I’m very pleased to share this announcement of the opening of registration for this year’s Designing Libraries Conference, to be held at University of Rochester on September 28-30, 2025. As usual, we’ll have a stimulating program full of timely topics and tours of the renovated spaces at the River Campus libraries. The sponsors of this conference have often been asked to feature a library that has renovated incrementally, designing new spaces, incorporating technologies, and rethinking programs and staff roles. This conference will fully address those perspectives. Frequently this conference has reached capacity for registration so I encourage you to register soon!

— Joan Lippincott, CNI Emerita

On September 28-30, the River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester hosts Designing Libraries XII , an annual conference that gathers librarians, architects, planners, designers, and information technologists to discuss the challenges and achievements of designing libraries and learning centers for the 21st century.

Register soon! The special room rates at the Hilton Garden Inn Rochester University and Medical Center , Staybridge Suites Rochester University , and the Courtyard Rochester Brighton are available through August 30th, 2025.

The program features two pre-conferences on “Cultivating Commitment: Fundraising for Library Spaces” and “Designing With, Not For: Igniting Human-Centered Design to Reimagine Library Spaces.” If you are interested in both, there is an option to register for both pre-conferences at a combined fee of $180.

Architect Andrew Frontini (Perkins&Will) will deliver the opening keynote on “Episodes in Public Architecture: A Candid Reflection,” based on his recently published book and his many years working with academic and public libraries and their communities. Andrew says architects are “mad about librarians!” This is one session you don’t want to miss!

“Libraries as Nodes of Connection: Evolving Identity Through Campus Master Planning,” a plenary session led by the University of Rochester campus planning architect and campus leaders, will encourage attendees to consider how spatial repositioning can be a catalyst for innovation, enabling libraries to anchor new kinds of value across campus.

The program will feature a range of topics, such as staffing and evolution of experiential learning spaces, including lessons learned, designing spaces and programs for well-being and positive mental health, new public library’s inclusive design process, and more to come.

Visit the conference site  to see the program and speakers when announced. <> Guided by a strategic space plan, over the last decade, the River Campus Libraries has developed a number of active, experiential and technology-rich learning and research spaces for student and faculty success in Rush Rhees and the Carlson Science and Engineering Libraries. Spaces such as Evans Lam Square , Barbara J. Burger iZone , Janis and James S. Gleason Library , and Mary Ann Mavrinac Studio X will, no doubt, interest and inspire.

Tours of both the iconic Rush Rhees Library and the Carlson Science and Engineering Library will be offered.

Along with the River Campus Libraries as host, the conference sponsors are the Coalition for Networked Information ; Tom Hickerson, Conference Founder; and North Carolina State University Libraries.