Programs & Handouts

To find handouts, search below for a program you attended. Click a program title to view its full description, etc., and if the presenter(s) uploaded handouts they’ll be available for download on that program details page (just above the Track and Tags info). If no handouts are shown, either they have not yet been added to the conference website or none have been provided by the presenter(s). If you attended a preconference and need the handouts, please contact the presenter(s) directly as those handouts are not available here on the website. Most presenters provided an e-mail address, so just scroll down to the Presenters section on a preconference details page and click a presenter’s name to contact them.

Please note not all presenters have made their handouts available online.

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The array of professional development programs are the highlight of PLA Conference. Over 100 extraordinary programs—organized by exciting new tracks for 2016—offer attendees so much to choose from. You can filter by keyword, type of session, track, topic tags, or level of interaction. Click on each title for more information. We’ve also created some specialized pages for trustees and small/rural library staff that highlight programs recommended for each group. And as a courtesy, a copy of the onsite printed program book is available for download prior to the conference.

All preconferences and concurrent program sessions will take place in the Colorado Convention Center (CCC), 700 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202.

Want to create your own personalized conference agenda and evaluate sessions? Download the PLA 2016 mobile app!

Search: Session Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2016 Wednesday, April 6, 2016 Thursday, April 7, 2016 Friday, April 8, 2016 Saturday, April 9, 2016 Session Type: Track: Tags: Level of Interaction:

• Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Designed for Experience: Reimagining Spaces and Services

  What if we designed our physical libraries with learning – not shelving – at their core? This simple question led one library (and its team of awesome experts) to create an unconventional framework for reimagining its spaces and services. In this highly interactive session, participants will explore the customer activities and outcomes that can drive library design. Using a fun and participatory methodology, participants will create spaces that help customers learn, create and share.

  Presenters: Patrick Quattlebaum, Adaptive Path; Melanie Huggins, Richland Library; Margaret Sullivan, Margaret Sullivan Studio
  Full Day Preconference Tags: Buildings and Facilities, Innovation, Other Service Design, Programming/Services, Transforming Libraries
• Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM So You Want to Be a Director?

  Have you recently accepted a directorship or are you contemplating moving into a library director role? Discover the tools and tactics you need to traverse the pitfalls of being a new director from leaders who have done it successfully. Whether you’re stressed about creating a budget, anxious about resolving HR issues, unsure how to work with your board or local government, or losing sleep over the idea of strategic planning, this preconference is for you. Participants will gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to fearlessly face the challenges of library directorship.

  Presenters: Rachel Rubin, Bexley Public Library; Kevin King, Kalamazoo Public Library; Felton Thomas, Cleveland Public Library; Pam Sandlian Smith, Anythink Libraries; Eva Poole, Virginia Beach Public Library; Marcia Warner, Grand Rapids Public Library; David Singleton, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
  Full Day Preconference Tags: Career Advice, Leadership, Mentoring, Organizational Change, Professional Development
• Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Think, Do, Show: Practical Techniques for Analyzing, Using, and Visualizing Data to Improve Practice and Demonstrate Impact

  PRESENTED BY THE COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARIES (CAL)

  Libraries collect a lot of data: circulation, program attendance, user satisfaction, etc. In this preconference, you will learn how to go beyond simply collecting and reporting on these numbers. Through a series of interactive exercises, you will discover how to analyze your data, use your results to inform your strategic planning, management, and communication with stakeholders, and visually present your statistics in infographics and other formats to demonstrate your library’s impact.

  Presenters: Keith Curry Lance, ; Linda Hofschire, Colorado State Library; Rochelle Logan, Rochelle Logan Consulting; Nicolle Steffen, Colorado State Library; Zeth Lietzau, Denver Public Library; Jamie LaRue, American LIbrary Association Office for Intellectual Freedom; Elizabeth Kelsen Huber, Colorado Library Consortium; Sara Wright, Colorado Library Consortium; Jon D. Solomon, Englewood Public Library; Denise Davis, Sacramento Public Library
  Full Day Preconference
• Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Stepping Up to Extraordinary: Using Core Values to Inform Public Library Leadership

  This interactive preconference is designed for leaders at all levels of a public library. Whether you are a new director facing significant change, a mid-career manager who’s looking for ways to step up, or nearing the end of your career and seeking ways to find more meaning in your work, this session is for you. Participants will identify core values, reflect on defining situations that instill those values, consider how core values can be applied to everyday work, and discover strategies for navigating values conflicts. Participants will engage in a variety of individual, paired, and group activities that give them more clarity on core values, more confidence and commitment to using values with intention, and a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in their work.

  Presenters: Sharon Morris, Colorado State Library
  Full Day Preconference Tags: Administration and Management, Core Values, Leadership, Networking, Organizational Change, Other Public Administration
• Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Powerful Summers: Library-Community-School Partnerships

  This interactive preconference explores strategies and partnerships for summer learning. Find out how summer learning experts, schools, community partners and libraries are working together to address the challenge of summer learning loss by maximizing summer opportunities for youth. Join the conversation on piloting new partnerships, identifying outcomes and exploring new models for summer. Share your experience and get advice, as participants craft a vision for summer. This interactive session will build on research conducted by the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) in partnership with the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

  Presenters: Liz McChesney, Chicago Public Library; Christy Estrovitz, San Francisco Public Library; Cristina Mitra, San Francisco Public Library; Lisa McClure, Broward County Library; Jennifer Hoffman, Denver Public Library; Emily Samose, Urban Libraries Council; Leslie Gabay-Swanston, National Summer Learning Association
  Half Day Preconference Tags: Children's Services, Equity of Access, Organizational Change, Partnerships, Youth Services
• Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Teach Adults Anything and Do It Right

  From e-mail to knitting to financial planning, customers are expecting libraries to provide high quality instruction on the things that matter to them. Creating engaging, effective lesson plans can be a challenge; designing an entire curriculum is even more daunting. This workshop will teach you how to create truly extraordinary classes using instructional design theory. You’ll leave with a lesson plan template and a great class that works for you and your customers.

  Presenters: Simone Groene-Nieto, Denver Public Library; Squee Leigh, Denver Public Library
  Half Day Preconference Tags: Continuing Education, Instruction, Programming/Services, Technology, Training
• Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Keeping Peace in the Library: Best Practices for Providing Service to Patrons Experiencing Homelessness

  Does your library serve a large number of persons experiencing homelessness? We know from public health experts that a large number of that population experience mental health issues. How do you provide the best possible service for them while ensuring the comfort and safety of all library patrons? This session will look at the situation from a holistic viewpoint, including the perspectives of security, law enforcement, mental health, and library professionals. Attendees will come away with the latest information and great strategies for success.

  Presenters: Sydney McCoy, Frederick County Public Libraries; Scot Hopkins, Frederick County Sheriff's Department; Bob Knowles, Denver Public Library; Elissa Hardy, Denver Public Library
  Half Day Preconference Tags: Adult Services, Buildings and Facilities, Urban Libraries
• Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Practical Community Engagement

  PRESENTED BY THE COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARIES (CAL)

  Carrie Andrew, Library Director at Norwood Public Library and James Vallejos, Senior Librarian at the Hadley Branch Library, Denver Public Library, will talk about their use of the Harwood community engagement model in drastically different ways – one in rural Western Slope Colorado, in preparation for a new library building; and one in urban Denver, working to engage the Vietnamese community. Using the Libraries Transforming Communities model, they will share their lessons learned as well as engage attendees in the Harwood Community Model exercises.

  Presenters: Michelle Jeske, Denver Public Library; Carrie Andrew, Norwood Public Library; James Vallejos, Denver Public Library; Brenda Cook Ritenour, Denver Public Library
  Half Day Preconference
• Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Project Outcome Enrollment Workshop: Simple Tools to Measure our True Impact on the People We Serve

  At this preconference, PLA will convene public libraries representatives and introduce them to Project Outcome and how it helps them measure the impact of their services. Library leaders from PLA’s Project Outcome Task Force will kick off the session by describing their experience in pilot-testing outcome measurement in seven core service areas. Attendees will learn how to deploy outcome measures in their libraries, collect and use resulting data, and leverage the project support network to ensure successful adoption.

  From 1:00-2:00 PM, PLA will hold an optional in-depth enrollment session, walking preconference participants through how to set up their accounts in a step-by-step presentation with ample time for Q&A. Lunch will be provided for these participants.

