Back in Circulation: A Conference for Managers and Staff in Access and Circulation Services

Oct. 5-6, 2026

Madison, WI

$300

Deadline to register is September 28.

Join us in Madison, WI for Back in Circulation 2026! This year's conference will include sessions on inclusive supervision, training student employees, best practices for customer service, streamlining workflows, and more! The conference will kick off with Bobbi Newman's keynote on Monday morning.

Bobbi L. Newman, MLIS, MA (she/her) is a consultant who helps organizations create healthier, more equitable workplaces using evidence-based strategies. She is also a professor who teaches future librarians and leaders, integrating research, practice, and compassion to shape healthier workplaces across the profession. Bobbi is the founder of ThriveLib, a virtual conference dedicated to advancing the well-being of library staff and fostering honest conversations about work, care, and sustainability.

A certified Wellness Practitioner with nearly a decade of experience in workplace well-being, Bobbi is known for translating research into practical, actionable strategies that support both individuals and organizations. She is the author of Fostering Wellness in the Workplace and the editor of Well-Being in the Library Workplace: A Handbook for Managers, widely used resources for leaders seeking to build healthier work cultures.

She writes about well-being in libraries at www.librarianbyday.net, where her work continues to challenge harmful norms and advocate for systemic change.

In addition to Bobbi's keynote address, the conference will include a range of sessions such as:

Situational Awareness and De-Escalation for Frontline Staff
Keeping People in Circulation: Inclusive Supervision in Access Services
Community-Driven Classification and Application to Access Services Principles
Seeing the forest through the weeds: a combined approach to weeding and inventory

Questions? Email ce-info@wisc.edu