2026 Oregon Library Association/Pacific Northwest Library Association Joint Annual Conference

APRIL 22 – 24 in Portland, Oregon

Join your colleagues in Portland, Oregon for three days of workshops, presentations, and networking.

The conference theme is Get Loud For Libraries.

SESSION & SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS

Keynote Session: Mychal the Librarian

Wednesday, 12:30 – 1:30 pm

Mychal the Librarian, is a librarian, author, and media personality celebrated for his joyful advocacy of literacy and mental health. A champion of “unhinged library joy,” Mychal inspires millions with his affirming message that “you belong” and his mission to make libraries welcoming spaces for all. He creates uplifting, book-centered content for PBS and PBS Kids and was named the new host of Reading Rainbow in 2025.

Featured Author Session with Ellie Alexander

Friday, 8:30 – 10:00 am

Ellie Alexander is the bestselling author of more than forty cozy mystery novels. Her books have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Russian, French, Slovakian, Czech, and Japanese, reaching readers worldwide. She is the founder of the annual Ashland Mystery Festival and a frequent guest at library programs and author events throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, including the popular Northwest Authors series and independent bookshops across the region. In addition to her fiction, her essays and articles have appeared in publications such as Mystery Scene Magazine, The Oregonian, and Portland Family Magazine. As a writing teacher and coach, she helps aspiring authors shape their stories and navigate the path to publication with clarity and confidence. A proud Pacific Northwest native, Alexander often sets her mystery series against real backdrops from Portland’s hipster neighborhoods to the charming Shakespearean hamlet of Ashland. She now lives in Sunnyvale, California, where she’s been swept away by the stunning coastal communities and sun-drenched small towns, which of course have found their way into her new series.