2022 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition
Frequently Asked Questions
About 2022 | Registration | Accessibility & Childcare | Travel & Hotels
We are carefully tracking all the latest health and safety guidance for large group gatherings from the CDC, the DC Department of Health, and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Please see American Library Association Annual Conference 2022 Health Protocols for more information.
The conference will take place on Thursday, June 23 through Tuesday, June 28 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington DC.
Librarians, authors, publishers, business professionals, educators and students — anyone who is passionate about books, libraries, and eager to learn and shape the future of the industry.
Because the Conference serves as an open forum, opinions expressed and/or materials distributed by program participants do not necessarily reflect, or imply advocacy or endorsement by the American Library Association, its officers, or members.
The statements and opinions contained in the exhibitor descriptions in the Annual Conference Exhibits Guide are solely those of the individual exhibitors and not of the American Library Association. The appearance of advertisements in the Annual Conference Mobile App and Exhibits Guide are not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of the effectiveness or quality. To the extent permissible under applicable laws, no responsibility is assumed by the ALA for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a result of any actual or alleged libelous statements, infringement of intellectual property or privacy rights, or products liability, whether resulting from the negligence or otherwise, or from any use of operation, ideas, instructions, procedures, products, or methods contained in the material therein.
ALA relies on exhibitors to sponsor the appearance of top authors with forthcoming books. Potential speaker names are submitted to ALA for review by many groups including the Conference Committee. When selected, ALA then relies on the sponsor to lock in the speaking date and make many arrangements. Although this process often begins nine months prior to the conference, ALA does not always control the timeline and announcement date. Some speakers do not finalize their tour schedules until the spring and often other factors, like security, impact the release of information. ALA does not pay any speaker fees or honorariums and is grateful to the sponsors who provide a high level of speakers to the conference.
Sessions recorded for the Digital Experience will be available on-demand after the conference ends.
Yes, please see the Statement of Appropriate Conduct / Community Guidelines.
The Conference Scheduler is where you will find all of the education sessions, speakers, and additional programming. Registered attendees can 'favorite" sessions and begin building their schedules.
New this year, ALA will offer an online virtual component of the ALA Annual Conference. The Digital Experience will offer more than 70 education, News You Can Use, and main stage sessions that you will be able to view from home. These sessions will be live-streamed from the conference in Washington, DC ― directly to you. Registration includes access to these 70+ sessions through August 31, 2022.
All full conference registrants will also have access to the Digital Experience during the Conference and on-demand through August 31, 2022.
Registrants will be able to pick up their badges during the following Registration hours:
- Thursday, June 23: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Friday, June 24: 7:30 am - 7:00 pm
- Saturday, June 25: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday, June 26: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Monday, June 27: 7:30 am – 2:00 pm
Upon your initial arrival at the Convention Center, and before you enter the Registration area, the following items must be provided:
Your Identification and a physical or digital (photo) vaccination card, or
Your Identification and a negative COVID-19 PCR or Rapid test administered within 48 hours prior to your arrival. Testing reports must come from an official medical facility, clinic, or pharmacy. Self-at-home tests will not be accepted. Find COVID Centers in the DC area.
ALA requests that all attendees be considerate and responsible for their health and safety, as well as the health and safety of others. ALA asks that all attendees (i.e., registrants, exhibitors, vendors, and other staff) wear face masks when in the Convention Center and in all hotel sessions. Attendees are not expected to wear masks when eating.
We accept cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, and American Express onsite.
Lost registration information can be requested by emailing [email protected].
If you need to edit your registration, please visit the dashboard found in your confirmation email. If you need additional assistance or cannot locate your confirmation, please email [email protected].
Cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected] by May 27, 2022. There will be a $25 fee for each registration cancelled. Registrations purchased after May 27, 2022 are nonrefundable.
If you’d like to register a group, ALA is offering a Register 5 People and get 1 Free Registration option. To register your group, begin by signing in with the first person you’d like to register, then click the "Add Another" button on the Review Information page to add each subsequent registrant. Once you've completed registration for everyone in your group, click "Finish" on the Review page. Note: You will need to enter a unique email address for each person in your group.
Also, when registering the group of six, the free registration will be reflected on the Payment page. The total cost for all five registrants can be paid via credit card, purchase order, or check. If paying by check, please include the check number in the purchase order number box.
