Schedule of Events (at a glance)

Breakouts by track
Property Map - Note: FLA functions/sessions will be hosted in two different conference centers - the Palms Conference Center and the Towers Conference Center connected by a covered walkway. 

Tuesday, May 13, 2025
1pm - 4pm

Pre-Conference Workshops  (Extra add-on pre-order ticket required $40)

3:30pm - 5pmCommittee Meeting - Fundraising Committee
(Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center)
5pm-7pm 

Registration Open
Location: Royal Foyer - Palms Conference Center
Sponsored by R. George and Associates

 

5pm-6:30pmMeet Up
Location:  Pavilion - outdoor space near Palms Conference Center
Cash Bar
 8pm - 9pm

Trivia game night (additional pre-order ticket required)
Join us for a fun-filled trivia networking event with colleagues hosted live by TriviaHub.  
(cash bar available)
Location:  Nautilus B/C - Tower Conference Center 1st Floor
Sponsored by: 

 

Wednesday, May 14, 2025
7:30am-5:30pm

Registration Open
Location: Royal Foyer - Palms Conference Center
Sponsored by R. George and Associates

 

8am - 5:30pm

Networking Lounge open
Location:  Sago, Palms Conference Center
Sponsored by:  Library Pass

7:45am-9am

First-Time Attendees and New Member Orientation Session
(Location: Royal Ballroom - Palms Conference Center)

8am - 9am

Breakout Sessions

9am-9:30am

Coffee Break; Sponsored by Gray Robinson
Location: Royal Ballroom Foyer - Palms Conference Center

9:30am-11:30am

Opening General Session, Keynote Address, Photo-Line 
Location: Royal Ballroom - Palms Conference Center
Conversation between Mychal Threets and FLA President Jorge E. Perez

Special Guest Speakers:  
Dr. Brandy McNeil, PLA President Elect
Brooks Rainwater, Urban Libraries Council's President/CEO
Bradley Warren, ACRL VP/President Elect 
 

Opening session sponsored by:
 

11am - 12pmCommittee Meeting - Awards Committee
(Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center)
11:30am-6pmExhibit Hall Open
11:30am-1:30pmExhibit Hall Open
Location: Majestic Exhibit Ballroom - Palms Conference Center
-Concession Lunch (salad bar only) in exhibit hall available - pre-order tickets only
-Author Tables (Jackie Morera; Ana Siqueira; Rich Serman)
-Poster Presentations Session I
-Mobile App Help Desk open
-Merchandise Store open - while supplies last. (Debit/credit cards only)  or you can order items in advance and have them shipped directly to you.
 
12pm - 1pm

Lunch and Learn (Limited availability - sponsor invite only event) 
Sponsored by  Baker and Taylor
Location: Diamond - Palms Conference Center

1:30pm-3:30pm

Performers Showcase

Includes 10-min stage showcase from each performer
Exact Showcase Schedule TBD
Location: Royal Ballroom - Palms Conference Center
Currently confirmed:  Orisirisi African Folklore; GiGi and Friends of Cirque du Jour LLC; Karen A. Fortin - Genealogy + History; Rhythm-Changes.Org/Giving Tree Music; Jane Rosenbohm, Guitar Extraordinaire; The Moogician; Color Our Culture: Art Around the World with the TMM Project

1:30pm - 2:30pm

Breakout Sessions

1:30pm-2:30pm

Committee Meeting - Advocacy & Legislative Committee
Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center

3pm - 4pm

Breakout Sessions

3pm-4pm

Committee Meeting - Membership Committee
Location: Nautilus A ,1st Floor, Tower Conference Center

4pm-6pm

Exhibit Hall Activities and Welcome Reception
Location: Majestic Exhibit Ballroom - Palms Conference Center
-Welcome Reception (Appetizers/cash bar) 
-Author Tables (Mark Mustian; Rich Sherman; Christine Leoni and Jennifer Puckett)
-Poster Presentations Session II
-Merchandise Store open - while supplies last. (Debit/credit cards only)  or you can order items in advance and have them directly shipped to you.  

4pm-5pm

Member Group Meeting - Public Library Directors Group
Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center

5:30pm-7:30pm

Retiree/potential Retirees Happy Hour Meetup
Offsite location TBD
Transportation and food/beverage on own

5:30pm - 7pm

USF and FSU Alumni Receptions
USF Location: Diamond, Palms Conference Center
FSU Location: Royal Ballroom, Palms Conference Center
 

6:30pm-9pm

After Hours Networking Event - Cuba Libre Restaurant at Pointe Orlando International Drive 

Sponsored by:

6:30pm - 9:30pm
2 miles from hotel
Group reservation is currently for 50 attendees (may increase if there is more interest.
$45/person    Extra Pre-Order Ticket purchase required
Bus transportation leaves hotel at 6:15pm.  Return bus transportation at 9pm.
Latin guitarist, appetizers and one drink ticket included. Cash Bar. 

Thursday, May 15, 2025
7:30am-5:30pm

Registration Open
Location: Royal Foyer - Palms Conference Center
Sponsored by R. George and Associates

 

7am-8am

Spanish Publishers Sponsored Breakfast Session (Limited Availability - RSVP Required)
Location: Diamond, Palms Conference Center
You are warmly invited to join Spanish Publishers, LLC and REFORMA de Florida for breakfast on Thursday, May 15, from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM. Attendees will enjoy a presentation by renowned author Julio Bevione and will receive a complimentary copy of his book, “Volver a mí.” 

