Conference Mission

    "A love of reading encompasses the whole of life: information, knowledge, insight and understanding, pleasure; the power to think, to select to act, to create...all of these are inherent in a love of reading." ... Frances Clarke Sayers, Summoned by Books

Believing that a love of reading can best be developed in young people through literature, we offer these annual conferences for librarians and teachers and those who work with children. Our purpose is to make it possible: 

  • To learn more about the creative process;
  • To be inspired to extend our conversations with children about books and authors; 
  • To hear suggestions of various uses of literature for the benefit of children;
  • To share in an environment in which continuing education flourishes through presentations, exhibits, and renewal of professional friendships. 
"We are not just bridge builders, we are bridges. Our task, our challenge, our privilege is to broaden children's minds and not leave them in their narrowness." 
...Katherine Paterson 

History of the Conference

The first conference in the series of conferences that would become the McConnell Children's Literature Conferences was held in 1968. It focused on school libraries and their problems ranging from banned books to collection development. The focus of the conferences switched within a matter of years to Children's Literature. Attendance expanded beyond school library media specialists to include teachers, public librarians, and adults interested in children and all types of books created for children. The mission of the conference is to bring professionals together to exchange ideas and inspire our peers. The two-day conference is usually held in February or March. For the last several years, Book Wholesalers, Inc. has generously co-sponsored this annual event. 

The 2007 Conference: Details about the 2007 conference will be available soon.

The 2006 Conference

The 2006 McConnell Literature Conference, "Truth in Story," was held February 24-25 at the Marriott (Griffin Gate) in Lexington. Featured speakers were author Patricia Reilly Giff (Friday evening) and illustrator E. B. Lewis (Saturday morning). In addition, Gratia Banta, a graduate of the UK School of Library and Information Science and chair of the 2006 Caldecott Award Committee, presented small-group sessions both Friday night and Saturday.

The program also included sessions on a variety of topics that concern those interested in promoting or creating children's literature. These sessions usually include Newbery and Caldecott discussions led by the graduate students in the critical analysis of children's literature class. 

The Traveling Collection of the McConnell Center was also made available to conference attendees in order that they might examine new books and more wisely spend their book budgets. 2006 Conference brochure.

Previous Conference Photo Scrapbooks