Yes, after the show the letter can be accessed through your dashboard from your registration confirmation. An email containing your dashboard link will also be sent to you after the show.
Yes. Exhibits-Only registrants can attend author signings in the Library Marketplace on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday only.
No, Exhibits-Only attendees will not be able to attend the ALA Awards ceremonies. Single-day attendees will be able to attend award ceremonies scheduled on the specific day they are joining the conference.
Yes, Non-Members who are registered for the day of the committee meeting or for the full Conference can attend any meeting not noted as "Closed."
If you try accessing the registration system with an assistive technology and experience difficulty, please call CompuSystems at 866-513-0760 or email [email protected] to book your housing, please call onPeak at 800-584-9047, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm CST.
See the Accessibility services that will be available throughout the Annual Conference.
Strollers and scooters are permitted on the exhibit floor as long as they are in use at all times. Wheeled carts, however, are not permitted at any time. If you have a medical condition requiring you to use a cart, please bring a doctor's note to the accessibility booth in the registration area.
Scooter Pick Up and Return Hours:
- Thursday: 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday: 7:00 AM-7:30 PM
- Saturday: 7:00 AM– 5:30 PM
- Sunday: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Monday: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Tuesday: 7 AM – 2:30 PM
ALA will reimburse the charges expended on childcare in the amount of $25 per day, per child to a maximum of $50 per day, per family to any fully registered parent for each day of the Annual Conference. You must provide a receipt for childcare. This covers only childcare in the parent’s hotel room or other residence in the meeting city (Washington DC) and does not include charges for children’s food, transportation, gratuities, or for the sitter. ALA will not reimburse childcare expenses to attendees who live within the Washington DC area that would be paid to the regular provider whether the parent was attending the Annual Conference or not. Parents may contact their hotel childcare center/babysitting service where it is available or find one online. Reimbursement forms are available at the ALA Conference Services Desk and must be signed by the individual performing the childcare services and presented by the parent to the ALA Conference Services Desk by June 25. Please note that all reimbursement will be mailed out to the attendee post-conference.
Yes. There will be a private and comfortable space allocated to nursing mothers located in the Convention Center.
Strollers are permitted on the exhibit floor, but only if there is a child in them at all times. Un-escorted children are not permitted on the exhibit floor. Children under the age of five must be under control at all times (stroller, pack, etc.). Any child over the age of five must have an Exhibits Only badge to be admitted to the exhibit floor. These badges are available at onsite registration for $75. An adult must accompany all children under the age of 16.
Yes, complimentary Shuttle Buses from official hotel locations and the Convention Center will be available. See Shuttle Schedule and additional details.
Yes, coat and luggage check will be available in the Convention Center. There is a fee of $5.00 per item.
Convention Center Coat / Luggage Check Hours:
- Friday, June 24: 7:30am - &:30pm
- Saturday, June 25: 7:30am - 6:00pm
- Sunday, June 26: 7:30am - 6:00pm
- Monday, June 27: 7:30am - 6:00pm
Tuesday - June 28: The Marriott Marquis Bellstand is available for those wishing to check their items.
Try the 4 L's:
Layers - Dress in layers, as you will be moving from the heat outside to the cool in meeting rooms and hotels.
Liquids - Drink plenty of "good" fluids; there will be water stations in the hotels and Convention Center.
Lighten - Lighten your load, and don't carry extra stuff with you as you'll likely be walking a lot. Plan your day for what you will need.
Leisurely - Walk at a leisurely pace, whether you are inside, or out.
Please see TSA’s website for a list of acceptable forms of identification. Passengers who have licenses issued by a state that is compliant or that has an extension to become compliant with REAL ID requirements may continue to use their licenses as usual. For a list of states already in compliance or with an extension visit DHS’s REAL ID webpage. DHS continually updates this list as more states come into compliance or obtain extensions.
Beginning May 3rd, 2023, every air traveler will need to present a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable form of identification for domestic air travel. A REAL ID compliant license is one that meets, and is issued by a state that complies with, the REAL ID Act’s security standards.
Travelers can check DHS’s REAL ID webpage at any time to learn if your state is compliant and can check with your state’s agency that issues driver’s licenses about how to acquire a compliant license. The earlier your state becomes compliant, the more likely you will be able to acquire a compliant license as part of the normal renewal cycle.