Keynote
Scrubbing Away the Schmutz
Lisa R Varga
People who don’t know what we do and don’t care about what we’re about keep dumping junk all over our profession. All we really want to do these days is our actual jobs, to have the kind of days where we go home thinking, “I made a difference today.” But for the last 2+ years, we’ve been doing our jobs *and* fighting off misinformation and deliberate disinformation about us, our profession, and marginalized communities. We are left to clean up the mess and get our hands dirty, but that also means we get to write the narrative of libraries for future generations.
Concurrent Sessions
RIIIIDE ’til You DEI: Saving Yourself While Saving the World
Erin Baker
Explore effective strategies for engaging diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work in public libraries while navigating a culturally and politically divided world. The 4 “IIII”s will outline balancing being intentional, intersectional, and inclusive in the work while embracing your authentic self and investing in self-care to nurture the most important “I.” Discover ways to improve DEI efforts by removing barriers and creating systemic change, while protecting yourself (and others), avoiding burnout, and reducing stress. Learn to safely foster transparent and productive conversations while building supportive circles internally and externally. Identify privilege and pain points and understand how to balance energy debt and knowing when to say “no” (even to the feel-good moment). In doing this, we can ensure the longevity of DEI work to maximize its impact and sustainability. Join the RIIIIDE to learn how to make meaningful change, while finding joy and maintaining well-being.
In this talk, I will introduce trauma-informed care as a practice focused on intentional accountability rather than perfection. I’ll explore its application in library spaces through (1) Power Over vs. Power With and (2) Empathic Listening. This session will be interactive, encouraging active participation and discussion. By the end, participants will identify library scenarios where they can shift from Power Over to Power With dynamics and practice the benefits of Empathic Listening.
Are you struggling to pinpoint an outreach program model that works for families experiencing homelessness in your community? Do you dream of enabling families to learn and explore, acquainting them with library resources, and eliminating social barriers to library usage? Learn how one library established strong partnerships with emergency family shelters by offering tailor-made passive program boxes and deposit collections of diverse, popular, and age-appropriate materials. Attendees will learn how to replicate this model; three themed program-in-a-box project ideas will be provided to further inspire attendees and help them get started on their own programs.
Creating Community and Combatting Disinformation: Civic Literacy Progamming in Action
Laura Saunders
Gianna Gifford
Erica Husting
An informed and engaged citizenry is crucial to a democracy but disenfranchisement and disinformation can increase confusion and drive down engagement. In this session, panelists will discuss how public libraries can help facilitate access to reliable information and foster community dialogue and civic engagement through educational and community programming. The session will begin with an overview of disinformation research and the connections to civic literacy and community engagement, followed by an overview of how community engagement can be integrated into public libraries’ strategic plans and goals. The session will conclude with a series of concrete examples of programming designed to combat disinformation, create community, and promote civic engagement. Ample time will be provided for audience questions and discussion.
Manga March Madness: Connecting Patrons to the Democratic Process through Manga.
Allison Nellis
Tabrizia Jones
Joseph Pascullo
Michelle Lee
With the 2024 Presidential Election fast approaching, learn about how a group of New York Public Library Librarians used manga as a teaching tool to inform patrons about their right to vote.
In March 2024, our team launched a citywide campaign for New Yorkers to vote on their favorite manga series. The campaign received over 5,000 votes, with this election being the first that many New Yorkers have participated in.
Learn how our team engaged with New Yorkers about their civic duty, while also empowering them to make their voices (and manga preferences) heard!
The Rochester Public Library has been at the forefront of innovative programs and services for those wishing to break into the cannabis industry. With a special focus on social equity applicants, we have attempted to level the playing field for an industry that has complex regulations with no access to start-up funds and substantial tax implications. Through partnerships with HempLab-NY, as well as attorneys and accountants with cannabis expertise, we have paved the way for equity applicants to thrive in this space. Our work has been featured in High Times and American Libraries.
Closed Branches, Open Minds
Gretchen Alexander
This talk focuses on the intricacies of working at a closed (for renovations and repairs) library branch in an urban city, particularly a closed branch that is situated in an already marginalized or isolated community. We will explore both the logistical and social aspects of maintaining a community presence when there is no physical library space for people to access. How do we serve our populations in new and flexible ways? The possibilities of community outreach, the limits of staffing, the potential of creative programming, and the intersection of failing city infrastructure with a looming climate crisis will all play a role in unpacking this issue.
How Vinyl Got Our Groove Back
Tom Wojciechowski
Alexandra Blau
We will discuss how starting a Vinyl Listening Lounge, circulating Vinyl Record Collection, a music discussion podcast, and a Vinyl Collector’s Club reignited our spark for our jobs and allowed us to form lasting connections within our community.
We will cover initial funding, equipment and record selection, collection development, programming ideas along with how all of this has allowed us to get outside of the four walls of the library and meet members of the community that are not traditionally patrons of the library.
This process gave us a renewed excitement for work during a time when a lot of people in the library world are struggling, and we’d love to try and help provide a roadmap for others to potentially do the same.
When Disaster Happens: The Public Libraries Role in Disaster Management
Michael R. Mabe
Today’s public librarian continues to transcend the historical stereotypes of the past by embracing new roles and responsibilities stemming from the many challenges and opportunities they face in their local community. The natural role the public library plays in local emergencies has emerged and developed over the years and is unique to each library and community. In more recent times, public libraries have operated as emergency community centers providing life sustaining essentials to victims such as shelter, food and access to communication tools and resources during and after disaster situations. To be effective in emergency management, local library leaders need to know the local emergency management command structure process and understand where and how the local public library can fit in that structure. This program will provide experience-based insight on how to effectively prepare for and engage in successful local emergency management.
Life is hard and sometimes it is difficult to cope. Join LaTrisha Milton, Youth and Family Services Manager for the Houston Public Library as she shares the concept to execution of the mental health program, “Big Feelings.” She will share how she partnered with area mental healthcare professionals to create this program in an effort to provide a safe space and support for families in helping them in dealing with difficult times individually as a unit.
Asylum Seeker Services in NYC
Adriana Blancarte-Hayward
Alex Mouyios
Cathy Chen
Claire Mooney
Alfredo Gutierrez Alcantara
For the past year and a half, New York City has seen a steep increase in immigration. This panel represents a team of library workers from across the three systems of New York City who have been instrumental in developing a range of services and programs for asylum seekers. We’ll be discussing what we’ve learned about multilingual services, cross-cultural communication, and partnership building in the context of our work. We’ll also be giving some practical information for how to run programs large and small that serve asylum seeker communities.
Library Worker Support Network
Leah Dudak
Jaime Williams
Christiana Parish
Elizabeth Portillo
Taylor Morris
The Library Worker Support Network (LWSN) is a peer based response to library workplace trauma, focusing on trauma-informed care and peer support groups. We will discuss the trauma library workers encounter, with over 68% reporting violent or aggressive behavior, and introduce the LWSN, a peer led series of support groups where library workers can work through thier experiences with people who truly understand. This session is designed to create an open dialogue on systemic issues, fostering growth and healing within the library workforce while envisioning a more equitable future for the profession.
