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Library Marketplace offerings highlight a need for strategic impact
Although libraries are currently facing a climate of political and financial upheaval, that didnt stop information professionals from showing up in force to the American Library Associations (ALA) 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition (June 2630). The conference brought 14,292 registrants to Philadelphia, up from last years attendance of 13,532 in San Diego.
With more than 600 vendors and a variety of live stages and pavilions, the Library Marketplace showcased products for libraries facing intense new challenges. Services and solutions that focused on libraries ongoing needs for efficiency and impact were in high demand.
PALPABLE POLITICS
The INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES (IMLS) booth, which sat empty save for volunteers and a sign that implored passersby to support library funding, was a focal point of the Library Marketplace. The Trump administration intends to eliminate the agency with its FY2026 budget, and ALA is currently involved in a lawsuit to prevent the dismantling of the organization.
IMLS supports library projects and services across the country, including statewide resource sharing, investments in open source technologies, and a broad range of other valued assistance. Interruptions in federal funding-along with ongoing book bans and threats of censorship-were pervasive themes in the exhibit hall, informal discussions, and program content.
The LIBRARY OF CONGRESS (LC) booth was another point of interest. Former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who was fired by the White House on May 8, was a featured speaker at the conference. Her former colleague Robert Newlen, now acting Librarian of Congress, gave an inspiring booth presentation about continuing to fulfill the library's mission and work, despite the actions of the administration. Also noteworthy was that L.C pushed its implementation of FOLIO, an open source library services platform, into production during the week of Annual. Many cataloging and metadata presentations and discussions mentioned this event, its implications for BIBFRAME, and other topics related to cataloging and authority control.
INVESTING IN ADVOCACY
CLARIVATE not only promoted an array of products under its EX LIBRIS, INNOVATIVE, and PROQUEST brands but also highlighted investments in library advocacy. At its booth reception, then-ALA President Cindy Hohl recognized the company for being the first to join the Association's public supporter program, launched in February....