[Eril-l] Join your colleagues at Core Forum 2026, November 18-20, in Louisville, KY, at The Galt House Hotel!

Thu May 7 06:14:58 PDT 2026

Reconnect with friends and make new connections while celebrating the intersection and overlap of the core work we do.
 Two full days of presentations, interactive panel discussions, and activities are guaranteed to be both thought-provoking and highly relevant to participants' current and future career paths. Forum engages the collective expertise of presenters and participants, facilitates enriching conversations, and offers unique learning opportunities. Everyone, including non-Core members, is encouraged to register, bring real-life questions, share experiences, and network to learn new perspectives.
Event Features

  *   Preconferences & Tours (additional registration required)
  *   Welcome Reception
  *   2 Keynote Presentations
  *   45+ educational programs
  *   Poster Session
  *   Exhibitor Displays
  *   Dine-arounds (optional)
6 Concurrent Program Tracks

  *   Access & Equity
  *   Buildings & Operations
  *   Leadership & Management
  *   Metadata & Collections
  *   Preservation
  *   Technology
Keynote Speakers
Nick Laracuente
As the Lead Archivist for the Sazerac Company, Nick Laracuente is an archaeologist who specializes in historical distillery and spirits-specific research, as well as public outreach and education. Nicknamed the "Bourbon Archaeologist," he played a key role in the discovery and excavation of Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr's formerly lost nineteenth-century Distillery at Buffalo Trace Distillery, now dubbed "Bourbon Pompeii."
Frank X Walker
Multidisciplinary artist, Frank X Walker holds the endowed C.R. Lezius Professorship in the Arts at the University of Kentucky. A Cave Canem Fellow and co-founder of the Affrilachian Poets, he is the author of thirteen collections of poetry including Load In Nine Times, winner of the 2025 Pen/Voelcker Award for Poetry and Turn Me Loose: The Unghosting of Medgar Evers, winner of the NAACP Image Award, and Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York, winner of the Lillian Smith Book Award. Voted one of the most creative professors in the south, he is the originator of the word, Affrilachia, and is dedicated to communicating how literacy and the arts impacts our quality of life. The Lannan Poetry Fellowship Award recipient has degrees from the University of Kentucky and Spalding University as well as four honorary doctorates from the University of KY, Centre College, Spalding University, and Transylvania University.
View the complete event schedule and register at www.coreforum.org.<http://www.coreforum.org/>
Registration

  *   Early-bird registration pricing (ends October 4th)
  *   Core Member: $369
  *   Kentucky Library/KPLA Members: $369
  *   ALA Member: $454
  *   Non-Member: $574
  *   Other ALA Member (Students/Non-Salaried, LSS, Retired, International): $269
  *   Exhibitor Tabletop (includes up to 2 exhibitor registrations): $1,250
Core Forum Library Supporter
There are a limited number of Library Supporter sponsorships available to libraries. The $2,500 fee comes with up to 6 Forum attendee registrations, sponsorship of the Core Forum Poster Session and a small tabletop to display promotional materials about the library. Contact Julie Reese at jreese at ala.org<mailto:jreese at ala.org> for more information.
Additional Benefit for Registering:
All Core Forum registrants will receive free access to the 2026 Best of Core Forum Webinar Series in the months following Core Forum. The series features 20+ live webinars from sessions held at Forum voted by attendees as Best of Core Forum.
Not Yet a Member?
Consider becoming a member and save! An ALA member will pay $85 more than a Core member and a non-member will pay $205 more than a Core member to attend Forum, based on early-bird rates. Save money by joining and you will not only enjoy the benefits of Core Forum and Best of Core Forum Webinar Series but also have a year of ALA and Core membership. ALA member fees range from $40-$125 per year.  Core member fees range from $30-$82 per year. Visit the Core web site to learn about the benefits of membership and how to join.<https://www.ala.org/core/benefits-membership>

Core Forum Event Hotel
Core has secured a room block at The Galt House Hotel for registered Core Forum attendees. Group rates start at $189.00 Single/Double.  Housing reservations must be made prior to October 17.
We Welcome Your support!
Sponsorship & Exhibitor opportunities are available. Please contact Core Executive Director, Julie Reese for more information at jreese at ala.org<mailto:jreese at ala.org>.
2025 Core Forum Attendee Testimonials
"For a smaller public library, the information provided at Core is really key. To have such a concentrated wealth of knowledge around administration, management, and facilities in one place is really invaluable!"
"This was a great opportunity for me to learn new aspects of librarianship in regards to facility and staff management and overall leadership."
About Core
Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of leadership and management, collections and technical services, preservation, and technology. Our mission is to cultivate and amplify the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy, and learning. Core is a division of the American Library Association. Contact the Core office at core at ala.org<mailto:core at ala.org>, or visit our website at www.ala.org/core<http://www.ala.org/core> to learn more.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
OCLC, Diamond Sponsor<https://www.oclc.org/en/home.html>
Agati Furniture, Gold Sponsor<https://www.agati.com/>
University of Minnesota Libraries, Forum Supporter<https://www.lib.umn.edu/>
Follow Us on Social Media to Stay Informed!
LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/ala-core/> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/core_ala/> | Facebook<https://americanlibraryassociation.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMjM0NDMxMyZwPTEmdT0xMjAyNzQ4NzI4JmxpPTEyMTYzNTkxNA/index.html>

Melissa Brooks, MSLS, MBA
Head of Technical Services and Associate Professor
University Libraries
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Dr. #5053
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4237
melissa.m.brooks at usm.edu<mailto:melissa.m.brooks at usm.edu>
www.lib.usm.edu<http://www.lib.usm.edu/>

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Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/8d90ae5acab04a6eb325427f67065356@usm.edu?anonymous&ep=bwmEmailSignature>

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