At the end of June 2026, I was able to attend the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago, IL, with financial assistance through the iSchool’s travel grant. As I near my final semester in the program, this conference was a remarkable chance to grow, learn, and connect with both students and professionals across the field.

This was my first library conference that I attended alone, but there truly wasn’t a moment when I felt alone, surrounded as I was by fellow library peers. I met so many people and made so many meaningful connections, which made the entire experience incredibly empowering.

The conference began Friday evening with an opening session emceed by outgoing ALA president Sam Helmick and included speakers such as ALA executive director Dan Montgomery, Chicago Public Library commissioner Chris Brown, and Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson. The session concluded with guest speaker and MS NOW host Rachel Maddow, who spoke about fighting back against injustice, the vital role libraries play as providers of information, and her genuine admiration for the work librarians do. Every part of the opening ceremony left me energized and reaffirmed my commitment to both my current work and the future I’m building in librarianship.

Within the Library Marketplace, there were over 600 exhibit booths and nine live stages. Throughout the convention center, hundreds of additional presentations were taking place, offering constant opportunities to learn, connect, and be inspired. With so many wonderful sessions and activities happening at once, it was essential to use the ALA Conference app to keep track of everything I didn’t want to miss. Much like prior years, the app was intuitive and reliable, and I was able to easily navigate my personal schedule to see everything I had marked as a favorite. I highly recommend that anyone attending future ALA conferences download the app and take full advantage of the agenda feature.

I was able to attend numerous sessions, focusing on many that would support my role as a Children’s Services Librarian. From programs and services to collection development, there were countless options to choose from. I was particularly inspired by sessions that emphasized culturally responsive programming, practical strategies for inclusive storytimes, and approaches to building collections that reflect the lived experiences of all children in our communities.

Every session and event I attended – and every connection I made – added something meaningful to my experience. I’m grateful for all I learned, and I’ll carry these insights with me as I finish my studies and continue growing in my career as a librarian.