How to I register for ALSC National Institute?
Please visit the ALSC website for more information on registration, including rates, policies, and a direct link to register through ALA's system.
To register for National Institute (plus ticketed events), please visit the National Institute Registration Page.
If you would like to register for only Teen Services Development Day, please visit the TSDD Registration Page.
ALSC offers discounts for early registration (through July 10), as well as additional discounts for ALSC and YALSA members. Learn more about the benefits of ALSC membership! Please ensure you are logged into your ALA membership account to see the appropriate discounts for your membership level reflected.
Where should I book my hotel?
ALSC National Institute includes room blocks at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo (the main National Institute hotel) and the Embassy Suites Buffalo (where Teen Services Development Day programming will take place on Thursday, 10/1). Hotel room block access is provided in the welcome email attendees receive after registering for conference. There will be a major sporting event in Buffalo the weekend of conference; we will keep a keen eye on our block, but we encourage all attendees to book their travel and hotel early.
What are my options traveling to and from Buffalo?
A significant reason Buffalo was selected as the 2026 location was because of its drive-ability in the Northeast - an area that has not hosted a National Institute in more than a decade! Buffalo is less than six hours from all major New York cities, and four hours or less from Cleveland, OH, Detroit, MI and Pittsburgh, PA -- and, of course, it is just a hop, skip and a jump from Toronto!
If you don't happen to live within driving (or Amtrak!) distance, the Buffalo Niagara Airport (BUF) serves most major airports on the Eastern seaboard, and had connections to major Midwestern airports, such as O'Hare and Midway. Flights out of Buffalo are slim starting in the early afternoon, so please plan your travel and hotel stays accordingly.
How do I get to the hotel from the Buffalo Niagara Airport (BUF)?
If you are flying into Buffalo, downtown is a brief, 15-minute drive for taxis and rideshares. Depending on your arrival time, the NFTA Metro had a bus (#24 - Genesee) that runs from the Buffalo Niagara Airport to downtown Buffalo (there is a stop one block form the Hyatt and three blocks from Embassy Suites).
Both hotels offer valet parking on a daily rate ranging from $25-$35/day. There is no conference discount available for valet parking.
Are meals included?
ALSC provides dinner during the Opening Keynote on Thursday night, as well as limited coffee and light refreshments between program blocks. Other meals are not provided.
Teen Services Development Day will provide both breakfast and lunch for attendees. (Please note: this is a ticketed event, separate from National Institute.)
Attendees will be able to indicate dietary restrictions during the registration process.What should I wear?
ALSC National Institute is a professional development experience for children's and youth services library staff. Professional means different things to different people in different contexts. We recommend you dress comfortably - that may mean jeans and a summer reading shirt, a Ms. Frizzle-esque outfit, or your comfiest cardigan! (We do recommend the cardigan anyway - layers are always good at conferences, since temperatures fluctuate.)
As we are at two different hotels - only two blocks apart, but still - we do recommend comfortable shoes.
Is ALSC National Institute accessible?
Our programming takes place at Hyatt Regency Buffalo and Embassy Suites Buffalo, both of which are ADA accessible and offer accessible accommodations. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. Please contact Sarah Polen, Deputy Director, at spolen [at] ala.org, no less than one month in advance of National Institute to discuss onsite accommodations.
Will recordings or slides be available after conference?
Yes! We're happy to offer recordings of education sessions (not Discussion Sessions or General Sessions) after conference. Additionally presenters can make slide decks and other handouts available in SCHED after conference.
A program I went to was amazing! Can I leave feedback?
Absolutely - we hope you do! Attendee feedback is key to determining the "Best of National Institute" webinar slate, future ALSC National Institute programming, and more. A "Provide Feedback" button will be available for all Education Programs for up to 10 days following the program. Additionally, a more comprehensive event survey will be sent for more general feedback about the event. We appreciate your constructive comments - what went well, or what can be improved!
What do I do if I have an issue or witness inappropriate behavior?
Attendees at all ALA events, including Teen Services Development Day and National Institute, are expected to adhere to the ALA Code of Conduct. If you have issues or witness inappropriate behavior, please find ALA staff or visit the registration desk to connect with staff and/or make a report.
Further questions or comments?
Please reach Deputy Director, Content Strategy, Sarah Polen at spolen [at] ala.org.
