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

Dumpster Diving for Information: Weeding through AI Trash in Search Engines

Dumpster Diving for Information: Weeding through AI Trash in Search Engines

With AI-generated content flooding search results, AI overviews reshaping what we see, and library discovery tools integrating AI in new ways, navigating search is more challenging and frustrating than ever. This session will explore how AI is reshaping search engine results, discuss strategies for filtering through the noise to find reliable information, and examine the growing presence of AI-driven tools in library databases and catalogs. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to help themselves and their patrons adapt to this evolving information environment.

Tuesday, March 11th 11:30-12:30pm