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<p class="MsoNormal">Join Core Forum 2026 at The Galt House for an incredible opportunity to celebrate the diverse and interconnected library work of you, our Core members. From November 18-20, 2026 we’ll engage the collective expertise of presenters and participants,
facilitating thought-provoking conversations over two days of presentations, table-top exhibits, and poster sessions. Core Forum provides a place to build and foster relationships with colleagues through exciting networking activities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Consider submitting a proposal for a thought-provoking and highly-relevant to practitioners presentation in the following areas:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">Access and Equity <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">Buildings and Operations<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">Leadership and Management<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">Metadata and Collections<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">Technology<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">Preservation<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Presentation Opportunities</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">SESSION - Concurrent sessions will be held on Thursday and Friday. Presentations will be 45 minutes in length with 15 minutes for introduction and Q&A. Presenters are required to present in-person and register at the discounted presenter
rate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PRECONFERENCE - Half-day afternoon preconferences (3-4 hours) and all day tours (off-site venue) will be held on Wednesday. Presenters are required to present in-person.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">POSTER - Poster sessions provide the opportunity to share work, research, and ideas across the Forum’s content areas identified in the bulleted list above. Print posters will be displayed throughout the Forum, with special time reserved
during Friday morning for participants to ask questions and engage presenters.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">Relevance to the Forum’s program tracks and audience<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">Opportunities for learning and applicability to current library trends<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We encourage diversity in presenters from a wide range of backgrounds, libraries, and experiences, and deliberately seek and encourage submissions from underrepresented groups, such as Indigenous peoples, women, people of color, the LGBTQA+
community, and people with disabilities. We also strongly encourage submissions with presenters from public, school, and special libraries.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vendors wishing to submit a proposal should partner with a library representative who is evaluating/using the product or service.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Presenters will submit final presentation slides and/or electronic content (video, audio, etc.) 10 days prior to the event for accessibility reviewing and to be made available online following the event. Presenters will be able to register
at a discounted rate and participate in the Forum as attendees.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Questions about submitting a proposal? Attend the "All About Core Forum" webinar session, on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from 2:30pm - 3:30pm.
</b><a href="https://ala-events.zoom.us/meeting/register/8B240jNzTzmG65wpVfCJAA"><b>Register for the webinar here</b></a><b>. </b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ready to submit your proposal?<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSen0rb_JP-j4BgUQZFsjxaluOZ7jBJr8oy6Dzz39Dd5y0wUSg/viewform?usp=header"> Complete the Proposal Form</a> before the Sunday, March 8, 2026 deadline.
<a href="https://coreforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-Core-Forum-Proposal-Form-Questions.pdf">
To preview the 2026 Core Forum proposal questions before starting the form, please download the questions here.</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Questions can be sent to the Forum Planning Co-Chairs or Core Staff:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kevin Lightfoot, Core Forum Planning Committee Co-Chair, <a href="mailto:klightfoot@mclennan.edu">
klightfoot@mclennan.edu</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Holly Sealine, Core Forum Planning Committee Co-Chair, <a href="mailto:sealine@johnstonlibrary.org">
sealine@johnstonlibrary.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Julie Reese, Core Executive Director, <a href="mailto:jreese@ala.org">
jreese@ala.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tom Ferren, Core Deputy Executive Director of Learning & Events,
<a href="mailto:tferren@ala.org">tferren@ala.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Save the Date:</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Registration will open in April. <a href="https://americanlibraryassociation.informz.net/americanlibraryassociation/pages/Core_Opt_in_Manager_Forum_Checked">
Join the notification list to receive event announcements</a>,and visit the Core Forum website for program information and sponsorship opportunities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Melissa Brooks, MSLS, MBA</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Head of Technical Services and Associate Professor</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">University Libraries</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">University of Southern Mississippi</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">118 College Dr. #5053</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">601.266.4237</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:melissa.m.brooks@usm.edu"><span style="color:#0563C1">melissa.m.brooks@usm.edu</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.lib.usm.edu/"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.lib.usm.edu</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/8d90ae5acab04a6eb325427f67065356@usm.edu?anonymous&ep=bwmEmailSignature"><span style="color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="20" height="20" style="width:.2083in;height:.2083in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://res.public.onecdn.static.microsoft/assets/bookwithme/misc/CalendarPerson20px.png"></span></a><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#0078D4;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/8d90ae5acab04a6eb325427f67065356@usm.edu?anonymous&ep=bwmEmailSignature"><span style="color:#0078D4;text-decoration:none">Book time to meet
with me</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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