Display event - 2026 Core Forum

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2026 Core Forum

The Core Forum is an annual premiere event for ALA’s newest division, Core: Leadership, Infrastructures, Futures. It brings together decisions makers and practitioners that focus on the following areas: Access & Equity, Buildings & Operations, Leadership & Management, Metadata & Collections, Preservation, and Technology. Core Forum program tracks and discussions are structured around these seven topics, particularly the ways in which they interact with and complement each other.

Please sign in to your ALA account to start the registration process and see pricing. If you do not have an ALA account, please visit us here or click "Create a new account" to the right.

Important note if you are registering others: please make sure you have your registrants ALA member number so you can receive the proper pricing for all.

For more information about Core Forum 2026, please visit: http://coreforum.org/

When

11/18/2026 9:00 AM - 11/20/2026 5:00 PM

Where

The Galt House Hotel 140 N. Fourth St. Louisville, KY 40202 UNITED STATES

Program

Select programs by

1. Preconference

Description
A Friendly Intro to Licensing: Clause for Celebration Scared of licensing? Don't be! This preconference will be a straightforward introduction to some of the most common licensing terms and what to look out for. This is not just for electronic resource librarians but will help anyone in libraries who work with resources better understand how they and their patrons can use those resources. We'll work through a number of terms, review sample licenses and leave with a better understanding of what our libraries are agreeing to when we sign on the dotted line. Note: I’m not a lawyer and am not offering legal advice. Instead, this session will focus on practical guidance to help you feel more confident reading and understanding the licenses you encounter before you send them to legal counsel, if you're the library signatory or after they are on file! Category 1. Preconference Time 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM 11/18/2026 12:00 PM
A Friendly Intro to Licensing:… - KLA/KPLA Members Scared of licensing? Don't be! This preconference will be a straightforward introduction to some of the most common licensing terms and what to look out for. This is not just for electronic resource librarians but will help anyone in libraries who work with resources better understand how they and their patrons can use those resources. We'll work through a number of terms, review sample licenses and leave with a better understanding of what our libraries are agreeing to when we sign on the dotted line. Note: I’m not a lawyer and am not offering legal advice. Instead, this session will focus on practical guidance to help you feel more confident reading and understanding the licenses you encounter before you send them to legal counsel, if you're the library signatory or after they are on file! Category 1. Preconference Time 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM 11/18/2026 12:00 PM
Informal Leadership in Action... Informal leadership (IL) can be a “heavy lift,” often accompanied by complex challenges and limited recognition. Yet in many organizations, it is one of the primary ways professionals gain new skills, expand their experience, and build meaningful relationships. How can you determine whether informal leadership is right for you? And if it is, how can you identify opportunities and prepare for success? Category 1. Preconference Time 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM 11/18/2026 12:00 PM
Informal Leadership in Action...KLA/KLPA Members Informal leadership (IL) can be a “heavy lift,” often accompanied by complex challenges and limited recognition. Yet in many organizations, it is one of the primary ways professionals gain new skills, expand their experience, and build meaningful relationships. How can you determine whether informal leadership is right for you? And if it is, how can you identify opportunities and prepare for success? Category 1. Preconference Time 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM 11/18/2026 12:00 PM
Disaster Response Planning... This workshop will provide participants with an introduction to disaster planning specific to arts and culture organizations. They will also be provided insight into the coordination of disaster response networks via the experience of member institutions of the Kentucky Heritage Emergency Response Network. Activities will include an instructor led demonstration of salvage methods used in the recovery of wet materials as well as table top exercises during which participants will engage in activities to assess their institutions risks. Category 1. Preconference Time 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM 11/18/2026 12:00 PM
Disaster Response Planning KLA/KLPA Members This workshop will provide participants with an introduction to disaster planning specific to arts and culture organizations. They will also be provided insight into the coordination of disaster response networks via the experience of member institutions of the Kentucky Heritage Emergency Response Network. Activities will include an instructor led demonstration of salvage methods used in the recovery of wet materials as well as table top exercises during which participants will engage in activities to assess their institutions risks. Category 1. Preconference Time 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM 11/18/2026 12:00 PM
User Experience 101 User Experience 101: A Masterclass for Non-UX Library Professionals Libraries need user feedback for improvements on websites, catalogs, and physical aspects of the library, but budgets are tighter and tighter. User testing, surveys, and focus groups are just a handful of aspects of UX work that can be practiced by anyone - no UX experience required! - and would be easy to incorporate at any library. UX is a growing trend in librarianship, and we hope this workshop will give library workers practical guidance to use these helpful techniques, as well as give an overview of UX and the design cycle. The goal is low/no-cost methods that will yield high-impact results for you to make demonstrable upgrades in your own library. Category 1. Preconference Time 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM 11/18/2026 12:00 PM
User Experience 101 KLA/KLPA Members User Experience 101: A Masterclass for Non-UX Library Professionals Libraries need user feedback for improvements on websites, catalogs, and physical aspects of the library, but budgets are tighter and tighter. User testing, surveys, and focus groups are just a handful of aspects of UX work that can be practiced by anyone - no UX experience required! - and would be easy to incorporate at any library. UX is a growing trend in librarianship, and we hope this workshop will give library workers practical guidance to use these helpful techniques, as well as give an overview of UX and the design cycle. The goal is low/no-cost methods that will yield high-impact results for you to make demonstrable upgrades in your own library. Category 1. Preconference Time 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM 11/18/2026 12:00 PM

2. Reception

Description
Core Welcome Reception Please join your colleagues to reconnect and enjoy libations and appetizers together! Be sure to add this to your registration if you plan to attend. Category 2. Reception Time 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM 11/18/2026 5:00 PM

3. Tours

Description
Louisville Lib Bldg Tour with BCUL and APL Category 3. Tours Time 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM 11/18/2026 8:00 AM
Louisville Lib Bldg Tour with BCUL and APL KLA/KLPA Members Category 3. Tours Time 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM 11/18/2026 8:00 AM

4. Core Scholarship Fund

Description
$5 Donation To Core Scholarship Fund Category 4. Core Scholarship Fund Time 11/18/2026 9:00 AM - 11/20/2026 5:00 PM 11/18/2026 9:00 AM
$10 Donation To Core Scholarship Fund Category 4. Core Scholarship Fund Time 11/18/2026 9:00 AM - 11/20/2026 5:00 PM 11/18/2026 9:00 AM
$25 Donation To Core Scholarship Fund Category 4. Core Scholarship Fund Time 11/18/2026 9:00 AM - 11/20/2026 5:00 PM 11/18/2026 9:00 AM
$50 Donation To Core Scholarship Fund Category 4. Core Scholarship Fund Time 11/18/2026 9:00 AM - 11/20/2026 5:00 PM 11/18/2026 9:00 AM

5. Exhibitor Tables

Description
Exhibitor Table Top Purchase If you are purchasing an Exhibitor Table, please be sure to choose the Exhibitor & Sponsor Registration from the registration options above. Category 5. Exhibitor Tables 11/18/2026

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