This June’s 2026 Information Science Summit/Special Libraries Conference is the first event to combine the Information Science Summit (part of ASIS&T) and the Special Libraries Conference, which “carries on the tradition” of the SLA Annual Conference.
Kendra K. Levine is the chair of the program planning committee for the event. She took the time to give me an update on plans for the conference.
1. Please introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Kendra K. Levine, librarian at the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Berkeley and chair of the 2026 Information Science Summit/Special Libraries Conference program planning committee.
2. Please share a bit about the Information Science Summit and Special Libraries Conference.
The conference takes place June 6-9, 2026, at the Clyde Hotel in Albuquerque, NM. It builds on the success of ASIS&T’s previous Information Science Summit with the addition of more practitioner-focused content for specialized information workers. This is the first ASIS&T conference since the Special Libraries Association merger, and I’m excited to be part of this community that encompasses the whole information life cycle.
3. What can special librarians expect from this event?
Librarians and information professionals can expect a broad range of programming to help people level up in all stages of their careers. There are sessions to help people build solid foundations for success; sessions that share best practices and tools that help us be more effective in our work; sessions that explore how AI will impact and inform our practice; and many opportunities for attendees to network with each other—peer learning is always important!
4. What are two things you are most excited about with this new collaborative conference?
It’s hard to narrow down because there is so much to be excited about! I am very excited to hear our keynote speaker, Dr. Stephanie Moore, whose keynote on GenAI will be very timely. I think many of us are grappling with the ethical implications of AI adoption and feeling helpless due to a lack of agency, so I’m looking forward to hearing her ideas to move through these changes.
I am also excited about many of the roundtable discussions on the program because I often have some of the best conversations at conferences while meeting new colleagues. I always feel re-energized after getting fresh perspectives on challenges I am facing in my work.
5. What is the plan for the conference in future years?
I think the plan for future conferences is to build on what works from this year while also staying nimble to ensure we’re meeting the needs of ASIS&T and information professionals for the future. It’s tough because there is so much uncertainty around the world right now, but through that, the need for opportunities to collaborate and share with our community is as important as ever.
6. Is there anything else you would like to share?
It would be great to see (and connect with) a lot of folks at this conference! The committee has spent a lot of time thinking about what sessions librarians and information professionals could really use to help navigate this moment, and we hope there are topics that will resonate with everybody.
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