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Register for The Power of Us: Libraries in Action 

The logo for The Power of Us: Libraries in Action. The image includes images of writing letters to congress, a service desk, bookmobile, library card, and a young lady holiding a book.

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. 

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

A photo of USC Women's Basketball Coach Dawn Staley. Coach Staley is photographed against a black background in a black blazer and black and white blouse.

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

SCLA Members

Register Now on Whova 

Non-SCLA Members

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Keynote Speakers & Special Events

Pre-Conference Film Screening and Talkback

Monday, October 27th, 2025

An image with the question Are You a Librarian?

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.