forum: The Quiet Revolution Is Loud: Are Libraries Ready?
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "Best of Core Forum: The Quiet Revolution Is Loud: Are Libraries Ready?" on August 4, 2026, at 1 p.m. CDT. For most libraries, door counts have reached or surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Demand for quiet study spaces has...
Core Webinar: Anti-Trans Bias and the New Federal Paradigm
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "Anti-Trans Bias and the New Federal Paradigm" on August 26, 2026, at 1 p.m. CDT. Anti-transgender rhetoric has been spreading for many years, but the inauguration on January 20, 2025 marked a sea-change in the...
Core Webinar: Empowering Intergenerational Digital Literacy
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "Empowering Intergenerational Digital Literacy" on August 25, 2026, at 1 p.m. CDT. A lack of access, confidence, and skills keeps many older adults from connecting digitally. This webinar focuses on how public libraries...
Best of Core Forum: Power of a Community The Colorado Chicano Movement
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "Best of Core Forum: Power of a Community The Colorado Chicano Movement" on July 15, 2026, at 1 p.m. CT. Engaging with their community through active, collaborative memory work, archivists can provide a voice and build...
AASL Launches “Page to Practice” Book Club to Transform Professional Reading into Action
CHICAGO- The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announces the launch of the AASL Page to Practice Book Club, a new online professional learning community designed to help school librarians and K–12 educators turn professional reading into...
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...
From Planning to Showtime: a Librarian's Guide
CHICAGO — Join Core for the webinar "From Planning to Showtime: a Librarian's Guide" on October 7, 2026, at 1 p.m. CT. Public libraries are hubs of community engagement, innovation, and learning—and increasingly, they are called upon to lead large-scale...
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...