Youth Services Conference

Every other year, the State Library hosts an in-person, two-day, biennial conference in the spring about all things youth services. Join us for award-winning keynote speakers, breakout sessions from in-practice librarians, networking with librarians from all across Iowa, and meeting vendors, nonprofits, and government organizations that support your library work, all while you earn Continuing Education credit. 

Pop YS Con 2026

The next Pop YS Con will take place April 16 and 17, 2026 and will be presented in a virtual format at no cost to attendees! 

The State Library made the decision to shift to a virtual conference after listening to librarians who were concerned about Pop YS Con occurring the same year as the Public Library Association (PLA) conference. Offering a virtual conference in 2026, especially since PLA will be held nearby in Minneapolis, gives librarians the chance to attend both conferences without having to choose.

The good news is that in 2027 we plan to return to an in person format for the youth services conference with the same fun energy as always! By moving our conference away from the even-years PLA conference schedule, we hope more librarians will be able to attend in the future.

More information will be coming soon about the keynote presentations and how librarians can request to be a presenter for the 2026 conference!

Conference Background

Our Youth Services conference has been known as Pop YS Con, and before that, Kids First. The first Kids First event was held in 1997 and it has grown as a learning and connection experience every year since then!  The conference is partially funded through the Hazel Westgate Endowment. Hazel Westgate was a beloved children's librarian who worked at the Iowa City Public Library for 39 years. The Endowment carries on her work in educating librarians and advocating for youth in the public library. Additional conference support comes from the State Library's federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 

Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services

This program or resource is made possible in part by the IMLS under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of Iowa.

Find out more about Federal LSTA funding