  Presenters: Denise Davis, Sacramento Public Library; Carolyn Anthony, Skokie Public Library; Crystal Schimpf, Kixal, LLC
  Half Day Preconference Tags: Advocacy, Assessment and Evaluation, Organizational Change, Programming/Services, Strategic Planning
• Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Every Child Ready to Read: The Spirit of Collaboration

  The ultimate goal of this preconference is to spark curiosity about how we can best serve families through community cooperation, collaboration, and celebration using Every Child Ready to Read. Join your colleagues to discuss how ECRR is helping the library redefine its role to better collaborate with parents and child-serving agencies to serve children birth through age eight. Does your community have small pockets of poverty or large areas of poverty? Do you serve wealthy families or middle income families? Or do you serve a mix of many types of families, individuals, and organizations? No matter your community composition this workshop will offer thoughtful dialogue around using the five early literacy practices as a conduit to celebrate collaboration and support families. NY Times best-selling author and children’s advocate, Regina Calcaterra, will join a panel of librarians and educators as they explore how to develop extraordinary partnerships among early childhood allies – parents, caregivers, agencies, schools, and, public officials – and promote talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing in order to help children get ready to learn to read. Come prepared to share your experiences and learn how other libraries incorporate Every Child Ready to Read into partnership efforts. No matter your starting point, this preconference will offer tips, conversations, and inspiration to reach out and engage families.

  Presenters: Susan Mitchell, Carroll County Public Schools; Beth Crist, Colorado State Library; Maren Ostergard, King County Library System; Dorothy Stoltz, Carroll County Public Library; Krista Tokarz, Cuyohoga County Public Library; Regina Calcaterra, Author, Etched in Sand; Holly Henley, Arizona State Library, a division of the Arizona Secretary of State
  Half Day Preconference Tags: Collaboration, Other Planning, Outreach Services, Partnerships, Youth Services
• Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Emerging Adults in Our Libraries: Who are They and How Do We Find Them?

  The term emerging adults is a recently identified demographic in library services that encompasses ages 18-25 and can include up to age 30. The four librarians will present the findings from their national research, identifying service trends and gaps in delivery, and will also include best practices and ways to garner support from library administration for serving this population. Interactive activities and an action plan exercise will help attendees come away with concrete ideas for their own libraries.

  Presenters: Tomas Meijia, Colorado Department of Education; Clayton Gonzales, Urban Peak; Jessica Snow, Boston Public Library; Laura Liang, San Mateo County Library; Vikki Terrile, Queens Library; Julie Winkelstein, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  Half Day Preconference Tags: Adult Services, Hot Topics, Organizational Change, Popular Culture, Young Adult Services
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Developing Truly Effective Performance Evaluations

  The Toledo-Lucas County (Ohio) Public Library has developed a hybrid performance evaluation process that provides pathways for effectively resolving issues, motivates staff to stretch with managerial support, and is still flexible enough to work for all employees. It can expand and contract where needed and includes space for employee input and shared performance goals. The process has become a great career development and customer service training tool, and we are eager to share what we’ve learned.

  Presenters: Amy Hartman, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library; Meg Delaney, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library`
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Lead Tags: Staffing, Administration and Management, Assessment and Evaluation, Human Resources, Personnel and Staffing, Professional Development
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Tech Assistance for Cutting Edge Communities

  Since the emergence of e-books and skyrocketing Wi-Fi usage, public libraries have seen an influx of customers seeking increasingly complex technology assistance. Hear about two different approaches to satisfy this need, one a community technology center and one a retail-inspired point of service within the library. Get tips and techniques from inception to implementation, staff and patron feedback, as well as how it might be replicated on a small or large scale at your library.

  Presenters: Derrick Mason, Pueblo City-County Library District; Nick Taylor, Arapahoe Libraries; Oliver Sanidas, Arapahoe Library District; Tracy Treece, Denver Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Invent Tags: Administration/Management, Innovation, Technology, Training, Transforming Libraries, Trends and Forecasting
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Disasters Bring Out the Best in Us: Providing Community Support When it is Needed Most

  Libraries can be valuable assets during disasters and public health emergencies when other facilities and services may be compromised or closed. In an interactive format, instructors will share how public librarians can become an integral part of the emergency preparedness and response efforts in the local community. They will also demonstrate an array of existing resources, tools, and programs that are available to support them in this role.

  Presenters: Siobhan Champ-Blackwell, National Library of Medicine; Elizabeth Norton, National Library of Medicine; Dan Wilson, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia Health System
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Collaborate Tags: Leadership, Civic Engagement, Disaster Planning, Leadership, Outreach Services, Transforming Libraries
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM The Power of Performance: The PLA Performance Measures Initiative

  Just as they do on “Dancing with the Stars,” if the public doesn’t like your performance, they vote – usually with their feet. If you are interested in understanding your community by using a simple and straightforward measurement process, come hear from colleagues that have been trained on and implemented a powerful one. Learn what differences it has made in planning services, improving programming, and enhancing connections with their communities.

  Presenters: Emily Plagman, Public Library Association; Denise Davis, Sacramento Public Library; Carolyn Anthony, Skokie Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Plan Tags: Administration/Management, Advocacy, Assessment and Evaluation, Organizational Change, Programming/Services, Strategic Planning
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Extraordinarily Engaged: How Three Libraries are Transforming Their Communities

  What happens when you stop talking about your library and start listening to your community? Learn what community engagement looks like from libraries who have been using the Harwood Institute approach. Hear the good, the difficult, and joyful when Columbus (Wis.) Public Library, Red Hook Public Library (N.Y.), and Spokane (Wash.) County Library District share their experience of “turning outward” to engage people in conversation, identify aspirations, and make a difference in their communities.

  An online version of this concurrent program session was presented during the PLA 2016 Virtual Conference.

  Presenters: Amber Williams, Spokane County Library District; Erica Freudenberger, Red Hook Public Library; Cindy Fesemyer, Columbus Public Library; Sarah Ostman, American Library Association; Patrick Roewe, Spokane County Library District
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Collaborate Tags: Leadership, Civic Engagement, Hot Topics, Leadership, Organizational Change, Transforming Libraries
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM LibraryReads Best in Debut Authors

  Meet and learn about writers who have just hit the literary scene with their debut books. Hosted by the Association of American Publishers. Featuring Gina Wohlsdorf, author of Security (Algonquin); Lindy West, author of Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman (Hachette Books); Rumaan Alam, author of Rich and Pretty (Ecco); and Mona Awad, author of 13 Ways of Looking At a Fat Girl (Penguin Books).

  Presenters: Gina Wohlsdorf, Algonquin; Lindy West, Hachette Books; Rumaan Alam, Ecco; Mona Awad, Penguin Books; Tina Jordan, AAP
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Broadcast Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Acquisitions, Collection Development, Marketing, Public Programs, Readers' Advisory
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Score! Engaging Sports Fans at Your Library

  Who are sports fans, what would they like from their library, and what can libraries do for them? Your circulation stats will likely tell you that it’s more than providing sports books. Join Nathan Hohl from the Topeka and Shawnee County (Kansas) Public Library as he explains what makes the sports fan tick and demonstrates some of the methods he has used to successfully engage the library with the sports fans in his community.

  Presenters: Nathan Hohl, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Invent Tags: Serving Adults, Games and Gaming, Innovation, Librarianship, Programming/Services, Transforming Libraries
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Beyond Bilingual Storytime and ESL: Digging Deeper into Your Spanish Speaking Community

  Do you want to move beyond the basic Bilingual Storytime and ESL program to serve your Spanish speaking community? This session will assist you with identifying an underserved segment of the community and developing an outreach plan. Speakers will give unique examples of outreach to underserved Spanish speaking communities and solicit audience participation. You will leave this session with an outreach toolkit and network of like-minded public librarians.

  Presenters: Zoe Jarocki, San Diego State University; Adriana (Ady) Huertas, San Diego Public Library; Simone Groene-Nieto, Denver Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Plan Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Collaboration, Diversity, International Issues, Outreach Services, Transforming Libraries
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Accessibility from Every Angle

  Accessibility is crucial to providing top-notch customer service in public libraries to ensure that all members of the community are welcome. This program provides attendees with an overview of disability awareness, services, and programs combined with basic principles of Universal Design. Attendees will understand the value and ease of welcoming youth with autism and other disabilities as part of a whole-library approach to inclusive service.

  Presenters: Renee Grassi, Glen Ellyn Public Library; Holly Jin, Skokie Public Library; Portia Latalladi, Chicago Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Challenge Tags: Serving Youth, Special Needs Populations
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Services to Those Who Serve: Library Programs for Veterans and Active Duty Military Families

  There are 21.8 million veterans and more than 1.3 million active duty service members. Many service members face challenges unnoticed by civilians. Veterans must cope with separation from the military and the lingering impact of combat. Active duty members and families must adapt to deployment cycles. Learn how libraries are responding with services for veterans and their families. This session will help you understand your audience’s needs, identify collaborators, and take steps toward planning successful services.

