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Library professionals from across North America came together at Vanderbilt University May 27–29 for the 2026 Southern Library Support Staff Conference. This annual gathering, hosted by the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries, is designed to offer all levels of staff at academic, public, school and special libraries an opportunity to learn, teach, share and develop connections with others in their field.
This year’s conference drew more than 160 participants from 18 U.S. states and Canada, representing nearly 90 different libraries. More than 40 attended on full scholarships made possible by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grant was awarded through IMLS’ Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, which supports the training and professional development of library and archives professionals; the development of faculty and information leaders; and the recruitment, education and retention of the next generation of library and archives professionals with the goal of developing a diverse library and archival workforce to meet the information needs of their communities.
“Support staff are the beating heart of our libraries, at the frontlines of library services, community engagement, knowledge discovery and much more,” Vanderbilt University Librarian Jon Shaw said. “Our thanks to IMLS for its generous support of this year’s conference, which nurtures professional development and promotes valuable networking among this essential group.”
The 2026 conference theme, “From the Heart of the Library: Stories of Engagement, Innovation and Leadership,” was examined through keynote addresses by Cathy Farley, executive director of the Tennessee Library Association, and Elaina Norlin, professional development coordinator for the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries. Two dozen additional sessions explored best practices for student engagement, inclusive programming, and incorporating AI into library practices, among other topics. Conference attendees also had the opportunity to tour two landmark institutions in downtown Nashville, the National Museum of African American Music and the Frist Art Museum.
Founded at Vanderbilt in 2019, the SLSS conference was created by Machelle Keen, manager of Logistics and Access Services, who has garnered institutional support for the event and organized it for the past seven years. Associate University Librarian for Research and Campus Libraries Honora Eskridge secured the IMLS grant to expand this year’s conference nationwide and provide scholarships for selected attendees.
About IMLS
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. The institute advances, supports and empowers America’s museums, libraries and related organizations through grantmaking, research and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.
