Many community colleges across the nation have realigned their mission statements and organizational strategies to include workforce development. Because libraries play a pivotal role in supporting these initiatives, this year’s North Carolina Community College Library Association’s (NCCCLA) conference will examine how libraries support workforce development and economic mobility.  

Librarians, educators, college administrators, workforce development thought leaders and community partners are invited to share how library services can evolve (or have already evolved) beyond traditional information access to actively cultivate the skills employers demand in a rapidly changing technological society that economically impacts the communities we serve. 

We are seeking forward-thinking proposals in the form of keynotes, presenters, breakout and panel discussion facilitators that highlight: 

• advancing technological processes affecting key labor market trends and their impact in local North Carolina communities
• ways in which community colleges have successfully integrated library programming into career pathways initiatives
• the benefits of embedding information literacy into career and technical education (CTE) programs
• using open educational resources (OER) to reduce barriers for working students
• designing and using makerspaces and digital labs that support curriculums, entrepreneurship and credentialing
• data and assessment tools that demonstrate the library’s impact on student retention and job placement 
• successful campus collaborations and partnerships with local employers and workforce boards to align library programming with regional hiring needs
• recent community college graduates who credit library resources with supporting their career transitions 
• artificial intelligence tools and how to navigate the growing role of AI in both the profession and the workforce  

Ultimately, the theme challenges librarians to see themselves not just as curators of information, but as active architects of student and community opportunity. 

The call for proposals will officially open on April 1, 2026 and will run through May 1, 2026.