Rutgers iSchool Contributes Expertise to “A New Chapter: Imagine the Possibilities” at the 2026 NJLA/NJASL Conference
Faculty, students, and alumni from Rutgers’ School of Communication and Information (SC&I) will join library professionals from across New Jersey at the 2026 NJLA/NJASL Joint Conference, held February 17–19 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. This inaugural collaborative conference is expected to draw roughly 1,400 attendees and will bring together public, academic, and school librarians for three days of shared learning and statewide engagement.
Centered on the theme “Imagine the Possibilities,” the conference highlights forward‑looking approaches to library work, with sessions exploring innovation, emerging technologies, ethical information practices, community partnerships, and the expanding responsibilities facing today’s information professionals.
SC&I Scholarship and Leadership on Display
SC&I’s Department of Library and Information Science faculty, students, and alumni will attend and engage across the conference program, joining statewide discussions on library practice and scholarship. Their participation reflects SC&I’s ongoing commitment to supporting New Jersey’s library community and contributing to statewide professional learning.
SC&I Alumna Receives 2026 NJLA Innovative Program Award
SC&I alumna Kellyanne Healey MI’23, GSE’13, SAS’11 is a children’s librarian at the Parsippany Library, Lake Hiawatha Branch. She will receive the 2026 NJLA Innovative Program Award for her International Children’s Book Week project, an annual program celebrating global literacy through dual‑language story times, interactive displays, and hands-on activities. Inspired in part by her Master of Information studies at SC&I, the project reflects Healey’s commitment to family literacy, diversity, and community engagement. Healey will accept the award at the conference’s Honors and Awards Ceremony on February 18.
Keynote Speakers and Featured Events
The conference opens with a keynote by Amanda Jones, recently named to the 2025 TIME100 Next list, addressing advocacy, intellectual freedom, and librarianship as public leadership. The closing keynote will be delivered by Mychal Threets—resident librarian for PBS and PBS Kids and host of the "Reading Rainbow" revival—focusing on libraries, literacy, and community well-being. Additional highlights include a screening of the documentary "The Librarians," followed by a panel discussion featuring Jones and SC&I alumna Martha Hickson MLIS’05, RC’82, as well as an exhibit hall and Authors Alley.
Why This Conference Matters
The joint NJLA/NJASL gathering arrives at a pivotal moment for libraries and information work. As libraries face rising needs in digital literacy, data ethics, cybersecurity preparedness, and responsible AI use, information professionals must navigate shifting expectations and expanding technical landscapes. By uniting these sectors under one statewide conference, NJLA and NJASL create a platform for collaborative problem‑solving, professional development, and shared innovation.
SC&I’s Commitment to New Jersey’s Library Community
SC&I joins the conference as a platinum sponsor, underscoring its commitment to professional leadership, interdisciplinary scholarship, and community partnership across New Jersey’s libraries. Through its teaching, research, and alumni achievements, SC&I continues to prepare information professionals to lead in an evolving information landscape.
Conference Logistics
The conference opens Tuesday, February 17, with an evening reception. Programming runs through Thursday, February 19, at 2:15 p.m. The full schedule is available on the conference website. Attendees are invited to stop by the SC&I booth (#402) or visit the school’s website to learn more about its undergraduate and graduate programs.
Image provided by NJLA/NJASL website.