Space is limited to the first 50 respondents, so please RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spanish-publishers-reforma-de-florida-breakfast-with-julio-bevione-tickets-1294871247759?aff=oddtdtcreator



7:30am-8:30am

Member Group Meeting - Public Library Managers Group Meeting
Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center

8am-5:30pm

Networking Lounge open
Location:  Sago, Palms Conference Center
Sponsored by:  Library Pass

 

8am - 4pm

Exhibit Hall Open

8am-10am

Exhibit Hall Activities
Location: Majestic Exhibit Ballroom - Palms Conference Center
 
8am - 9am Coffee with Exhibitors
8am - 10am  Author Tables (Jason Edwards; Rich Sherman; Xstal Yumi)
8am - 9:30am  Poster Presentations Session III
8am - 9:30am Merchandise Store open  - while supplies last. (Debit/credit cards only)  or you can order items in advance and have them shipped to you. 

9am-10am

Breakout Sessions

9am-10am

Committee Meeting - DEIA Committee
Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Palms Conference Center

10:30am-11:30am

Breakout Sessions

10:30am-11:30am

Committee Meeting -Intellectual Freedom Committee
Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center

11:30am - 1:30pm

Exhibit Hall Activities
Location: Majestic Exhibit Ballroom - Palms Conference Center
--Concession Lunch (salad bar only) available - Pre-order tickets only
-Author Tables (Marilyn Turk; Toshia Blake; Rich Sherman)
-Poster Presentations Session IV
-Mobile App Help Desk Open
-Merchandise Store open  (11am-2pm)- while supplies last. (Debit/credit cards only) or you can order items in advance and have them shipped to you.
 

12pm-1pm

OCLC Lunch & Learn: AI, libraries and the future of access Space is limited to the first 50 respondents, please watch for an email invite. Questions may be sent to eventteam@oclc.org
Location: Diamond - Palms Conference Center 

AI is changing libraries, but human expertise makes it meaningful. Join us as we share OCLC’s vision for responsible AI innovation—how we’re using AI, machine learning, and LLMs to support libraries while keeping human insight at the core. We’ll also highlight the latest CloudLibrary enhancements and celebrate the incredible CloudLink program in Florida, where $14 million in digital content is being shared across public libraries, giving communities faster access to the content they love. 

 

12pm-1pm

Member Group Meeting: Youth Services Librarians Meeting
Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center

1:30pm-2:30pm

Breakout Sessions

1:30pm-2:30pm

Committee Meeting - Communications Committee
Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center 

 2:30pm-4pm

Exhibit Hall Activities
Location: Majestic Exhibit Hall - Palms Conference Center

-Afternoon Refreshment Break (2:30-3:15pm)
-Author Tables (Marilyn Turk; Toshia Blake)
-Poster Presentation Session IV
-Merchandise Store open 

3pm-4pm

Member Group Meeting: Past Presidents Meeting
Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center

 3:30-4:30pm

Breakout Sessions

4pm - 5:30pm

Wine Toss and 50/50 Drawing Tickets for Sale
Location: Majestic Foyer - Palms Conference Center

 4pm-5pmProfessional Headshot Photography (pre-order ticket required)
Location: Royal Ballroom Hallway/Foyer - Palms Conference Center
4:15pm-5:15pmCommittee Meeting - Planning Committee
Location: Nautilus A; 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center
5:30pm-8pm

President's Reception - featuring a "Florida Tropical" theme to benefit the FLA Fundraising program. Join us for a fun-filled evening networking with colleagues while enjoying a comedy act by Meredith Myers a librarian comedian as well as a DJ, food/drink (cash bar), and our fundraising activities. 
Location: Royal Ballroom - Palms Conference Center

Sponsored by:  
 

 

Friday, May 16, 2024
7:30-11:30 am

Registration Open
Location: Royal Foyer - Palms Conference Center
Sponsored by R. George and Associates

7am-8am

Fun Walk/Run 
Sponsor: ByWater Solutions
Location meet up:  Front Hotel Lobby

8am-9am

Breakout Sessions

7:45am-8:45am

Committee Meeting - Professional Development Committee
Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center

8am - 11:30am

Networking Lounge Open
Location:  Sago, Palms Conference Center
Sponsored by:  Library Pass

 

9:30am-10:30am

Breakout Sessions

9am-10amCommittee Meeting - Conference Planning Committee
Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center
10:15am-11:15amCommittee Meeting - Fundraising Committee
Location:  Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center
11:30am-1:30pm

Closing General Session Lunch, Awards and Board Inductee Ceremony
Location: Royal Ballroom - Palms Conference Center

Sponsored by Insignia Software

Guest Speaker: Robert Stuart, Senior Government Affairs Advisor, GrayRobinson, P.A.

Be sure to stay and join us as we congratulate our FLA award recipients and welcome our new 25-26 FLA Board of Directors - while enjoying a delicious Tex-Mex buffet lunch.

Librarian of the Year award recipient registration fee sponsored by:

1:30-3:30pm

FLA Board of Directors Meeting
Location: Nautilus A, 1st Floor, Tower Conference Center
Sponsored by: