Hear from publishers about their latest titles over breakfast buffet. Make sure to add this to your ticket (no additional cost, but limited space). Only available for librarians and media.

Event welcome by
Sam Helmick (President, ALA)
Daniel O’Brien (Executive Director, IPC)
John Bracken (Executive Director, DPLA)

author of Data Cartels: The Companies That Control and Monopolize Our Information

A session on breaking down the library market and getting to the heart of the road blocks that unite librarians and independent publishers.

Moderator: Stephanie Anderson (BookOps)
Andrew Albanese (Books & Money)
Sarah VanCleef Gold (Wisconsin Library Services, WiLS)
Jaena Rae Cabrera (San Francisco Public Library)

Lunch buffet is provided; dietary restrictions included at registration.

Moderator: Claire Kelley (Seven Stories Press)
Ann Lehue (Ingram Library Services)
Mia Karnofsky (Queens Public Library)
Lainie Miller (Denver Public Library)
Brad Allen (Lawrence Public Library)

How can we resist the growing influence of corporate power, private equity, and commercial bias in shaping library collections? This session brings together librarians working in readers advisory, programming, and collection development to examine how market logic, automation, and licensing models increasingly drive purchasing decisions—often at the expense of midlist titles and books from independent publishers.


Grounded in a title-by-title case study of five books—spanning a range of Big Five and indie press titles—the panel will look at what actually happens after libraries buy books in print, ebook, and audiobook formats. Panelists will share data from their libraries including circulation metrics to explore questions of risk, return on investment, and how cost structures shape libraries’ willingness to “take a chance” beyond market-driven patron demand. The session will also consider the impact of bestseller lists, Library Reads selections, awards, and starred reviews on library purchasing through data rather than anecdotes. Attendees will leave with strategies to facilitate democratic access to robust library collections through community centered collection building, examples of vendor initiatives for diverse collections, and collaboration with independent publishers.

Moderator: Micah May (Lyrasis, Palace Project)
Ellen Paul (Connecticut Library Consortium)
Michael Blackwell, (St Mary’s County Library, ReadersFirst)
Amy Mikel (Brooklyn Public Library)

Join facilitator Micah May and a powerhouse panel featuring Ellen Paul (Connecticut Library Consortium), Michael Blackwell (ReadersFirst), and Amy Mikel (Brooklyn Public Library, Urban Library Council)] for a high-energy exploration of the digital lending landscape. After a brief dive into the "friction points" of e-book and audiobook access—including pricing, UX, and licensing hurdles—the session shifts into a fast-paced "Library Shark Tank." Watch as independent publishers pitch their licensing models to our library "sharks," who will evaluate each deal to "buy big," "buy a little," or "pass" based on the unique needs of consortia, urban systems, and smaller libraries. After each round our expert panelists, who represent national advocacy efforts, will debrief on each model, how it stacks up and share thoughts on how libraries can strategically reward publishers who offer fair, sustainable options.

Reports on research being conducted by Library Futures, ALA fellows, and more to address the pressing issues facing the library and publishing industries.

Breakout sessions on the days key topics

Closing remarks

Have a drink on us and mingle with attendees!