The Polar Libraries Colloquy provides an international forum through which librarians and others concerned with the collection, preservation, and dissemination of information dealing with the Arctic and Antarctic regions, discuss issues of mutual interest and promote initiatives leading to improved collections and services.

The Colloquy meets biennially at venues traditionally alternating between Europe and North America. The first Polar Libraries Colloquy was held in 1971 in Edmonton. Until 1990, the event was known as the Northern Libraries Colloquy.

The next Colloquy will be Polar Regions: Past, Present, and Future. It will be held at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center on the Columbus Campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio, June 7-13, 2026.

To learn more about the history of the Polar Libraries Colloquy, please visit here.