2023 WLA Conference

When: March 30-April 1, 2023
Where: Wenatchee Convention Center

Join your Washington library community this spring in Wenatchee for #WLA2023! Our annual conference facilitates unique opportunities for innovation and collaboration between Academic, Public, School, and Special libraries across the state. Our Conference Committee has designed this conference for library professionals of all job roles, from all types of libraries, and at all career stages. You'll leave with connections, ideas, and information to put into action.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the WLA Office by emailing [email protected] or calling/texting (206) 823-1138.

Register now!

Registration & Hotel

Registration is now open! Preregister by March 23 to save! Registration rates are available for individuals, both in-person and online. There are also in-person registration rates available for groups associated with a single organization.

Don't forget to book your stay at our conference hotel, the Coast Wenatchee. The booking deadline to receive the group rate is March 15, but availability of rooms at the conference rate is not guaranteed. We encourage you to book your room early. 

Virtual Access

For attendees who can't make the trip this time, we will offer virtual access that includes access to the app, virtual sessions, and select livestreamed events. Check back soon for our full virtual schedule.

#WLA2023 begins in...

Conference Highlights

• Networking opportunities to facilitate make meaningful, lasting connections, including Dine-Arounds, receptions, the Table Topics Lunch, Divisional unconferences, meetups around shared interests and identities, and an app with an attendee social network.
• 70+ sessions from experts and innovators in Academic, Public, School, and Special libraries across the state.
• Virtual content available to all attendees to watch on demand through June 2023.
• Preconference Workshops to give a deeper dive into the topics of accessibility, community-centered planning, serving Indigenous communities, and more.
• Extracurricular activities to get you out exploring Wenatchee with new friends.
• User-friendly app to help you navigate the conference with ease, build your schedule, find new connections, participate in community discussions, enter challenges to win prizes, and so much more.
• Keynote speaker to be announced soon!
• Closing session featuring a panel on book challenges.
• Four meals included in your registration, plus refreshment breaks and receptions.
• Exhibit Hall packed full of library-related vendors offering giveaways, discounts, and exclusive opportunities to conference attendees.

Conference Theme

Our conference theme is All In, Reach Out. Our experiences over the past few years have reinforced the importance of connection. We’ve adapted and learned new ways to connect with each other, to collaborate with community partners, and to meet the changing needs of our patrons and students. Join us at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers this spring, where we will explore our methods of connection and share the resulting innovations. By reaching out and breaking down silos, we can be all in for our communities.

Primary Source Scholarship for Rural & Small Libraries

Applications have closed for the Primary Source Scholarship for Rural & Small Libraries, for attendance to the 2023 WLA Conference in Wenatchee, March 30-April 1.

Applicants must be current WLA members who work in a public small and/or rural library and who demonstrate need. Scholarship funds must be used to attend the in-person 2023 WLA Conference.

The definitions of small and rural libraries, according to the Institute of Museum & Library Services are:

• Small libraries have a service population of 25,000 or fewer.
• Rural libraries are located 5 or more miles from the nearest town of 25,000 or more.

The scholarship will provide one recipient full conference registration, attendance at up to two preconference workshops, up to three nights of lodging, and travel reimbursement.

Thank you to our scholarship sponsor, Primary Source! This scholarship is made possible by our new conference sponsorship opportunities. If you know of an organization that would like to make a direct impact in the Washington library community, please share this opportunity with them.