Although libraries are currently facing a climate of political and financial upheaval, that didn’t stop information professionals from showing up in force to the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition (June 26–30). The conference brought 14,292 registrants to Philadelphia, up from last year’s attendance of 13,532 in San Diego.
With more than 600 vendors and a variety of live stages and pavilions, the Library Marketplace showcased products for libraries facing intense new challenges. Services and solutions that focused on libraries’ ongoing needs for efficiency and impact were in high demand.
Palpable politics
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) booth, which sat empty save for volunteers and a sign that implored passersby to support library funding, was a focal point of the Library Marketplace. The Trump administration intends to eliminate the agency with its FY2026 budget, and ALA is currently involved in a lawsuit to prevent the dismantling of the organization.
IMLS supports library projects and services across the country, including statewide resource sharing, investments in open source technologies, and a broad range of other valued assistance. Interruptions in federal funding—along with ongoing book bans and threats of censorship—were pervasive themes in the exhibit hall, informal discussions, and program content.
The Library of Congress (LC) booth was another point of interest. Former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who was fired by the White House on May 8, was a featured speaker at the conference. Her former colleague Robert Newlen, now acting Librarian of Congress, gave an inspiring booth presentation about continuing to fulfill the library’s mission and work, despite the actions of the administration. Also noteworthy was that LC pushed its implementation of FOLIO, an open source library services platform, into production during the week of Annual. Many cataloging and metadata presentations and discussions mentioned this event, its implications for BIBFRAME, and other topics related to cataloging and authority control.
Investing in advocacy
Clarivate not only promoted an array of products under its Ex Libris, Innovative, and ProQuest brands but also highlighted investments in library advocacy. At its booth reception, then–ALA President Cindy Hohl recognized the company for being the first to join the Association’s public supporter program, launched in February. As one of the larger companies in attendance, Clarivate shared its progress in product developments and recent adoptions of its major technology and content offerings.
Smaller consolidations
While there haven’t been many major business events this year, a few smaller deals were revealed at the conference. LibraryIQ, sister company of Library Systems and Services, announced that it had acquired the data analytics and engagement company OrangeBoy. Baker & Taylor sold its collection development solution, CollectionHQ, to Valsoft Corporation but will continue to market and support the product.
These products fit within a niche of library-specific data services that help institutions make informed management decisions. Other companies within this space include Counting Opinions, which provides services that help libraries analyze the performance of programs and collections, and SimplyAnalytics, which demonstrated its data visualization and analytics offerings.
Books, ebooks, and digital content
Book vendors again accounted for the busiest aisles in the marketplace. The exhibit hall brought together an interesting mix of large publishing firms and smaller presses spanning all genres. Attendees lined up to meet authors and collect the latest titles.
Zine and comics publishers and producers attracted considerable interest this year. The overflowing tote bags and stacks of boxes awaiting shipment gave a glimpse into the massive transfer of inventory that happens at conference.
Amazon Books exhibited again, highlighting its customized services and metadata for libraries. Many libraries use Amazon for items they need quickly, such as for patron requests or an alternative to interlibrary loan.
OverDrive, the largest aggregator of digital content for libraries, and Hoopla, known for its audiobooks and video content, attracted many booth visitors. The CloudLibrary ebook platform, previously offered by Bibliotheca, was featured at the OCLC booth this year as part of its suite of services for public libraries.
Ingram Content Group demonstrated its print and ebook publishing and distribution services for authors, publishers, retailers, and libraries. Gale, part of Cengage Group, featured its products and services for public and academic libraries and school educators. In addition to primary source archives, databases, and other collections, Gale offers e-learning content for workforce development.
Publishers and distributors of scholarly and academic content—including Elsevier, Sage, Springer Nature, and a variety of university presses—maintained a solid presence. While print books were conspicuous in the marketplace, most publishers were promoting ebook versions in tandem. Ebooks and other digital content continue to make up ever-larger proportions of libraries’ collections.
Library management and collection discovery
OCLC positioned its WorldShare Management Services and WorldCat Discovery products as a comprehensive dual solution for academic and research libraries. OCLC Wise is a strategic offering for public libraries in North America. The nonprofit also promoted its CapiraMobile app. OCLC devotes considerable resources to library advocacy and educational programming.
EBSCO gave demonstrations of its many offerings, including EBSCOhost databases, EBSCO Discovery Service, NoveList, and content marketplace services GOBI and Mosaic. The company also discussed its recent accomplishments on the technology services side, such as the completion of its FOLIO implementation at LC.
SirsiDynix, now under the ownership of Harris Computer, showcased its Symphony and BLUEcloud products for library management as well as its CloudSource OA suite of discovery solutions optimized for open access content. LibLime highlighted Bibliovation, its library management system designed primarily for public libraries, military base libraries, and smaller academic libraries.
The Library Corporation featured its Library.Solution and Library.Solution for Schools integrated library system (ILS) products and shared booth space with Tech Logic, a sister company that offers automated materials handling and self-service solutions. Book Systems and b provided demonstrations of library automation systems for smaller libraries.