  Presenters: Loriene Roy, School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin; Kristen Mulvihill, San Diego Public Library; Frances Rickard, ; Jennifer Taft, Harnett County Library; Cynthia Olney, National Network of Libraries of Medicine Outreach Evaluation Resource Center, Health Sciences Libr
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Collaborate Tags: Serving Adults, Adult Services, Collaboration, Outreach Services, Programming/Services, Special Needs Populations
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM 52 Weeks of STEM at Your Library

  Hydraulic butterflies? DNA extraction? Computer programming principles via life-sized mazes?! STEM isn’t scary, it’s fun! At this hands-on presentation, you’ll learn how to incorporate engaging STEM programming in your library. We’ll walk you through everything from finding and evaluating potential STEM activities, to incorporating them into lively programs for all ages. Participants will leave with an arsenal of 52 kid-tested, librarian-approved STEM programs and access to additional resources and evaluation tools for future STEM programming.

  An online version of this concurrent program session was presented during the PLA 2016 Virtual Conference.

  Presenters: Heather Love Beverley, Cook Memorial Public Library District; Heather Thompson, Cook Memorial Public Library District
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Play Tags: Serving Youth, Children's Services, Programming/Services, Young Adult Services, Youth Services
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Never Leave Internal Communications to Chance

  Internal communication is linked to job satisfaction, organizational alignment, and success. In this session you will see examples of powerful, effective communication, and communication efforts that fall short. You will hear about Douglas County Libraries’ path of discovery around internal communication, engage with the tools we have developed, and be empowered to develop an outline for your own internal communication plan.

  This highly interactive concurrent program session was also offered on Friday, April 8, 2016, at 10:45–11:45 AM.

  Presenters: Art Glover, Douglas County Libraries; Patti Owen-DeLay, Douglas County Libraries; Amber DeBerry, Douglas County Libraries
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Lead Tags: Staffing, Administration and Management, Human Resources, Personnel and Staffing
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Bubbler @ Madison Public Libraries: A System-Wide Approach to Learning through Making

  Thanks to an IMLS National Leadership Grant, Madison Public Library (Wis.) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison are engaged in a collaborative process seeking to understand and strengthen “Bubbler”: a maker-focused program for all-ages. In this participatory workshop, learn how Bubbler acts as a platform for artists to share their craft and inspire others, uses digital storytelling with court-involved teens at the Juvenile Detention Center and Shelter Home, and is developing a system-wide model unique in its community-based approach and methods to engage Madison’s underserved populations.

  Presenters: Trent Miller, Madison Public Library; Jesse Vieau, Madison Public Library; Alexandra Lakind, University of Wisconsin- Madison
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Imagine Tags: Spaces and Places, Equity of Access, Facilitation, Innovation, Partnerships, Transforming Libraries
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Top 5 of the Nonfiction 5

  Floundering at the desk when asked for a book you might not be familiar with? What if it’s nonfiction? Get a “go-to” list for books/authors of popular nonfiction for leisure readers. RA experts will showcase five top nonfiction areas for readers (history, sports, micro-histories, the occult, and pop culture) and what every librarian should know about them: the top five books, up-and-comers, and trends.

  Presenters: Andie Paloutzian, Mid-Continent Public Library - Woodneath Library Center; Kaite Stover, The Kansas City Public Library; Rebecca Vnuk, Booklist; Barry Trott, Williamsburg Regional Library; Craig Clark,
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Broadcast Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Adult Services, Collection Development, Hot Topics, Public Services, Readers' Advisory
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Make It Extraordinary!

  Get inspired to make this your best conference ever! Best-selling author, teacher, and consultant Kari Chapin will share tangible tips to maximize your experience at PLA 2016. You’ll learn how to make the most of your time at conference, adapt the ideas you learn to fit your circumstances, and unleash your creativity and imagination. Bring your “Be Extraordinary” notebook (provided at registration). You’ll leave with the tools and motivation you need to capture your best ideas and bring them home to make a real impact in your community!

  Presenters: Kari Chapin,
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Leadership, Hot Topics, Innovation, Leadership, Librarianship, Professional Development
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Sustainable Connected Learning for Youth

  Connected Learning is an innovative approach to youth learning that is based on the principle that learning happens best when it is interest-driven, peer supported, and academically oriented. Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library system has spent the last two years developing rich, outcomes-based programs, and creating a sustainable pool of volunteers with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) background. Learn how the connected learning model has been implemented at Cuyahoga County Public Library’s 27 branches.

  Presenters: Megan Barrett, Cuyahoga County Public Library; Rebecca Ranallo, Cuyahoga County Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Invent Tags: Serving Youth, Civic Engagement, Innovation, Programming/Services, Transforming Libraries, Young Adult Services
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Tech to Go: Circulating Nontraditional Items

  Your patrons want to binge watch Netflix, record their skiing adventures, admire Jupiter, and need Wi-Fi to find a job. Good news! Now your library can offer technology for checkout. Discover how three libraries are shaking the paradigm of libraries = books by circulating Rokus, GoPro cameras, mobile hotspots, microscopes, and much more. Libraries are all about learning – it’s time to expand the horizon of your community by offering new hands-on experiences.

  Presenters: Suzanne Wulf, Niles Public Library; Mikael Jacobsen, Skokie Public Library; Samantha Chada, Wayne County Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Challenge Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Collection Development, Emerging Technologies, Innovation, Technology, Trends and Forecasting
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM It Happened in My Town: Collaboration in Crisis

  An EF5 tornado rips through your town, taking lives, destroying homes, flattening businesses. A shooter opens fire in a theater. Riots break out and rally for days. A wildfire rages, burning everything its path. Flooding swallows a town, threatening lives. What would you do if this happened in your town? Learn firsthand from the survivors of natural and man-made disasters, and hear how they turned crises into opportunities by working collaboratively.

  Presenters: Patti Bateman, Aurora Public Library; George Noe, ; Paula Watson-Lakamp, Poudre River Public Library District; Aiden Street, Pioneer Library System; Miriam Anderson Lytle, Gail Borden Public Library District
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Collaborate Tags: Leadership
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Tame Your Digital Strategy

  The digital service field can be wild and uncontrolled. How do we trap it long enough to define what it is and isn’t? How do we domesticate it for public consumption so that we can streamline it, teach it, market it, evaluate it, sunset it, or win awards with it? Learn from two leading-edge Digital Strategy experts as they help you harness your library’s digital strategy.

  Presenters: Toby Greenwalt, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz, Cleveland Public Library; Juliane Morian, Clinton-Macomb Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Lead Tags: Technology, E-books, Electronic Resources, Emerging Technologies, Hot Topics, Innovation, Mobile Technology, Privacy, Social Media, Technology, Trends and Forecasting, User Experience (UX)
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Immigration Reform: Is Your Library Ready?

  In the last few years, new immigration laws and initiatives have passed on both the national and state level. This time of change has left already vulnerable populations at greater risk of misinformation and fraud. How can we get accurate information to our communities? Libraries can play a critical role in preparing those who qualify to apply for current Immigration Relief programs which serve as a model, should Immigration Reform pass.

  Presenters: Angelica Fortin, San Diego County Library; Fumiko Osada, San Diego County Library; Luis Guerra, UFW Foundation
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Plan Tags: Serving Adults, Adult Services, Civic Engagement, Equity of Access, Multicultural Services, Programming/Services
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Safe in the Stacks: Public Libraries Serving LGBTQ Homeless Youth

  Everyone can have a role in preventing and addressing LGBTQ youth homelessness. Come learn how your library can welcome and serve these youth in our communities and our libraries. Attendees will hear directly from the youth themselves, and the service providers who work with them, as they offer their stories and their suggestions. Audience interaction will be encouraged, and together we will create plans that address barriers and highlight solutions.

  Presenters: Julie Winkelstein, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Jama Shelton, True Colors Fund
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Serving Youth, Equity of Access, Outreach Services, Partnerships, Special Needs Populations, Young Adult Services
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Libraries = Education: Reclaiming Our Purpose for the 21st Century

  Looking for a session that will make you think? Attend to experience a vision that is ushering in a new era: “Libraries = Education.” Libraries adopting this approach enjoy heightened respect and optimal funding – because they are now accorded the same enduring worth assigned to other educational institutions. Dispelling all misperceptions, “Libraries = Education” will reposition your library as a key component of the education enterprise. The best part? You won’t have to change anything you do.

