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Mark your calendars for October 8–10, 2025! BiblioCon ’25 will bring public library professionals from over 60 libraries across North America together in Toronto and online for a hybrid conference filled with ideas, conversations, and strategies that move library technology forward.
In-person attendees will gather at The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel, located in one of Toronto’s most vibrant downtown neighborhoods filled with dining, cultural attractions, and easy access to transit. Virtual attendees can join sessions from the comfort of their libraries or home office. This year’s theme, The Future of the Online Library Experience, sets the stage for three days of learning and collaboration on how libraries can harness AI, eContent, and personalization to deliver engaging, accessible, and community-centered digital services.
The Future of the Online Library Experience
Public libraries are redefining what it means to connect with their communities in a digital-first world. In an ever-evolving online landscape, users are starting to feel overwhelmed with all of the information and choices online, in turn, this is creating a gap between patrons and their libraries. At BiblioCon ’25, attendees will discover how innovations in AI, eContent, and personalization can be transformed into practical strategies that make their library’s online presence more engaging, intuitive, and accessible. Sessions will showcase fresh approaches to readers’ advisory that spark discovery, website strategies that reflect the voices of your community, and personalized experiences that deepen patron relationships. Whether you are shaping your library’s digital future or looking for new ideas to bring back to your team, this year’s theme will equip you with tools and inspiration to create an online library experience that truly resonates and helps to bring your patrons closer to the library.
Why Attend BiblioCon ’25?
Whether you join virtually or in person, BiblioCon ’25 is designed to give you access to ideas, inspiration, and strategies that will strengthen your library’s digital future. You will hear from leading voices at public libraries and have the opportunity to join in the conversation.
For those who attend in Toronto, the experience goes even further. Hosted at The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel, in-person attendees will:
- Network with peers during sessions, breakfasts, lunches, breaks, and the Evening Welcome Reception.
- Gain access to the Executive Strategy Track, which is available only to in-person attendees and will not be recorded.
- Be in the middle of all the action by staying at the conference hotel, giving you more time to connect and collaborate.
- Strengthen professional connections through informal conversations that happen naturally throughout the event.
- Enjoy Toronto’s vibrant neighborhoods, filled with restaurants, cultural attractions, and easy access to transit.
If you prefer the convenience of attending from your desk, the virtual option is a strong choice that will provide valuable insights and learnings. If you want to fully immerse yourself in the BiblioCon community, return to your library with lasting connections, and experience this one-of-a-kind conference, the in-person event is the way to go.
Conference Highlights
BiblioCon ’25 will feature a dynamic mix of presentations, panels, and conversations led by public library staff and BiblioCommons experts.
Executive Strategy Track: Leaders will share strategies for navigating the future of AI, eReading, and personalization.
Community-Led Sessions: Hear directly from library staff on real-world approaches to marketing, readers’ advisory, website development, and more.
Office Hours: Connect with BiblioCommons staff for one-on-one support, insights, and product discussions.
Executive Strategy Track: A Unique Opportunity for Library Leaders
Exclusive to in-person attendees, the Executive Strategy Track brings together CEOs, CIOs, and other senior leaders to tackle the most pressing questions shaping the future of digital library services.
Through a series of focused presentations and discussions, participants will explore how AI, personalization, and eReading can be advanced in ways that strengthen public library values and patron trust. Sessions include “Beyond the Buzz: Pragmatic AI That Respects Library Values and Patron Trust” with leaders from Arapahoe Libraries and Edmonton Public Library, “A New Era of eReading and eAudio Access” with speakers from Boston Public Library and King County Library System, and “Advances in Personalization: Bringing the Patron Closer to the Library” with Kent District Library.
With direct input from the BiblioCommons team, this track offers a rare chance to influence priorities, share expertise, and help shape the next generation of the online library experience.
Above: Hear from the BiblioCon '25 co-chairs, Stephanie Chase (Constructive Disruption) and Michael Colford (Boston Public Library), as they share their vision and excitement for the Executive Strategy track.
Three Sessions Not to Miss
AI is everywhere in today’s digital landscape, but how can libraries cut through the hype and focus on tools that genuinely serve patrons? This session will explore practical applications of AI that align with core library values of equity, privacy, and trust. Hear from Oli Sanidas and Anthony White of Arapahoe Libraries, along with Vicky Varga of Edmonton Public Library, as they share how their organizations are approaching AI thoughtfully and responsibly. Attendees will walk away with insights on evaluating AI opportunities, identifying risks, and developing strategies that enhance discovery and access while safeguarding patron trust.
Above: Anthony and Oli share what aspects of AI they'll be chatting about in their Executive Strategy session.
No, It’s Not Just a Logo: Inside Saint Paul Public Library’s Rebrand
Join Claire Huber, Marketing and Communications Specialist, and John Larson, Digital Library Coordinator at Saint Paul Public Library, for a behind-the-scenes look at their library’s rebrand. Discover how a new identity came to life across spaces, services, staff, and digital platforms, and how BiblioCommons tools helped create a consistent patron experience. You will also hear how the rebrand is resonating with both staff and the community, and what comes next.
Above: What will Claire and John present at this year's BiblioCon? Hear directly from them about their session!
Chris Markman, Digital Services Manager at Palo Alto City Library, will lead a thought-provoking session on how AI-driven browsers with built-in intelligent chatbots and autonomous agents are reshaping the way we interact with information. Inspired by Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and its cinematic adaptation Blade Runner, this session will explore the practical, ethical, and conceptual shifts created by AI agent browsers. Learn how these tools are transforming digital literacy, boosting productivity, and redefining discovery in a rapidly evolving online landscape.
Above: There's a lot we don't know about AI, but there is a lot we 'do' know. Chris shares a sneak peek of what his BiblioCon '25 session will be about.
A Hybrid Experience That Fits Your Needs
BiblioCon ’25 is more than a conference. It is a place where ideas come to life, collaborations are born, and the future of library technology is shaped.
In Person: October 8–10, 2025 in Toronto. Includes three days of sessions, a welcome reception, networking opportunities, and Office Hours.
Virtual: October 8–9, 2025. Live online access to keynote, roadmap, key sessions, and Office Hours.
Whether you join us in Toronto and experience the energy of the community firsthand, or participate online from your own library, you will leave energized, inspired, and ready to shape the future of the online library experience and bring your patrons closer to the library. Register today and be part of the conversations that will define what comes next.
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