The open source sector was represented by several support providers, including ByWater Solutions (which supports Aspen Discovery and Koha) and Equinox Open Library Initiative (which supports Aspen Discovery, Evergreen, and Koha). Lyrasis provides support and governance for open source software projects including ArchivesSpace, CollectionSpace, DSpace, and Fedora. The organization recently consolidated services surrounding the digital content platform Palace Project, absorbing some aspects previously managed by the Digital Public Library of America.
Springshare displayed its growing suite of products delivered through its software-as-a-service platform. This included its flagship LibGuides content management system used by many academic libraries, products LibAnswers and LibChat (which support online reference services), LibCal (which powers a library’s events calendar and room schedules), and the recently introduced LibSites (a website management tool with a drag-and-drop interface). Springshare also offers Patron Point, a marketing automation platform for libraries.
Caia Software and Solutions presented CaiaSoft, its inventory management system for library storage facilities, while Iron Mountain and Clancy Relocation and Logistics showcased remote storage services for libraries and archives at their respective booths. Recollect promoted its cloud-based management and discovery solution for special collections across libraries, archives, galleries, museums, and related organizations.
Civica, which offers the Spydus library management system, made its Library Marketplace debut this year. Though the product is well established in other regions of the world, it only recently accelerated marketing and support in North America. The company also provides software products for areas of local government services.
Unique Management Services highlighted its MessageBee product, which integrates with a library’s ILS to distribute notices and other messages through SMS. The company also showcased its Material Recovery service, which helps libraries recover materials not returned by patrons and collect associated fees.
Solutions for technical services
Several companies in the Library Marketplace promoted bibliographic services, including Backstage Library Works, Baker & Taylor (for its BTCat), and OCLC, with its broad range of cataloging and resource-sharing services. The recent legal action between OCLC and Baker & Taylor was a topic of conversation at conference.
EBSCO and WT Cox Information Services were among the organizations offering libraries ways to manage their subscriptions.
Managing scholarly content
JSTOR is well known for preserving and providing access to scholarly journals. The organization recently launched JSTOR Digital Stewardship Services to help libraries responsibly manage their local digital collections.
TDNet, a company that primarily focuses on discovery and linking services, recently introduced its TDNet AI. The product leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to simplify search and summarize results across complex and extensive scholarly resources.
Several exhibitors demonstrated how their technologies can directly connect library patrons to content. These included Third Iron and its LibKey suite of services. OpenAthens offers an authentication service based on modern protocols that provides seamless access to scholarly resources. This product is available both through EBSCO and OpenAthens.
Moving and delivering materials
Several booths featured automated materials handling, sorting, self-service, and other products that help libraries efficiently manage their physical inventories. These included Arcus, Bibliotheca, Comprise Technologies, D-Tech International, FE Technologies, Lyngsoe Systems, Meescan, Tech Logic, and Today’s Business Solutions. Each of these companies offer distinctive hardware and software solutions with diverse designs and features. Offerings from these companies range from affordable products for smaller libraries to sophisticated, large-scale solutions for libraries with complex needs.
EnvisionWare specializes in products that support many aspects of public library operations. Offerings include self-service kiosks, materials handling products, a tool for reserving equipment and rooms, analytics software, an automated 24-hour library, holds lockers, and smart cabinets. On the bookmobile side, Farber Specialty Vehicles showcased options for customized library vehicles.
Engaging and empowering patrons
Tools and technologies designed to help libraries deliver enriched interfaces and services for patrons attracted considerable interest at conference. BiblioCommons showcased BiblioCore, a discovery interface that works with any major ILS, and BiblioWeb, a solution that provides comprehensive website management for public libraries.
Library Market offers LibraryCalendar and LibraryWebsite, customizable solutions for public libraries with high expectations for usability and design. Communico demonstrated its many products and components for public libraries, including Attend (a calendar and event management tool), its Interact self-service kiosks, and Reserve (for room booking and asset management). The company recently launched its Explore discovery interface as well as support services for Koha.
StackMap showed its unique service for displaying visual maps in library catalogs to help patrons find collection items within a physical space. Solus has become established in the mobile technology sector and demonstrated its app and content management platform.
LibraryThing featured Talpa, an AI-based search service that can be integrated with other library management products. The organization’s main product, LibraryThing, is a popular service for managing personal collections, while many small libraries use LibraryThing for Libraries. LibraryThing also partners with ProQuest to produce the Syndetics Unbound service for catalog enrichment.
AI comes of age
The AI technologies that vendors are incorporating into their content products and services have become more advanced. Libraries insist on results free from misinformation and bias. As AI-enhanced search becomes a more routine option across scholarly content platforms and library discovery services—and controlled through frameworks such as retrieval augmented generation—practices have become more sophisticated. AI will continue to move rapidly through the library sector, and we can expect its influence to expand across discovery services as well as in the way that content products are curated and organized.
The library vendor community makes substantial investments in the Library Marketplace, which forms a vital part of the Annual Conference experience for attendees. This serves as a sample of the organizations present and isn’t intended as a comprehensive guide.