  An online version of this concurrent program session was presented during the PLA 2016 Virtual Conference.

  Presenters: Valerie Gross, Howard County Library System
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Leadership, Leadership, Marketing, Public Relations, Transforming Libraries, Trends and Forecasting
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Everything is Awesome! Reimagining Library UX

  Dayton Metro (Ohio) Library (DML) kicked off its citywide capital improvement program with a visionary, interactive, and fun workshop to reinvent the DML user experience. The ideas generated at this workshop translated into real-world library service and facility applications that are being implemented systemwide at DML. Through hands-on work with digital and analog tools (including Legos!), session participants will collaborate, explore, and reinvent the library user experience (UX) for their own libraries.

  Presenters: David Schnee, Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning; Carson Block, Carson Block Consulting Inc.; Tim Kambitsch, Dayton Metro Library
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Play Tags: Spaces and Places, Buildings and Facilities, Innovation, Transforming Libraries, User Experience (UX)
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Code at Your Library: Preparing Your Current and Future Workforce

  In many communities, computer programming opportunities are fast outpacing the number of qualified local applicants. Public libraries can serve the role of closing this gap by providing a platform for residents to learn to code. Louisville Free Public Library is involved with Code Louisville, which sends participants through an intensive 12-week course to develop coding skills using a mixture of in-person mentorships and self-paced learning via the Treehouse learning platform. Denver Public Library has offered a series of summer DevCamps for teens, during which participants learn basic web development technologies, learn from mentors who are in the profession, and work collaboratively to build sites.

  Presenters: Michelle Jeske, Denver Public Library; Zeth Lietzau, Denver Public Library; Julie Scoskie, Louisville Free Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Collaborate Tags: Technology, Collaboration, Emerging Technologies, Instruction, Technology, Youth Services
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM This Ain’t Your Grandma’s Library… Or is It? Serving Older Adults in a Changing World

  Using humor and reflection as well as statistics, we’ll explore what aging means and learn about the explosion of the older adult demographic in our communities. Aging affects the individual, the family, and the community in important ways. How can libraries serve this diverse and growing segment of our society? Audience members will have the opportunity to share relevant ideas so that best practices from all sizes of libraries may be heard.

  Presenters: Wendy Pender, King County Library System
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Serving Adults, Adult Services, Outreach Services, Partnerships, Programming/Services, Trends and Forecasting
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM The Power of Performance 2: Project Outcome Enrollment Primer

  Join this session and learn how to enroll in Project Outcome: PLA’s latest field-driven initiative, helping libraries better measure the outcomes of their patron services. This session will provide participants with an in-depth overview of how to enroll in the project and also how to use its tools and resources to meet advocacy, partnership, and funding goals using outcome-focused results.

  Presenters: Emily Plagman, Public Library Association
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Plan Tags: Administration/Management, Advocacy, Assessment and Evaluation, Organizational Change, Programming/Services, Strategic Planning
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Creative Merchandising Strategies for Libraries

  The 16,000 public library branches nationwide house some of the last physical showrooms for books. With big-box and independent booksellers closing their doors, the ways in which consumers discover new titles through thoughtful displays are shrinking. Yet libraries have the space, the materials, and the trusted experts to get titles into the hands of consumers. In this interactive session, learn ways that creative merchandising can enhance the customer’s experience and impact your library’s circulation.

  Presenters: Stacie Ledden, Anythink Libraries; David Vinjamuri, Thirdway Brand Trainers
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Invent Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Collaboration, Collection Development, Innovation, Marketing, Transforming Libraries
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Book Buzz: What’s New in Children’s and YA Publishing

  Hear news on the latest titles and trends in Children’s and YA publishing straight from the mouths of publishing professionals. Ask questions and give your feedback on what works (and what doesn’t) in your library.

  Presenters: Victoria Stapleton, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Lucy DelPriore, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group; Dina Sherman, Disney; Laura Antonacci, Listening Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Broadcast Tags: Serving Youth, Children's Services, Collection Development, Young Adult Literature, Young Adult Services, Youth Services
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Creating a New Support Organization: Lessons Learned that You Can Apply, Too

  After years of successfully raising funds, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (North Carolina) created a new support organization in 2012 in order to maximize opportunities for greater private fundraising. Come learn about which structure options they considered and why, how an existing affiliate Friends of the Library transitioned into this new structure, effective working relationships with library leadership and staff, setting fundraising goals, building community support for capital campaigns, and raising the visibility of library needs and impact.

  Presenters: Jenni Gaisbauer, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation; Karen Beach, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Lead Tags: Administration/Management, Administration and Management, Foundations, Friends Groups, Fundraising, Partnerships
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Making the Grade at Each Stage with School Outreach

  School partnerships offer a unique form of service, marketing, and outreach for public libraries. Four library systems, at different stages of their partnership process, will share what they are doing and how they got there, offering a freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior perspective on school outreach. They will address the logistics of getting started, address sustainability, and highlight the importance of library and stakeholder buy-in. The panel will cover concerns with giving every student a library card; benefits of attending school events; marketing to teachers; and collaborating with schools on learning initiatives.

  Presenters: Juliane Morian, Clinton-Macomb Public Library; Lisa Mulvenna, Clinton-Macomb Public Library; Julie Jurgens, Arlington Heights Memorial Library; Judy Nelson, Pierce County Library System; Cari Gast, Howard County Library System
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Collaborate Tags: Serving Youth, Children's Services, Collaboration, Outreach Services, Partnerships, Youth Services
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Get Outside the Lines: Reintroducing Your Library to the Community

  Outside the Lines provides a framework for libraries of all types and sizes to reintroduce themselves to their communities. Learn how this international grassroots initiative helps get people thinking – and talking – about libraries in a whole new way. In this interactive session, we’ll discuss some of the innovative ways libraries have connected with their communities, the importance of reshaping our library stories, and together brainstorm some fun, creative engagement strategies.

  This highly interactive concurrent program session was also offered on Friday, April 8, 2016, at 2:00–3:00 PM.

  Presenters: Stacie Ledden, Anythink Libraries; Dolly Goyal, East Palo Alto Library, San Mateo County Libraries; Jacqueline Murphy, Colorado State Library
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Broadcast Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Collaboration, Innovation, Marketing, Programming/Services, Transforming Libraries
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Blast Off with San Jose Public Library’s Maker[Space]Ship!

  Making is not limited to the confines of a library’s walls! Discuss why taking making on the road is important and how it impacts the community. Learn how the San Jose (Calif.) Public Library is taking pop-up spaces to a new level with their Maker[Space]Ship and what aspects can be replicated by all libraries. Engage in a rapid prototype session to create pop-up maker programs that you can bring back and refine at your library.

  Presenters: Erin Berman, San Jose Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Play Tags: Spaces and Places, Emerging Technologies, Hot Topics, Innovation, Mobile Technology, Technology
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Organizational Health: Capitalizing on Your Most Important Asset

  The session will showcase San Antonio Public Library’s (SAPL) groundbreaking focus on Organizational Health implemented as a priority in SAPL’s strategic plan. An Organizational Health focus has helped SAPL cultivate an environment that inspires innovation and provides responsive management and decision making, while also implementing best practices to increase operational efficiencies, encourage creative risk-taking, and reward breakthrough programs and service. Attendees will learn about how SAPL’s results impacted the organization and how to replicate the program.

  Presenters: Kate Gray, San Antonio Public Library; Candelaria Mendoza, San Antonio Public Library; Roberta Sparks, San Antonio Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Lead Tags: Administration/Management, Administration and Management, Organizational Change, Professional Development
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spark Talks I

  These fast-moving sessions feature five-minute presentations on the latest and greatest ideas from your public library colleagues. Come be surprised, inspired, and energized!

  Presenters:
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Data Driven Collections: Right-Sizing Library Collections

  This session will explore how evidence-based collection analysis can be used to inform collection funding, weeding, and corresponding shelving changes to adjust to patron demands and interests, with the goal of increasing collection use and making better investments with collection dollars. A panel of representatives from a variety of public libraries will be present to share their own experiences, discuss tools that they use, and encourage discussion surrounding best practice.

  An online version of this concurrent program session was presented during the PLA 2016 Virtual Conference.

