A Special Conversation with Dawn Staley on Tuesday, October 28th

From the court to the page, Dawn Staley continues to break barriers and set records. The celebrated coach who led South Carolina to national championships now shares her wisdom in a new book, Uncommon Favor. This special session offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from Coach Staley as she discusses her journey into authorship, the process of translating a lifetime of experiences into her first book, and how writing has allowed her to connect with audiences in entirely new ways. She'll share insights about the role of libraries and education in shaping communities and reveal what compelled her to pick up the pen and share her story with the world. Following our conversation, there will be book sales and a limited signing session.

This special conversation with Dawn Staley is included with your SCLA 2025 full conference registration or available with a Tuesday-only registration. Please check the conference app and website for the exact time and location details as we get closer to the conference. An RSVP is required through the conference app—simply add the event to your agenda to secure your spot.

 Conference Registration 

Please join us at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, South Carolina on October 27th-30th for the 2025 SCLA Annual Conference and Pre-Conference. This year's theme "The Power of Us: Libraries in Action" is a celebration of libraries as dynamic powerhouses of community engagement, learning innovation, and social change. 

Please click here to visit the conference website for additional information and to download the conference app.

SCLA Members

Register Now on Whova 

Non-SCLA Members

Keynote Speakers & Special Events

Pre-Conference Film Screening and Talkback

Monday, October 27th, 2025

Join us for a special screening and talkback with Rodney Freeman Producer and Director of Are You a Librarian?: Black Librarians and Freedom through Literacy. The forthcoming documentary delves into the rich and often overlooked history of Black librarianship in the United States. 

Location: 

The Nick
1607 Main Street
Columbia, South Carolina, 29201

Time:

6:30 PM

The SCLA Conference Planning Committee would like to thank The Nick for serving as our special sponsor for this important event! Tickets will be on our conference website soon! 

General Session with Lisa Varga

Tuesday, October 28th, 2025

Lisa Varga is a 2024 Library Journal Librarian of the Year and a dynamic voice in library advocacy who will inspire and equip you for the challenges ahead.

Special Film Screening and Town Hall

Wednesday, October 29th, 2025

Join us for an exclusive showing of The Librarians from Oscar-nominated, Peabody Award-winning director Kim A. Snyder. This powerful film follows librarians as they become unlikely defenders of First Amendment rights during an unprecedented wave of book banning. 

Plus: Meet the Heroes: A special Q&A with one of the remarkable librarians featured in the film! 

General Session with Jason Broughton

Thursday, October 30th, 2025

Jason Broughton is the Director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), Library of Congress.  

If you are interested in being more involved in advocacy, consider joining the:

• SCLA Advocacy Committee by emailing [email protected]
• SCASL Legislative Committee by emailing [email protected]

Institutional Membership Is Here!

Call for Poster Session Proposals 

We are excited to announce our new opportunity for institutional membership! At any level, this membership will provide the full benefits of SCLA for your library’s entire staff (full-time and part-time). These benefits include access to resources and professional development that may have been inaccessible in the past due to costs or job function along with the convenience of paying for all staff memberships in a single transaction. 

To learn more, view this flier: SCLA Institutional Membership.

Support for You and Your Library

Your membership supports SCLA’s aggressive and productive efforts in the state and nationally to assure that South Carolina’s libraries are well-funded and maintain their national standing as the very best. 

We are a state chapter of the American Library Association (ALA) and an affiliate of the Southeastern Library Association (SELA).  The association is made of librarians from all around our state South Carolina dedicated to providing innovative services and promoting libraries and intellectual freedom to all our citizens including the public, as well as those in higher education and in our schools.

The Benefits of Membership

• Support for you and your library
• Grow your career and skills
• Stay informed
• Opportunities for involvement and networking
• Access to services for you, your library, and your community