After much discussion and reflection the committee and organisers have taken the decision to postpone the Annual Conference and AGM until later in 2020. The new conference date is likely to be in the early Autumn: late September or early October.
We really do emphasise that this is a postponement and not a cancellation. The annual conference is a vital part of independent library life; it’s where we get together with our friends, network, share successes and learn from one another. In these times, the ILA remains more committed to those values than ever.
This year’s theme, ‘Libraries as a Great Good Place’ is perhaps more pertinent than ever as all our members protect and care for their communities in various ways: some closing, some delivering remote services, some remaining open with strict measures in place.
Our hosts for 2020, the Leeds Library, remain excited about welcoming us all to their library later in the year. The organisers were delighted to receive a number of inventive, creative proposals, and all of these have been accepted to the delayed conference. If you would like to contribute, please do submit to independentlibraries@gmail.com
We wish all our members - all the staff, the users and members, the buildings themselves, their wider communities - the very best. See you soon.