Fall is shaping up to be a great time to reconnect with the Montana library community. This October 4-5, the Montana Library Association is heading to Chico Hot Springs in Pray, Montana, for our Fall Retreat — and everyone is welcome, whether you're an MLA member, thinking about joining, or bringing a guest along for the ride.

A New Kind of Gathering

Our planning team wanted to offer a more refined experience for Fall Retreat this year - Think smaller crowds, longer conversations, and a lot more room to actually connect with the people doing this work alongside you across Montana.

Over two days, librarians from around the state will be sharing what they're learning and building in their own libraries, from spotting misinformation online to putting AI to thoughtful use, plus lightning talks, a resource roundup, and even a star party (weather permitting).

What to Expect

• Sunday, October 4: Sessions kick off with a toolkit for values-driven AI in libraries, a panel on institutional knowledge, and lightning talks on everything from tabletop gaming to community engagement. The day wraps with dinner, a look at Montana ghost towns, and stargazing under Montana's big sky.
• Monday, October 5: Start the morning with a session on slow librarianship, then dig into a resource roundup covering everything from voter engagement to information literacy before we wrap up by noon.

The full draft schedule is available now, and we'll keep it updated as details are finalized.

Book Your Room Early

MLA has a room block held at Chico Hot Springs through Friday, September 10. After that, remaining rooms go back into general availability. If you're planning to stay on-site, call 406-333-4933 and mention the MLA Event to book — rooms run $95–$205 depending on the type.

Ready to Join Us?

CLICK HERE to register!

Thanks to our Fall Retreat Planning team - We can't wait to see you at Chico this October!