CILIP Members’ Fest 2026 is just a few weeks away, offering a free, open‑access programme of online events running from 2–6 March. With over 30 sessions available, the festival brings together professionals from across the library and information community for a week of sector insights, skills development, discussions, and networking opportunities.
The programme is open to both CILIP members and non‑members, and offers an inclusive way to explore new topics, hear from colleagues across the sector, or deepen understanding in areas relevant to your work. Whether you’re interested in digital innovation, community engagement, career development, or specialist practice, the week offers a wide range of perspectives.
Below is the full streamlined programme, organised by day, to help you easily browse what’s on offer. You can browse and book sessions via the event website.
CILIP Members’ Fest 2026 Programme
Monday 2 March 2026
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 11:00–12:00 | CILIP’s New Strategy & Ask the CEO |
| 12:30–13:30 | Pathways into the Profession |
| 13:00–14:00 | To Discovery and Beyond! Making Metadata Practical |
| 14:00–15:30 | AI Literacy Across Library Sectors |
Tuesday 3 March 2026
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 11:00–12:00 | Career Transitions Roundtable |
| 12:00–13:15 | What’s It Really Like Working in Government Information in 2026? |
| 14:00–15:30 | CILIP Scotland – CPD & Membership Workshop |
| 15:30–17:00 | Censorship: What Librarians Are Experiencing in the US & UK |
Wednesday 4 March 2026
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 11:00–12:00 | Shaping the Future Together: Research & Development at CILIP |
| 12:30–13:30 | Libraries Under Attack: How Can We Best Support Colleagues Overseas? |
| 12:30–13:30 | Teaching with Special Collections |
| 13:00–14:00 | Professional Registration 101 |
| 13:30–15:00 | 2025 Award-Winning KM: Show and Tell |
| 14:00–16:00 | South West Social – Plymouth Proprietary Library Visit (in person) |
| 15:00–16:00 | Libraries’ Work with Care-Experienced Children & Young People |
Thursday 5 March 2026
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 10:00–11:00 | Health Misinformation Crisis: How Libraries Can Help |
| 11:00–12:00 | How to Get Published: From Idea to Print |
| 12:30–13:30 | New Research Lightning Talks |
| 12:30–13:30 | National Year of Reading – How Youth Libraries Can Support SIGs |
| 10:00–15:00 | Shakespeare’s Coming Home – Midlands Social (in person) |
| 15:00–16:00 | Connecting in With Your Organisation and Making an Impact |
| 16:30–17:30 | Beyond the School Doors: Preparing Students for University/College |
| 18:30–21:00 | Yorkshire & Humberside Social (in person) |
Friday 6 March 2026
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 11:00–12:00 | Apprenticeships, the EPA and Beyond |
| 12:30–13:30 | Cultivating a Research Mindset: Practical Strategies for Library Practitioners |
| 12:30–13:30 | Designing Better Search: Usability Lessons for Information Retrieval |
| 12:30–14:00 | CILIP Cymru Wales – Lunch & Learn Social (in person) |
| 13:00–14:00 | Promoting Wellbeing Through Local Studies |