MLA Annual Conference 2026 Beyond Buzzwords

Annual Conference Home  |  Pre-Conference  |  Registration & Rates  |  Venue Information  |  Schedule  |  Featured Speakers  |  Breakout Sessions  |  Special Events  |  Exhibitors  |  Land Acknowledgement  |  Sponsor and Partner Opportunities  |  MLA Annual Conference History 

 

MLA 2026 Annual Conference Schedule at a Glance

*Schedule is subject to change. 

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

6:00 - 9:00 PM Welcome Reception*

* Requires preregistration.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

9:30 AM - 4:45 PM Registration Open
9:30 - 10:30 AM New Attendee Welcome
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Opening Keynote: StoryMythos: A Movie Guide to Better Business Stories with Shane Meeker
12:30 - 2:00 PM Exhibit Hall Opening Reception
12:30 - 2:00 PM Lunch on Your Own
12:30 - 6:00 PM Exhibit Hall Open
2:00 - 3:00 PM Breakout Sessions
3:00 - 3:30 PM Afternoon Refreshment Break
3:30 - 4:30 PM Breakout Sessions
6:30 - 8:00 PM Michigan Library Awards Cocktail Hour and Dinner**
8:00 - 9:00 PM Michigan Library Awards Ceremony**

** Additional fee for vendors and those not registered to attend the conference on Wednesday. Preregistration required.

Thursday, October 29, 2026

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Registration Open
8:00 - 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 - 10:00 AM Morning Keynote with John U. Bacon
10:00 AM - 10:45 PM Exhibit Hall Break
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Exhibit Hall Open
10:45 - 11:45 AM Breakout Sessions
11:45 AM - 1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 PM Breakout Sessions
2:30 - 3:00 PM Afternoon Refreshment Break
3:00 - 4:00 PM MLA Annual Meeting
4:15 - 5:15 PM Afternoon Keynote with Ghassan Zeineddine
6:30 - 8:30 PM All-Conference Reception at the Novi Public Library*

* Requires preregistration.

Friday, October 30, 2026

8:00 - 11:30 AM Registration Open
8:00 - 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 - 10:00 AM Breakout Sessions
10:15 - 11:15 AM Breakout Sessions
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Closing Keynote: Close the Listening Gap with Maegan Stephens, PhD
 

Uniting the Michigan Library Community

MLA is proud to partner with organizations serving the library community.

Friends of Michigan Libraries logo