from the IFLS Library System, 2026

What to bring

• Wear comfortable shoes, bring a backpack to carry swag if you want to collect it, bring a water bottle, snacks, and anything else you need to stay comfortable in a possibly-noisy exhibit hall.  If you have business cards they can make entering drawings for prizes easier.
• Bring along your photo ID. If you pre-registered remember to bring your emailed confirmation.
• Make sure your phone is fully charged. Use it to take photos of things and scan QR codes you want to remember instead of collecting heavy catalogs.
• Consider a way you might want to take notes about what you want to remember to follow-up on once you get back to the library.
• All that being said, travel as light as possible!

Before the day

• You might want to decide which vendors you want to visit ahead of time.
  • Start with the list of vendors: https://pla2026.smallworldlabs.com/exhibitors
  • What vendors does your library do business with? Your favorite publishers?
  • You can follow vendors on social media to see if they have any special giveaways.
  • What kinds of products are you interested in for the library (furniture, early literacy spaces, books, accessibility tools, software, something else)?
    • TIP: You can filter topics on the list of vendors by clicking on the Categories tab on the left side of the screen.
  • Are there ALA units you are interested in learning more about?
  • What are you interested in personally? Career advice?  Library school options? Graphic novels?  As much free swag as possible?  Look for vendors that specialize in these areas!
• Think of some questions ahead of time for the vendors, for example:
  • What are some new products you are extra excited about?
  • We need something that can do X. Do you have anything like that?
• Decide if you want to attend anything at the How-To Stage or the Book Buzz Stage (scroll down past all the luncheons) and plan your day around that.

On the day

• Remember to stop and visit the certified therapy dogs in the Dog Park or step outside for a breath of fresh air if you are getting overwhelmed or just want a break.
• If you want some tips about your resume stop by the Career Center.
• Consider introducing yourself to people from elsewhere while you stand in line, pet dogs, or sit down for a little break.
• ON THURSDAY:  If you want to meet up with other IFLS folks, meet up in the Member’s Lounge in the Exhibit Hall at 9:30 am and/or at 3:15 pm.

Lunch options

Onsite food, right in the convention center:  https://www.kelber.com/on-site-food-2/

Offsite food, within 10-minute walk of Convention Center:  https://www.minneapolis.org/minneapolis-convention-center/attendees/convention-center-guide/

Looking for lunch buddies and to meet new folks?  Head to the Member Lounge in the Exhibit Hall from 9-10 am on 4/2 to meet others who want to go to lunch together.  Want to meet your own group for lunch?  One option is to arrange to meet each other at the Member Lounge.