  Presenters: Thomas Finley, Frisco Public Library; Debra Lambert, Indianapolis Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Plan Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Budget Planning and Finance, Collection Development, Innovation, Strategic Planning, Trends and Forecasting
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM De-identifying Patron Data to Balance Privacy and Insight

  In a world where people are becoming products and online activities are valuable commodities for marketers and retailers, the public library remains an oasis of privacy. However, our traditional data management practices result in lost opportunities to learn about “fresh markets” and changing demographics in our communities. “De-identifying” data can track patron behaviors while maintaining individual anonymity. It can yield insights into habits and activities of our patrons and transform the way we develop services.

  Presenters: Becky Yoose, The Seattle Public Library; Stephen Halsey, The Seattle Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Challenge Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Integrated Library Systems (ILS), Knowledge Management, Marketing, Privacy, Research and Statistics
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM The Intentional Makerspace: A New Framework for Making and Learning in Libraries

  This session will introduce a new IMLS funded framework for intentional planning and development of makerspaces to assist libraries and museums in making informed investments in line with their institutional values and community needs. The session will highlight recent IMLS grantees engaged in promising models, developing communities of practice, and conducting new research related to making and learning that will be of broad interest to the profession. Ample time will be provided for Q&A.

  Presenters: Tim Carrigan, Institute of Museum and Library Services
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Spaces and Places, Emerging Technologies, Innovation, Other Making and Learning, Programming/Services, Transforming Libraries
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Aspen Institute’s “Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries” in Action

  “Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries,” developed by the Aspen Institute and funded by the Gates Foundation, presents a framework for library transformation in the 21st century. Learn how the report and the newly released Action Guide are being used to initiate thoughtful conversations with policy makers, government officials at all levels, library supporters, and library systems.

  Presenters: Amy Garmer, The Aspen Institute, Communications and Society Program; Susan Hildreth, Peninsula Library System/Califa Group; Gina Millsap, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library; Kendall Wiggin, Connecticut State Library; Dawn La Valle, Connecticut State Library; Cindy Fesemyer, Columbus Public Library; Maria Carpenter, Santa Monica (CA) Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Administration/Management, Administration and Management, Innovation, Organizational Change, Partnerships, Transforming Libraries
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Merchandising Master Class: Youth Materials and the Art/Science Behind Extraordinary Displays

  Merchandising is critical to a thriving collection. Think you’ve mastered the basics? Ready for more? Join the panel as they: give specific instances of great displays, show you how to create your own pop-up libraries anywhere and everywhere, and help you see your whole department holistically as one creative display. At the same time, learn how to easily track metrics and integrate master class merchandising into your workflow.

  Presenters: Mary Schreiber, Cuyahoga County Public Library; Elisabeth Gattullo Marrocolla, Darien Library; Cheryl Lee, Northside Branch Library, Santa Clara City Library; Wendy Bartlett, Cuyahoga County Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Invent Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Administration and Management, Collection Development, Hot Topics, Trends and Forecasting, Youth Services
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM We Are Tech Workers: Cultivating a Library Technoculture

  Markham is Canada’s “High-Tech Capital,” housing 900 high-tech companies and their employees. In response, Markham Public Library began hosting maker and coding events, launched a digital media lab, and purchased 3D printers. When skill gaps in our workforce thwarted efforts to engage staff with new services, we embarked on a culture-shifting journey to develop a deep understanding and appreciation for technology. Come hear about our Staff Tech Conference, TEDxMarkhamPublicLibrary, Digital Artist in Residence program, and more!

  Presenters: Pam Saliba, Markham Public Library; Andrea Cecchetto, Markham Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Lead Tags: Staffing, Innovation, Leadership, Organizational Change, Training, Transforming Libraries
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Shhhh! Don’t Tell My Mom: Reader’s Advisory that Everyone Can Live With

  Teens’ and tweens’ book choices don’t always coincide with what their parents or educators think is “appropriate,” and librarians can get caught in the middle! This session will help you meet, head on, those inevitable confrontations. You will leave with a fabulous selection of up-to-date YA literature ranging from the squeaky-clean to the oh-so-shocking. Give your young readers the types of books they want, while keeping the adults around them happy!

  Presenters: Jessica Anne Bratt, Grand Rapids Public Library; Monica Walen, Kent District Library
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Challenge Tags: Serving Youth, Advocacy, Collection Development, Diversity, Information Literacy, Readers' Advisory
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Early Literacy Outreach for Teen Parents

  The Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) initiative has provided a powerful toolkit for introducing parents to early literacy practices. When those parents also happen to be teenagers, it helps to take a fun-yet-thoughtful approach to programming, lest you lose your audience. In this program, you’ll learn reliable, time-tested methods for reaching your teen parent population and introducing the Five Practices in a way that is simple, straightforward, and highly interactive.

  An online version of this concurrent program session was presented during the PLA 2016 Virtual Conference.

  Presenters: Corinne Sanchez, San Antonio Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Play Tags: Serving Youth, Outreach Services, Partnerships, Resource Sharing, Urban Libraries, Young Adult Services
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM AnyAbility: Taking Ordinary Service for Adults with Disabilities to an Extraordinary Level

  Learn about one library’s experience creating programs that have grown into engaging experiences where adults with disabilities connect with their community, interact with peers, and utilize library resources. As a result of the AnyAbility program, library staff are more comfortable using people-first language, have rewarding interactions with customers with disabilities, and have positively changed the dynamic of the library. The AnyAbility program has taken ordinary service for adults with disabilities to an extraordinary level.

  Presenters: Suzanne McGowan, Anythink Libraries; Hannah Martinez, Anythink Libraries; Marsha Marcilla, Anythink Libraries; Janet Lemle, North Metro Community Services, Inc
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Invent Tags: Serving Adults, Adult Services, Collaboration, Programming/Services, Special Needs Populations, Transforming Libraries
• Thursday, April 7, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Making Waves with Research: Lessons from RIPL Participants

  Make data work! Participants who attended the 2015 Research Institute for Public Libraries will share some “aha!” moments from the Institute and also how they are using what they learned to collect and analyze data for decision-making and communicating library successes. Panelists represent public libraries from small to large, urban to rural, and hope to inspire you to help drive a culture shift in public libraries and be purposeful in gathering, analyzing, and using data.

  Presenters: Jane Martel, Arapahoe Library District; Jon D. Solomon, Englewood Public Library; John K. DeBacher, Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instr., Division for Libraries and Technology; Sarilda Tacket, Jackson District Library; Sara Wright, Colorado Library Consortium
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Plan Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Advocacy, Assessment and Evaluation, Marketing, Research and Statistics, Strategic Planning
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Don’t Worry… We’re Only Going to Change Everything

  On its 100th anniversary, one library hit the restart button with a fearless but thoughtful leap into the future that took nothing for granted. We will share the importance of a bold, shared vision; how that vision enabled the team to step away from standards – not only nibbling at the edges, but reimagining the library from the ground up; and how that spirit allowed the library to change.

  Presenters: Detlev Pansch, Barrington Area Library; Joe Huberty, Engberg Anderson; Anders Dahlgren, Library Planning Associates
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Challenge Tags: Spaces and Places, Buildings and Facilities, Hot Topics, Programming/Services, Strategic Planning, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Never Leave Internal Communications to Chance

  Internal communication is linked to job satisfaction, organizational alignment, and success. In this session you will see examples of powerful, effective communication, and communication efforts that fall short. You will hear about Douglas County Libraries’ path of discovery around internal communication, engage with the tools we have developed, and be empowered to develop an outline for your own internal communication plan.

  This highly interactive concurrent program session was also offered on Thursday, April 7, 2016, at 10:45–11:45 AM.

  Presenters: Art Glover, Douglas County Libraries; Patti Owen-DeLay, Douglas County Libraries; Amber DeBerry, Douglas County Libraries
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Lead Tags: Staffing, Administration and Management, Human Resources, Personnel and Staffing
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Making Progress in Digital Content

  A panel of library and publishing experts will provide an update on the library e-book lending market and discuss best ways for libraries to advance access to digital content. Opportunities for building out digital collections, working with self-published authors, assessing use of e-book collections, utilizing e-books in outreach and partnership projects, downloadable vs streaming content, and options for acquiring digital content are among the issues currently being explored. Speakers will talk about current issues and field questions presented from the floor.

  Presenters: Carolyn Anthony, Skokie Public Library; Micah May, New York Public Library; Veronda Pitchford, Reaching Across Illinois Library System
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Broadcast Tags: Technology
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM LibraryReads Mystery Authors Revealed

  This event will feature bestselling mystery book authors whose titles are soon to hit the library shelves. Mystery Authors Revealed will feature C.J. Box, author of Badlands (Minotaur Books/Macmillan); Alison Gaylin, author of What Remains of Me (HarperCollins); Stephanie Barron, author of Jane and the Waterloo Map: Being a Jane Austen Mystery (Soho Crime); William Kent Krueger, author of Manitou Canyon (Atria/Simon & Schuster); and Heather Gudenkauf, author of Missing Pieces (MIRA). Book signing follows.

