The 48th Annual AASL Conference will be held virtually from May 27-29, 2026.
This year AASL focuses on the theme of counter|balance
As information professionals working in changeable institutional circumstances and uncertain political climates, we seek to mitigate external challenges and reduce barriers for our patrons, in order to facilitate research and learning. In this moment of widespread AI adoption, architecture information professionals must work to contextualize emerging tools and offset the high speed of information availability with the slow reality of understanding.
How do we leverage the practices and values of our field to counterbalance the forces weighing on libraries, archives, higher education, and the field of architecture, to enable the best possible work? How do we find equilibrium in a time of rapid technological advancement and social and political uncertainty?
The AALA Conference Program Committee requested proposals that reflect on this theme through these topics:
Archives in Architectural Education, Research, and Design
Artificial Intelligence in Archives and Libraries
Changes in Institutional Budgeting and Labor
Collections and Collection Development
Commodification of Higher Education
Cross-Disciplinary Instruction and Collaboration
Efficacy of the Library and the Value of Information and Visual Literacy
Inclusion, Accessibility, and Advocacy
Leadership, Management, Networking, and Mentorship
Physical Collections in the Post-Digital Age
Professional Ethics and Community Engagement
Space Planning for Libraries and Archives
Trends in Architectural Pedagogy and Library Instruction
TYPES OF PRESENTATIONS
Digital Posters Presenters will create a digital poster for conference attendees to view asynchronously in the week leading up to and including the conference. During the conference, poster creators will be scheduled for poster question & answer sessions.
Conference Presentations 15 minute presentations, with 5 additional minutes for audience questions. Presentations will be clustered by theme.
Discussion Panels 45 minute discussion/debate between a group of four or fewer presenters on a single issue/topic, with 15 additional minutes reserved specifically for audience participation.
Virtual Library/Archive
Tour 5-8 minute pre-recorded
tour of library/archive location. Conference attendees will be able to view tour videos asynchronously, and converse with video creators during scheduled tour question & answer sessions.
Keynote talk & Keynote conversation This year our Keynote Speaker will be an esteemed practitioner, author, and curator working in the New York area - more details on her to follow!
Our Keynote Conversation will feature architectural archivists working in three different international locations, amidst three different cultural and institutional contexts. More details to follow!
FORMAT
The 2026 AASL Conference will be held virtually, via Zoom. All relevant links will be provided to registrants prior to the event.
DEADLINE
The call for proposals closed on January 16, 2026.
TYPES OF PRESENTATIONS