2026 ILF Annual Conference

Sunday, November 8 Schedule

Pre-conference programs, networking opportunities, gaming activities, orientation, and welcome events designed to help attendees connect before the full conference begins.

Board Meeting

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

ILF Board Meeting

Location: Regency E

Networking Activity - Gaming Session | Regency Ballroom A-D

12:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Location: Regency Ballroom A-D

Join your colleagues for a variety of tabletop games, facilitated by Andrea Zwiebel (North Manchester Public Library), Cat Roberts (Shelby County Public Library), and George Bergstrom (Indiana State Library). All experience levels are welcome!

Learn to play Mahjong: Join Andrea Zwiebel (North Manchester Public Library) to learn to play Mahjong and start open play sessions at your library! In addition to learning to play, you'll receive information on topics such as purchasing a Mahjong game for circulation, programming for adults, and using Mahjong to promote social connection for seniors.
  • Since Mahjong is a complex game, please plan to arrive at 12:30 and stay until 2:30. Spectators are welcome to drop in and out! 
Tabletop Role Playing Games: Join Cat Roberts (Shelby County Public Library) to explore Tabletop Role Playing Games, or TTPRGs. The session will primarily focus on Dungeons & Dragons, using a mixture of 5e and 5.5. (Don't know what that means? That's okay!) Pre-made characters will be available, though veteran players can choose to bring a level 1 character. Expect a quick introduction to the mechanics of the game followed by the opportunity to play. Spectators are welcome.
  • Sessions will start at 12:30 (45 minutes), 1:15 (45 minutes), and 2:00 (30 minutes).
Open Board Game Play: Join George Bergstrom (Indiana State Library) for open board game play! George will provide a variety of popular games, including Hues & Cues, Just One, Codenames Disney, and Exploding Kittens. Drop in, Drop out, sit down, enjoy!  Feel free to bring your own games as well.

Pre-conference Session | ILF Polling Project Overview

From Polling to Action: Using the 2026 ILF Survey to Strengthen Library Advocacy, Communications, and Public Support

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

John Chrastka - EveryLibrary

Location: Regency Ballroom A-D

Join EveryLibrary for a half-day pre-conference that will help public library and school library leaders put the 2026 Indiana Library Federation polling results to practical use in their own communities, districts, boards, and stakeholder conversations. Building on ILF’s webinar series with EveryLibrary, this session will condense the major findings and strategic lessons into an interactive workshop focused on local application.

Participants will review what Hoosiers said about library access, public trust, content and censorship, public investment, school librarians, reading achievement, parental choice, governance, and community value. The session will move beyond understanding the data to ask how the findings can be used in local messaging, budget advocacy, legislative education, trustee and board conversations, school district planning, media engagement, and coalition-building.

The workshops will explore how library leaders can reinforce strong findings, correct misunderstandings, reframe complicated issues, and rebut harmful claims. Public library and school library stakeholders will have opportunities to work on issues specific to their settings while also identifying shared messages around access, reading, learning, public value, and community benefit.

Participants will have a clearer understanding of how to use the polling results as an advocacy and communications tool and begin developing a practical action plan for their own library or school district. This pre-conference is designed for library directors, school librarians, trustees, board members, association leaders, advocates, and communications staff.

ILF Conference Welcome Reception 

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Welcome Reception & Orientation

Location: Regency Ballroom A-D

New to the ILF Annual Conference or want to meet some new people? Join us to learn how to make the most of your conference experience and connect with fellow attendees.

Evening Social

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Karaoke & Reception

Location: Foyer

End the day by networking with colleagues, reconnecting with friends, and building new professional relationships. Details to come.

Please note: Schedule details are subject to change. Check back for the latest updates as the conference approaches.

Select a day below to view the full schedule.