  Presenters: C.J. Box, Minotaur Books/Macmillan; Alison Gaylin, HarperCollins; Stephanie Barron, Soho Crime; William Kent Krueger, Atria/Simon & Schuster; Heather Gudenkauf, MIRA; Tina Jordan, AAP
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Broadcast Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Acquisitions, Collection Development, Partnerships, Programming/Services, Readers' Advisory
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Middle Childhood Matters: Revitalizing Services and Programs for School Age Children

  In 2014, Toronto Public Library transformed Middle Childhood services and programs. With a focus on supporting healthy child development and resiliency, we constructed a research based framework for Middle Childhood. Programs, services, and spaces for school age children are now intentionally developed to foster creativity, support critical thinking, and inspire self-directed learning. Just as early childhood services were transformed by Every Child Ready to Read, our Middle Childhood Framework has revolutionized delivery of services to children aged 6-12.

  Presenters: Peggy Thomas, Toronto Public Library; Diane Banks, Toronto Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Serving Youth, Children's Services, Collaboration, Innovation, Strategic Planning, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM The Visible Library: Exposing Collections Through Linked Data

  For libraries to remain relevant, we need to meet our users where they are: on smart phones and tablets, in front of computers, and almost always on the Web. Libraries must change the way we format, present, and connect data, so that we can make the Web our best partner. The Early Adopter Public Libraries in the Libhub Initiative are paving the way to provide the entry point for the larger library community to make the transition to exposure on the Web. Panelists will share their experiences with transforming data from MARC to BIBFRAME, the impacts on other library services, and what we’re learning that will help others transform their data.

  Presenters: Rachel Fewell, Denver Public Library; Logan MacDonald, Anythink Libraries; Susan Allen, Worthington Libraries; Sharon Karr, Edmonton Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Invent Tags: Technology, Emerging Technologies, Innovation, Metadata, Technology, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Following the Leadership Academies

  Is there really such a thing as a natural born leader, or do some people know how to tap into their strengths to develop strong leadership skills? Hear from two state library leadership institutes on how they use the Gallup Strengths Finder 2.0 tool to identify and develop strengths for their participants. Learn how strong library leaders have used this assessment to strengthen their own talents to lead from any position. Hear from a library administrator on how to fold this into library training to create stronger teams and build leadership among your staff, teams, or departments.

  Presenters: Elizabeth Kelsen Huber, Colorado Library Consortium; Amy Boese, Ramsey County Library; Jean Duncan McFarren, Stark County District Library; Suzanne McGowan, Anythink Libraries
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Lead Tags: Leadership
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Designing Spaces for People, Not Collections

  Library space design traditionally begins with contents and collections. Dokk1, in Aarhus, Denmark embodies a shift in philosophy: library design for people. This discussion will focus on planning spaces for discovery, creation, participation, learning, performing, and innovation. Community collaboration influenced the library to become a space that empowers its citizens. Whether you are thinking about repurposing space, renovating, or building a new library, designing for people is an essential space planning concept.

  Presenters: Marie Østergård, Dokk1, Aarhus Public Libraries; Pam Sandlian Smith, Anythink Libraries
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Invent Tags: Spaces and Places, Administration and Management, Collaboration, Leadership, Partnerships, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Teen Asset Mapping: A Community Development Approach to Teen Services Expansion

  In order to appropriately position the Denver Public Library (DPL) as a teen services provider, a team of DPL staff developed and implemented a project to identify and describe existing assets for teens in Denver, based on the Asset-Based Community Development model. This program will discuss the asset mapping process, why this is an appropriate model for libraries to use, and the anticipated impact of this project on the Denver community.

  Presenters: Kristin Grabarek Roper, Denver Public Library; Michelle Jeske, Denver Public Library; Nikki Van Thiel, Denver Public Library; Corinne Jackamore, Denver Public Library; Kellie Cannon, Denver Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Collaborate Tags: Serving Youth, Civic Engagement, Community Surveys, Programming/Services, Strategic Planning, Young Adult Services
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Developing a Holistic Collection Development Policy

  Creating a new collection development policy can be a daunting task, but it need not be! Come to our session and learn how to strategically think about your collection policy and how it can reflect the diverse needs of the community.

  Presenters: Michele Paladines, Multnomah County Library; Elizabeth Marszalik, Oak Park Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Plan Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Administration and Management, Collection Development, Strategic Planning
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM From Reading to Learning: New Pew Research on Libraries’ Role in Education

  New research from the Pew Research Center strikes at the heart of the role libraries play-or don’t!-in meeting community education and learning needs, and how this varies among different community demographics. The recent survey of American adults explores where, how, and why people pursue professional and personal learning-and the role technology plays. Findings show that the path to learning is not smooth for all. Come find out how Americans perceive libraries in the education ecosystem and how we can play a greater role in improving learning pathways.

  Presenters: John Horrigan, Pew Research Center; Larra Clark, ALA Office for Information Technology Policy
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Imagine Tags: Serving Adults, Hot Topics, Research and Statistics, Technology, Training, Trends and Forecasting
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM The Studio Experience: Creating a Makerspace for Ages 0-108

  Learn how The Studio at Anythink Brighton (CO) grew to offer extraordinary experiences for ages 0-108, from banana bongos for babies, to embroidery for adults, to 3D printing for teenagers, and robotics for all ages. The session will offer program ideas, tips and tools for creating scalable, sustainable programming, and suggestions for expanding makerspaces beyond technology and tinkering. Get hands on with The Studio and learn how to share your creative talents in a maker environment.

  Presenters: Catherine Odson, Anythink Libraries; Janet Hollingsworth, Boulder Public Library; Sandra Brown, Anythink Libraries
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Play Tags: Spaces and Places, Adult Services, Children's Services, Hot Topics, Transforming Libraries, Young Adult Services
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Play Your Way to an Engaged Staff

  Did you know that play is as essential to brain development as sleep? Or that only doing “instrumental” things all day can lead to an anxiety disorder? You need to goof off to be more productive. Learn how to more fully engage staff at work by providing meaningful connections, a sense of community, and lots of opportunity for play. We promise to surprise and delight!

  An online version of this concurrent program session was presented during the PLA 2016 Virtual Conference.

  Presenters: Connie Behe, ImagineIF Libraries; Kim Crowley, ImagineIF Libraries
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Play Tags: Administration/Management, Administration and Management, Hot Topics, Innovation, Leadership
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Puff, Puff, Lend: Cannabis Culture and the Library Collection

  Got weed? Of course not! Should you have High Times magazine? Why not? Many customers have questions about marijuana and its usage, but how can they become informed? Are there any local resources that inform consumers about strains for consumption? What materials do you have on growing, cultivating, or cooking marijuana and how did you choose them? Relax and learn about growing, business, use, science, law, and activism. Come for the information on local programs in your community or your local library, but stay for the “Book and Bud” pairings.

  Presenters: Derrick Mason, Pueblo City-County Library District; Aaron Bock, Anythink Libraries; Jennifer Hendzlik, Anythink Libraries
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Challenge Tags: Serving Adults, Collection Development, Hot Topics, Programming/Services, Resource Sharing, Trends and Forecasting
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Networking for Wallflowers

  Does the idea of networking frighten you? Terrify you? Cause compulsive cocktail napkin wadding and/or nervous laughter? As a librarian out in the business community I understand your struggle and I am here to help! Networking for Wallflowers is a special workshop tailored to the needs of introverted librarians. We will identify what librarians have to offer, how to talk about those things, and practice making connections. Success is achievable for every personality type!

  Presenters: Amy Fisher, Mid-Continent Public Library; Morgan Perry, Mid-Continent Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Collaborate Tags: Leadership, Leadership, Networking, Outreach Services
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Trauma-Informed Care and the Library

  Working in a public library can be stressful. Many of our customers experience trauma in their lives and bring their struggles with them to the library. This can put library staff at risk of experiencing issues that mirror those of our traumatized customers. In this program, presenters will share techniques you can use to insulate yourself from vicarious trauma, secondary trauma, and compassion fatigue. In addition, you’ll learn strategies to improve how you work and to enhance your overall health and happiness.

