Sunday, October 18

Before the Conference 

Moses Myers House Tour hosted by the Local History Forum
323 E. Freemason St. Norfolk, VA
Sunday, 10/18/26; 2:00 pm
Meet at the Moses Myers House for an in depth tour. 
https://chrysler.org/historic-houses/the-moses-myers-house/

Queer History Walking Tour
Meet on the 1st Floor of Hilton Norfolk, The Main
Sunday, 10/18/26, 2 pm–3 pm FREE; DONATIONS WELCOME
Experience Norfolk’s LGBTQ+ history as Cathleen Rhodes, ODU Women's and Gender Studies professor and director of the Tidewater Queer History Project, leads you through Norfolk’s Downtown to discover where local Queer history started and grew.  Donations benefit TQHP. 

Freemason Street Baptist Church Bell Tower Tour and Recital
400 E. Freemason St. (.5 mile) (Tide stop: Monticello Station and .1-mile walk)
Sunday, 10/18/26; 2:45 pm-3:30 pm FREE
See and hear the 10-bell chime of Freemason Street Baptist Church, a building designed by Thomas Ustick Walter (architect of the US Capitol dome). The musician is librarian Sean Bilby. The tower tour includes steep steps, but you can enjoy the music from benches outside from 3 pm onward. This is a rare weekend community event with the Sanctuary open with docents. Free parking.

Town Point Virginia Fall Wine Festival 

Town Point Park, Downtown Norfolk Waterfront
11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. for wine sampling
Enjoy the region's outdoor wine festival, steps from the conference center. Tickets required.

Glass Blowing Demonstration
Perry Glass Studio at the Chrysler Museum of Art
Noon - 1 p.m.
See how the Perry Glass Studio creates the beautiful works of art in their collection. This demonstration is open to the public. Free. 

Private Reading Room Tour
Jean Outland Chrysler Library at the Chrysler Museum of Art
1:30 - 2 p.m.
Join tour guide and librarian Liz Weir for a private tour of the library collection at the museum. Limit 20 attendees.
Click here to register.

Collection Highlights Tour
The Chrysler Museum of Art
2 -3 p.m.
Click here to register.

Conference Kick Off

Award Celebration and Poster Sessions
The VLA Award Celebration will run concurrently with Poster Sessions. Poster sessions are held from 5 - 7 p.m. There will be a break at 6 p.m. for the award presentations. Expect a relaxed party environment, not a sit down dinner, where winners will accept their awards. Book awards will be presented separately during the opening session on Monday, October 19, at 10 a.m. 

Dress is business casual. Cocktails will be served, along with light bites. 

Guests of award winners are welcome to attend; all guests must adhere to the VLA Code of Conduct. Award winners receive a complimentary plus one to the event. Tickets for additional guests are $15/person with a 5 person guest cap. All guests must preregister and check in at the registration desk by 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, October 18. Guest registration is transferable before October 1 and must be received in writing. Contact [email protected] for assistance in transferring your guest registration.

No tickets or additional registration is required for conference attendees. You may check in at the registration desk starting at 2 p.m. to receive your badge. Your badge is your "ticket" to the event.

Monday, October 19

Monday Morning Walk Meet-Up
Walk the Cannonball Trail 7 am - 8 am.
Meet the organizer at the hotel's front door. The route is to St. Paul’s Churchyard, then walking the historical Cannonball Trail past many historic places in downtown Norfolk. Moderate rain or shine. FREE

Forum Events

All Forum Events: 5 - 6 p.m.
After the conference sessions wrap up at 4:45 p.m., all attendees can drop in to any of the Virginia Library Association forum events - forum membership not required. Refreshments will be served. 

CaTS in the Library - A Collections and Technical Services Social
Paul Fraim, Fourth Floor
Are you a CaTS employee? Join the CaTS Forum for a networking and vent session. What is an average day of work? How do we purchase books? What challenges do we have? Come by and we'll discuss it!

Friends and Trustees Dinner
Saltine Restaurant - Register Here
Looking to connect with other Friends groups, library trustees, or library board members? Sign up to attend a sit down dinner hosted by the Trustees and Friends Forum, to expand your network. 

Make Your Own Comic Workshop
Location, Salon H, Fourth Floor
Join the Graphic Novels and Comics Forum and learn to create your own multi-panel comic. Bring your own script or choose from provided scripts for practice.

Queer Joy Block Party
Location, Salon G, Fourth Floor
The LGBTQIA+ Forum welcomes members of the community and their allies to an hour of drop in fun. Board games, music, and fun!

NMRT Mentor Meet Up
Location, Salon F, Fourth Floor
Were you a mentor or mentee with the New Members Roundtable Forum this year? Meet your mentor or mentee in person here - potential mentors and mentees looking to be matched for the upcoming year are welcome!

The Slover Tour
Join the Youth and Family Services Forum offsite for a tour of the renown Slover, home to the downtown branch of the Norfolk Public Library - and so much more.

OTHER EVENTS

Old Dominion University MLIS Alumni Event
Location, Granby E, Third Floor
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Current students, alumni, faculty, and friends of Old Dominion University’s Master of Library and Information Studies program are invited to gather, reconnect, and celebrate the ODU MLIS community. Whether you graduated years ago, are just starting the program, or are curious about ODU, stop by to meet faculty, network with fellow library professionals from across Virginia, and share what you’ve been working on. All are welcome.

VCU Libraries Event
Location: Grain at the Main
6:00 - 7:30 PM
Are you a former VCU Libraries employee? Did you work at VCU Libraries as a student? Are you a VCU alum who is now full of regrets that you didn't work in the library as a student? Join us for a casual get-together -- catch up, see friends, hear what has been happening at the VCU Libraries. Appetizers and a drink are on us!

For more details and to RSVP contact Antonia Vassar [email protected] by Friday Oct. 16

Conference Social - Trivia Night

8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Team up with friends (or make new ones!) for a night of trivia. Refreshments and a cash bar provided. Win bragging rights and prizes or just learn something new with your teammates. Hosted by the 2026 Conference Committee.

Tuesday, October 20

Tuesday Morning Walk Meet-Up
Walk the Elizabeth River Trail 7 am - 8 am.
Meet our guide, Kindra Greene, ERT Executive Director, at the hotel's front door. The route will head north on the trail, where our host will point out highlights; after 30 minutes, make a U-turn and walk back. Moderate rain or shine. FREE