About the Access Services Conference and Access Services in Libraries, Inc. (ASiL)

The Access Services Conference began with a simple need: more professional development focused directly on the work of access services in libraries.

Founder Karen Glover first imagined the conference after experiencing a lack of professional development opportunities related to her work at the Georgia Tech Library as a Circulation Librarian. She convinced her manager, Stella Richardson, along with founding organizers Denita Hampton and Catherine Downey, to help bring the Access Services Conference to life.

What began as a small event with 102 attendees in its first year has grown into a mid-sized annual conference that has continued to flourish for more than a decade, serving library workers and leaders from across the country.

The Access Services Conference provides an opportunity for individuals working in all areas of access services in libraries to gather information, share ideas, and connect with other professionals. Topics include circulation, reserves, interlibrary loan, student worker management, security, leadership, user experience, and evolving service models.

In 2018, the founding members incorporated the conference as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the business name Access Services in Libraries, Incorporated (ASiL).

Today, ASiL is guided by a Board of Directors and supported by volunteer-led steering committees that help shape the conference each year. These committees focus on areas such as program planning, community engagement, sponsorship, awards, and conference operations. Together, they ensure the conference remains responsive to the needs of the access services community while fostering professional growth, collaboration, and innovation.