  Presenters: Ann Schwab, Denver Public Library; Elissa Hardy, Denver Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Lead Tags: Staffing, Equity of Access, Professional Development, Public Services, Urban Libraries, Youth Services
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM OUT @ the Library: Innovative LGBTQ Programming at the Library

  The Seattle Public Library’s “OUT @ the Library” team focused on innovative and co-curated programming with community partners to reach LGBTQ youth, adults, and communities of color. This included several programming firsts for libraries: health fair events that included HIV and hepatitis rapid results, gender variant storytimes, and a literary drag event at a local night club for Banned Books Week. Come learn how you can apply the lessons learned to create your own risk-taking, community curated programming.

  Presenters: Jared Mills, The Seattle Public Library; Misha Stone, The Seattle Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Challenge Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Advocacy, Children's Services, Diversity, Young Adult Services
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Storytime Manifesto: Early Literacy Awareness and Advocacy

  Translate your passion for storytime into a meaningful message for early literacy awareness and advocacy. This session will be entirely interactive: a high-energy discussion, debate, and drafting workshop to establish fresh and inspirational language to guide early literacy action in our profession. Polish your brainstorming skills and engage in collaborative, process-based, experiential learning as we write a Storytime Manifesto! Let’s develop a new philosophy for storytime in the 21st century.

  Presenters: Heidi Dolamore, San Jose Public Library; Patrick Remer, Contra Costa County Library
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Imagine Tags: Serving Youth, Advocacy, Children's Services, Collaboration, Programming/Services, Strategic Planning
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Get Outside the Lines: Reintroducing Your Library to the Community

  Outside the Lines provides a framework for libraries of all types and sizes to reintroduce themselves to their communities. Learn how this international grassroots initiative helps get people thinking – and talking – about libraries in a whole new way. In this interactive session, we’ll discuss some of the innovative ways libraries have connected with their communities, the importance of reshaping our library stories, and together brainstorm some fun, creative engagement strategies.

  This highly interactive concurrent program session was also offered on Thursday, April 7, 2016, at 4:00–5:00 PM.

  Presenters: Stacie Ledden, Anythink Libraries; Dolly Goyal, East Palo Alto Library, San Mateo County Libraries; Jacqueline Murphy, Colorado State Library
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Broadcast Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Collaboration, Innovation, Marketing, Programming/Services, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Hospitality: The Essential Ingredient

  Leading restauranters often say that the key to their success is not their food, but their hospitality: creating environments where people have exceptional experiences. Learn about key elements of hospitality, including hiring, training, and building a hospitality culture, from a leading Denver Foodie and a Denver Library Director. Both believe that they exist not only to bring happiness to their guests but also to be a place where we can connect ideas and stories that bind the community together.

  Presenters: Ben Hecht, Mercantile Restaurant; Pam Sandlian Smith, Anythink Libraries
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Lead Tags: Leadership, Innovation, Leadership, Organizational Change, Other Hospitality, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Every Child Ready to Read and Its Impact on Parents in Your Community

  For more than a decade, librarians have used the PLA and ALSC Every Child Ready to Read initiative to engage, educate, and empower parents to help their children become ready to read and be ready for school. But until now, the impact of ECRR on parent behavior had not been quantitatively measured. This program will detail Dr. Susan Neuman’s IMLS-funded research on how ECRR affects parent behavior and engagement during their children’s most formative years.

  Presenters: Susan Neuman, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University; Clara Bohrer, West Bloomfield Township Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Plan Tags: Serving Youth, Administration and Management, Advocacy, Assessment and Evaluation, Children's Literature, Literacy
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Engaged and Inclusive: Institutional Approaches to Racial Equity and Social Justice

  In many communities, libraries seek to address staggering racial disparities and create more inclusive public spaces. Madison (Wis.) Public Library is working with local government to establish racial equity and social justice as core principles in all decisions, policies, and services. Learn about a model that focuses on dismantling structural barriers to equity through both an “equity impact tool” and participation on Neighborhood Resource Teams (action groups that support communities in identifying and addressing community needs).

  Presenters: Sarah Lawton, Madison Public Library; Tariq Saqqaf, City of Madison, Office of the Mayor
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Collaborate Tags: Leadership, Civic Engagement, Diversity, Equity of Access, Organizational Change, Social Change
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM The One-Page Strategic Plan: Is It Real? Is It Right For You?

  “Focus” and “flexibility” are NOT mutually exclusive! A one-page strategic focus can prepare your library for greater community impact and increased innovation by keeping you on track and encouraging creative thinking at the same time. Learn how to determine if a streamlined strategic focus is right for your library and get an idea of what it takes to implement for real change. It’s simple, but it’s not easy!

  Presenters: Kendra Trachta, Sno-Isle Libraries
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Plan Tags: Administration/Management, Assessment and Evaluation, Organizational Change, Strategic Planning, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Lights, Camera, Advocacy: Digital Storytelling for Your Library

  How can you tell your library’s story in a way that will increase public support? This session will identify how digital stories can be used for advocacy efforts, from raising awareness to political action. Presenters will cover developing a compelling story and leveraging it to show your impact in the community. Walk away with a list of technology tools that will help you develop top-notch stories. We will explore this topic through discussion, activities, and examples.

  Presenters: Crystal Schimpf, Kixal, LLC; Ginny Mies, TechSoup
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Broadcast Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Advocacy, Hot Topics, Other Storytelling, Technology
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM How Two Libraries Quit Summer Reading and You Can, Too

  Two libraries, one a large urban system with 21 branches, the other a small resort town library, independently challenged their assumptions about summer reading. They unthought themes, focused on outcomes, and questioned everything. Both built patron-centered summer programs that provided an easy and customizable user experience. This session will detail how your library, no matter its size, can engage more participants, reduce staff workload, and recapture the community’s passion for their library.

  An online version of this concurrent program session was presented during the PLA 2016 Virtual Conference.

  Presenters: Jessica Manis, Park City Library; Lindsey Patrick, Nashville Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Challenge Tags: Serving Youth, Adult Services, Children's Services, Innovation, Programming/Services, Young Adult Services
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM [Your Community Here]: Engaging Audiences and Artists with Local Digital Collections

  Libraries are creating digital collections that forge new connections in their communities and amplify local creative work. We’ll share what we learned as we developed two online local music collections, Yahara Music Library and Capital City Records. From establishing goals to licensing local content to developing software to assessing success, this session will cover the key components of building a local digital project that nurtures community engagement and reflects your library’s values.

  Presenters: Kelly Hiser, Rabble; Alex Carruthers, Edmonton Public Library; Guy Hankel, Madison Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Invent Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Emerging Technologies, Innovation, Local History, Special Collections, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Building for the Future Today: Broadband Planning

  Representatives from state library agencies, network managers, IT directors, and library consortia will share lessons learned that will help you plan a successful broadband upgrade. We will take into consideration planning, implementation, assessment, and the different challenges for urban and suburban vs. rural and small libraries in attempting to bridge the digital divide for all users.

  Presenters: Emily Almond, Georgia Public Library Service; Marijke Visser, ALA OITP - Office for Information Technology Policy; Wendy Knapp, Indiana State Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Plan Tags: Administration/Management, Hot Topics, Legislation, Strategic Planning, Technology, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Taking it Personally: Creating Human Connection in a Virtual World

  In an age of rapid change, public libraries have a unique opportunity to provide warm, responsive service that is missing in a world mediated by technology and accessed by devices. In 2014, Multnomah County Library established the My Librarian service, to bring the warmth and connection of personal service into an online environment. The service provides a web-based menu of 17 librarians who share their passion for books, movies, and music.

  Presenters: Alison Kastner, Multnomah County Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Invent Tags: Serving Adults, Innovation, Programming/Services, Readers' Advisory, Technology, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Connect, Crowdsource, and Kickstart: Make Dream Projects a Reality

  Every library has hidden gems that could shine if there only were more time and money. Connecting with your community’s interests, crowdsourcing your knowledge and time, and using Kickstarter-style campaigns are three key ways to make the most of your resources. Using the preservation and digitization of Chelsea District (Chelsea, Mich.) Library’s historic photo and newspaper collections as examples, this presentation will give specific strategies librarians can apply to any collection or project that needs some TLC.

  Presenters: Emily Meloche, Chelsea District Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Collaborate Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Digitization, Fundraising, Local History, Project Management, Special Collections
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Think Outside the Box by Going Inside the Box

  Get inside two participatory learning spaces, Oak Park Public Library’s (OPPL) Idea Box and Skokie Public Library’s (SPL) BOOMbox. OPPL’s Idea Box is a dedicated civics and art space that provides a new and dynamic participatory community experience each month. SPL’s BOOMbox is a connected learning space designed to spark the imagination through rotating STEAM experiences. Learn how to choose foci, involve partners, get buy-in, create physical spaces, develop training techniques, tackle management challenges, and measure success.

