Join Library Journal for Library Design Online, a reimagining of our long-running, in-person Design Institute program. Whether you're looking to revamp your space as we continue to deal with COVID-19, or plan for future building/design projects, you'll find ideas, information, and inspiration—no matter your budget!

This new and comprehensive online virtual event will feature noted architects and vendors in library design who’ll address design trends, spotlight case studies, and answer pressing questions from the field. Topics will include retooling physical space for staff and patron safety, innovating to address social and racial equity and inclusion, funding new and renovated buildings in a down economy, and more. Attendance is free to librarians, their board members/trustees, and local officials.

Throughout the day, you will engage with presenters in live and pre-recorded webcast sessions. You’ll attend architect-led breakouts featuring design challenges submitted by your counterparts, and you’ll visit the Virtual Exhibit Hall where you can sign up for one-on-one chats with sponsors in their booths and learn more about service and product offerings. A comprehensive selection of sponsors’ resources will be available to attendees to ‘take home,’ and the event will be available for on-demand viewing for three months following its live broadcast.

Program

10:30 AM - 11:00PM ET| Visit our Exhibitors
 

11:00 AM - 11:45PM ET| Welcome & Opening Keynote: Crisis as Catalyst
Rivkah Sass, who led her team to win the inaugural Library Journal/Jerry Kline Community Impact Award in 2019, discusses how the pandemic has given us the opportunity to creatively rethink our spaces, services, and staff and urges us to move away from the idea of the library as monument to library as accessible community asset.
Meredith Schwartz, Editor-in-Chief, Library Journal
Rivkah Sass, Director/CEO, Sacramento Public Library, CA
 

11:50 AM - 12:30PM ET| Architect Panel: Moving from Crisis to Innovation
Panelists:
Jeff Davis, Senior Principal, Arch | Nexus
Jeff Hoover, Principal, Tappé Architects
Jim Kovach, Senior Associate, VMDO Architects
 

12:40 PM - 1:20PM ET| Architect Panel: Building Community Beyond COVID
Panelists:
Pamela Anderson-Brulé, President, Anderson Brulé Architects
Peter Bolek, President, HBM Architects
Andrea Gifford, Principal, Group 4 Architecture
Ray Johnston, Founding Partner, Johnston Associates
Moderator: Richard Reyes-Gavilan, Executive Director, District of Columbia Public Library
 

1:20 PM - 1:50PM | Break to Visit our Exhibitors
 

1:50 PM - 3:20PM ET | Concurrent Architect Breakouts
The interactive architect-led breakouts feature Design Challenges submitted by attendees. You can select one based on its similarity to your own project, in size, scope, etc., or choose to go farther afield. You may also be able to participate in a case study/design critique. In addition to brainstorming ideas, architects will help guide you to solutions. 
 

3:20 PM - 3:50PM ET| Break to Visit our Exhibitors
 

3:50 PM  - 4:30PM ET| Architect Panel: Future Forward
Our architects will call out the two or three things they’ve learned during the pandemic that will inform library design over the next five to ten years.
Panelists:
Pamela Anderson-Brulé, President, Anderson Brulé Architects
Jack Chaffin, Partner, Johnston Architects
Jeff Davis, Senior Principal, Arch | Nexus
Jeff Hoover, Principal, Tappé Architects
Jim Kovach, Senior Associate, VMDO Architects
David Schnee, Principal, Group 4 Architecture

4:30 PM  -  5:10PM ET| Closing Keynote: Taking the Political Temperature
John Chrastka, founder of EveryLibrary, the first nationwide library PAC, addresses how to gauge your community’s priorities and put the library at the top of the list, even in a down economy. 
John Chrastka, Executive Director, EveryLibrary and the EveryLibrary Institute  

5:10 PM - 5:40PM ET| Visit our Exhibitors

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

We are anticipating an unprecedented number of library and education professionals to attend this event, so you may find the environment or live sessions become full during the day.

But fear not! All sessions will be available for viewing on-demand within an hour of their initial broadcast, and the entire event will be available on-demand until Feb. 18, 2021.

If you have any questions, email us at [email protected].

If you are an architect or other service provider and would like to sponsor the event, please contact 
Advertising Director Roy Futterman.