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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.
Keynote Speakers & Special Events
Join us for A Special Conversation with Dawn Staley
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.
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!
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.
Hotel Information
Are you ready to register for the 2025 SCLA Conference which will take place from Tuesday, October 28th, 2025 through Thursday, October 30th, 2025 in Columbia, South Carolina? 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. We can't wait to welcome you to the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Please see below for additional information on accommodations for the conference:
Hampton Inn Columbia Downtown Historic District
822 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Our special conference rate is $184.00 dollars a night plus tax and the booking deadline is Saturday, September 28, 2025.
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