We couldn’t be more excited to share the full session lineup for ThriveLib 2026: Reclaiming Joy, Balance, and Boundaries in Libraries, three days of honest conversation, practical strategies, and collective care for library workers everywhere.

This year’s theme, Reimagining Library Culture Together, runs through every session on the schedule. Speakers will dig into burnout, boundaries, psychological safety, disability justice, and what it actually takes to build healthier, more sustainable library workplaces.

Mark your calendar for August 11–13, 2026, and take a look at what’s in store below. All times are CDT, and every session has a replay planned, so you won’t miss a thing even if you can’t join live.

Day One: Tuesday, August 11, 2026

9:30 AM — Opening Keynote Speaker: Kelly Jensen

11:00 AM — The Cost of Caring: Recognizing and Navigating Compassion Fatigue in Library Work Speaker: Hollie Marble (CompassCreations • Lone Cone Library)

12:30 PM — Masking Isn’t a Leadership Skill: Neurodivergent Leadership, Identity, and Sustainable Well-Being Speakers: Annie Bélanger & Angela Pashia

2:00 PM — From Austerity to Solidarity: Reimagining Librarian Support on a Zero-Dollar Budget Speakers: Crystal Goldman & Zemirah Ngow

3:30 PM — From Burnout to Belonging: Reintroducing Joy Through Collaborative Library Culture Change Speakers: Cindy Dancel, Chereeka Garner & Jason Phillips

Day Two: Wednesday, August 12, 2026

9:30 AM — Boundaries Amid Burnout: Collective Care for Global Library Workers in Crisis Speaker: Sureshkrishnan Ramakrishnan

11:00 AM — Rooted, Not Resigned: Staying in Library Work Without Burning Out Speaker: Cassandra Henwood

12:30 PM — Radical Self-Care: A Collective Strategy for BIPOC Library Workers Speaker: Vivian Bynoe

2:00 PM — Staff Well-Being in Library Policy: Centering Safety and Boundaries at the Organizational Level Speaker: Alysa Hayden (Library Advisory Specialist, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners)

3:30 PM — Collective Survival After Systemic Disruption Speakers: Perry Collins, Hadassah St. Hubert, Dennis Nangle & Ashley Sands, PhD

Day Three: Thursday, August 13, 2026

9:30 AM — More Than a Checklist: Onboarding as a Practice of Care Speakers: Amanda McLeod, Emily Cranwell Deinert & DeAnn Brame

11:00 AM — Worth Staying For: The Imperfect Progress of Reimagining Library Culture Speakers: Kai Desir & Rachel Vacek

12:30 PM — What Are We Saying Yes To? Consent, Capacity, and Collective Care in Work and Life Speaker: Celi Torres (Body of Info)

2:00 PM — Community Care in Libraries Speakers: Whitney Oakley, Paola Vilaxa & Rebecca Bowman

3:30 PM — Reclaiming Our Profession: Moving Forward with Purpose Speakers: Jennie Garner, Hannah Kukal Curtiss, Heather James & Nisha Mody

Save Your Spot

Twenty sessions. Three days. One shared step toward thriving libraries and thriving library workers. Whether you’re navigating your own boundaries, supporting a team through burnout, or just looking for a community that gets it, there’s a session on this schedule for you.

Which talks are you most excited about? Register today and join us August 11–13, 2026.