NILRC Conference Scholarships Available!

Have you always wanted to attend the NILRC Conference? Well now is your chance!

The NILRC Board is offering 3 scholarships to attend the 2025 Annual Conference. This year’s conference will take place October 2-3 at Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Monticello, IL. The theme is “The Evolving Library: Transforming Spaces to Meet Changing Needs.”

(to the NILRC community): These scholarships are open to anyone at a member institution who has never attended the NILRC conference before. Please share with anyone interested at your institution!

(to the LIS Student Community): Are you a Library and Information Science Student in Illinois who is interested in pursuing Community College Librarianship? We’d like to have you join us! We have designated one of the scholarships for an LIS student. This is an amazing opportunity to attend a conference, network with library professionals, and learn more about the issues and hot topics affecting the field.

The scholarship will cover the full cost of registration, which includes all meals and snacks (lunch and dinner on Thursday, and breakfast on Friday), a single room, and use of the facilities.

Applicants will be notified before the end of Early Bird Registration (July 31) if they have been awarded a scholarship. If more than three applications are received, preference will be given to applicants from different institutions so that more colleges can participate.

To apply for a scholarship to attend the conference, complete this form by Wednesday, July 23.

Link to scholarship application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeISpdAWqsCplWl_s5npmsGMdOpb1-LTQiPxt0k9Qkcx_zZAg/viewform?usp=header

If you have any questions, please contact Cat Broady at broadyc@bhc.edu.

Early Bird Registration for NILRC Conference is Now Open!

As summer begins its graceful transition into fall, imagine the crisp air, the cozy ambiance of your favorite library and the promise of a season filled with inspiration. We are thrilled to announce our annual NILRC conference, themed "The Evolving Library: Transforming Spaces to Meet Changing Needs," on October 2nd–3rd at the scenic Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Monticello, IL.

Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfou95veCqvZ1Six252bcmMRp6dbJjWKiK6tJASngf7XJGixQ/viewform?usp=header

What’s in Store:

• Inspiring Theme: Delve into how libraries can be redesigned to better serve evolving community needs. Whether it's innovative spaces or rethinking traditional roles, this conference is your opportunity to explore how people use academic libraries (final schedule TBA).

• Enjoy the Full Conference Experience: For $325*, your registration includes:

• All meals and snacks (lunch and dinner on Thursday, breakfast on Friday)

• A single room stay

• Full use of the Allerton facilities (https://allerton.illinois.edu/)

Not staying at Allerton? Get a discounted rate of $200.

*Early Bird Advantage:

Register by July 31st and receive $25 off your registration! Secure your early bird discount and prepare to immerse yourself in a transformative library experience. After early bird registration closes, an invoice from Lois will be sent to complete your booking. If you want your invoice in advance, please select that option on the registration form. 

New This Year: Looking for another discount? You can now share a room with a colleague! For more information on room sharing, please see the registration form or email Cat Broady

And don’t miss the Tales and Toasts: An Autumn Soiree (fancy dress encouraged) on Thursday night. It will be an evening to unwind, network, and celebrate the spirit of libraries in an unforgettable setting.

Returning this year are scholarships. Three scholarships are available to NILRC members and one LIS student to attend. More information and the application are here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeISpdAWqsCplWl_s5npmsGMdOpb1-LTQiPxt0k9Qkcx_zZAg/viewform?usp=header

We look forward to welcoming you to Allerton Park & Retreat Center for a conference that promises both insightful sessions and delightful, cozy moments.

If you have any questions or need further details, feel free to contact Cat Broady at broadyc@bhc.edu. 

NILRC Announces FY26-FY30 Strategic Plan

NILRC is pleased to announce the release of its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2026-2030. Building upon existing foundations, the plan features key updates, including enhanced advocacy efforts and reinforced guiding principles. Strategic Goal 3 has been revised to emphasize member advocacy skills development. The plan is the result of months of work by the Strategic Planning Task Force, chaired by Sam Suber (Moraine Valley Community College), and includes contributions from Frances Whaley, Guillermo Gasca, Amy Pinc, Terra Jacobson, Karissa Anderson, and Melissa Merlos. The full plan is available to read or download.

Uncommon Collections

Please mark your calendars for our April professional development webinar! Come learn about non-traditional objects in library collections and how to manage them. Does your library have an uncommon collection? We’d love to hear about it!


Uncommon Collections
In this presentation, Valerie Moore from Prairie State College and Thomas Mantzakides from Morton College will cover their Library’s uncommon collections, some circulating, and some not. When people think of a library, they think of books, but the bulk of our library collections are eResources. They definitely don’t think of objects. However, it has become common for public libraries to lend things. A symposium on play in the academy, and a second conference on public library collections of things got Valerie thinking about how she could bring more play and games to the PSC Library. Thomas will cover the "Library of Things" collection at Morton College - why certain items were added to the collection, lending policies, and how best to promote and possibly expand the collection.


Thursday, April 10 @ 10 am
Join here: https://meet.google.com/fkx-cqvf-rpm?authuser=0&hs=122