  Presenters: Mikael Jacobsen, Skokie Public Library; Amy Holcomb, Skokie Public Library; Raleigh Ocampo, Oak Park Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Play Tags: Spaces and Places, Hot Topics, Innovation, Programming/Services, Project Management, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM What’s Your Elevator Speech? The Message Matters

  Are you building a “state of the art library,” or a “library the community deserves”? Is your library a “social service organization” or an “economic development agency”? Whether you’re talking to the public, voters, or a politician, the differences between these messages and how you convey them matter. In this session, we will teach the techniques utilized by some of the nation’s largest political action committees and advocacy groups to help you craft your message.

  Presenters: Patrick Sweeney, EveryLibrary; John Chrastka, EveryLibrary
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Broadcast Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Legislation, Marketing, Other POLITICS, Public Relations, Social Change
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Understanding Microaggressions: A Catalyst for Climate Change in the Workplace

  The goal of this session is to understand the physical, psychological, and environmental effects of microaggressions in the workplace. This interactive session defines organizational climate and shares research that uncovers microaggressions (including role, hierarchy, gender, and race) and their affect in the workplace. In addition, this session will engage participants to identifying microaggressions, then work collaboratively to develop strategies to address and remove them from the workplace.

  Presenters: Myron Anderson, Metropolitan State University of Denver; Kathryn Young, Metropolitan State University of Denver; Kevin King, Kalamazoo Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Lead Tags: Leadership, Diversity, Human Resources, Organizational Change, Personnel and Staffing, Support Staff
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM View from the Director’s Chair: Filmmaking for Teens

  View from the Director’s Chair was a program developed to introduce teens to professional filmmaking equipment. For eight weeks, eleven high school students met at the Downers Grove (Ill.) Public Library to learn about film. Each class built on the previous week’s lessons, growing from the essential basics of how to handle camera equipment to advanced video editing. The students produced four final films, which screened for over 200 people at our town’s movie theater.

  Presenters: Lynette Pitrak, Downers Grove Public Library; Dale Galiniak, Downers Grove Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Play Tags: Serving Youth, Programming/Services, Technology, Young Adult Services
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spark Talks II

  These fast-moving sessions feature five-minute presentations on the latest and greatest ideas from your public library colleagues. Come be surprised, inspired, and energized!

  Presenters:
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Library Leadership for Family Engagement

  Children exhibit healthy development and academic success when families are engaged: when families foster nurturing parent-child relationships, take responsibility for children’s learning, and encourage children to focus on effort and learn from failure. Family engagement must be supported where learning occurs – which includes the public library! PLA and the Harvard Family Research Project are collaborating to identify and promote easy, flexible ideas for libraries to strengthen family engagement work. Learn how library leadership can drive change and innovation to make family engagement work.

  Presenters: Margaret Caspe, Harvard Family Research Project; Lorette McWilliams, Harvard Family Research Project
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Lead Tags: Leadership, Collaboration, Leadership, Literacy, Programming/Services, Social Change
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Creating Alternative Library Facilities

  Urban and suburban libraries are searching for alternatives to developing new facilities in response to rapid growth and demand stimulated by the creation of new residential and commercial communities, specifically those in Transit Oriented Developments (TOD). This session will explore innovative solutions already being implemented in communities worldwide. Additionally, the interactive session will share techniques to offer librarians and trustees the ability to discover creative solutions that would be most appropriate to their community.

  Presenters: Dennis Humphries, Humphries Poli Architect; Peter Bolek, HBM Architects
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Invent Tags: Spaces and Places, Buildings and Facilities, Innovation, Partnerships, Resource Sharing, Urban Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM E-rate Evolution: Getting from Policy to Practical

  Over the last two years, the E-rate program has gone through quite a shake-up, taking a 20th century program into the 21st. See how national-level library advocacy in D.C. impacts the services you can provide in your local community. E-rate coordinators from several states will address the changes resulting in E-rate 2.0, including opportunities to increase broadband capacity in the library and provide robust Wi-Fi for your patrons.

  Presenters: Emily Almond, Georgia Public Library Service; Marijke Visser, ALA OITP - Office for Information Technology Policy; Wendy Knapp, Indiana State Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Plan Tags: Administration/Management, Hot Topics, Legislation, Strategic Planning, Technology, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Design Thinking at Your Library: Try Try Again

  Is your library shackled by the curse of perfection? Looking to find innovative ways to solve problems at your library? Go through the steps of Design Thinking (brainstorm, empathize, and prototype) and learn how to apply them every day. Hear the stories of three California libraries (urban, suburban, and rural) that put design thinking into practice: San José Public Library, Rancho Cucamonga Public Library, and Yolo County Public Library.

  An online version of this concurrent program session was presented during the PLA 2016 Virtual Conference.

  Presenters: Kristin Brailey, Rancho Cucamonga Library Services; Sue Billing, Yolo County Library; Sharon Fung, San Jose Public Library - Cambrian and Pearl Ave; Nancy Donnell, San Jose Public Library - Almaden & Vineland; Erik Berman, San Jose Public Library Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Margaret Hatanaka, Rancho Cucamonga Library Services
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Invent Tags: Leadership, Collaboration, Innovation, Organizational Change, Programming/Services, Transforming Libraries
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Inside the 2015 New Landmark Libraries

  Library Journal’s New Landmark Libraries project identifies the most innovative recently opened new buildings or major renovations. The 2015 round selected 11 New Landmarks and 11 Honorable Mentions. This highly visual presentation and discussion will be part virtual tour of these New Landmarks and part trends deep dive. Explore how these exemplars are reinventing the library as they respond to community needs with green elements, flexible solutions small and large, site adjacencies, and more.

  Presenters: Pam Sandlian Smith, Anythink Libraries; Rebecca Miller, Library Journal/School Library Journal; Emily Puckett Rodgers, University of Michigan Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Spaces and Places, Administration and Management, Buildings and Facilities, Other Sustainability, Strategic Planning
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Guiding Ohio Online: Working With AmeriCorps to Strengthen Technology Skills in Rural Library Communities

  Rural libraries often struggle with their patrons’ lack of technology skills. With fewer staff members, these libraries are sometimes unable to devote the time needed to assist with in-depth technology-related questions. In collaboration with AmeriCorps, the State Library of Ohio created Guiding Ohio Online, a program placing AmeriCorps volunteers in rural Ohio libraries to address these very needs. Learn what it took for us to apply for, oversee, and participate in this unique collaborative program.

  Presenters: Evan Struble, State Library of Ohio; Mandy Knapp, State Library of Ohio
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Collaborate Tags: Staffing, Administration and Management, Human Resources, Personnel and Staffing, Technology, Training
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Building a Better Board to Support Your Library

  Successful fundraising and advocacy starts with a great Board! Size doesn’t matter but composition is the key. Effective Boards focus on the big picture but also require a strong committee structure to get the job done. A partnership of the library director, the support organization leader, and the Board chair is essential. Learn how to recruit and retain valuable Board members and how to create a successful structure that makes it all work!

  Presenters: Peter Pearson, Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library; John Marshall, Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library; Sue Hall, friends of the saint paul public library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Lead Tags: Leadership, Advocacy, Foundations, Friends Groups, Fundraising, Leadership
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Every Person Is A Book, Every Life Tells A Story

  Some of the most compelling stories you’ll ever encounter aren’t on your shelves – they are walking around your town and your library. Storytelling fosters understanding, nurtures acceptance, and creates connections. Learn how to encourage people in your community who have overcome adversity, defeated the odds, or fought the good fight to share their stories in “human book” events, oral history projects, and local history programs.

  Presenters: Tatiana Calhamer, Gail Borden Public Library District; Tina Viglucci, Gail Borden Public Library District
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Broadcast Tags: Serving Adults, Civic Engagement, Diversity, Local History, Partnerships, Programming/Services
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM A Different Way of Doing Business: Cross-Functional Strategic Initiative Teams

  Denver Public Library recently reorganized, transitioning to a different way of planning and implementing our strategic work. Cross-functional teams were formed and the position of Manager of Innovation and Initiatives was created to help facilitate the process. The library has taken risks and learned many lessons. You will learn about things our teams have tried, experimented, failed, and iterated – from a subscription service for our customers to an adult reading program to customer feedback tools.

  Presenters: Anne Kemmerling, Denver Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Challenge Tags: Administration/Management, Administration and Management, Organizational Change, Public Services, Strategic Planning
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Better Together: Civic Engagement and Civic Dialogues

  Is your library leading an engaged and empowered citizenry? Does your library tackle social justice inequities, solve problems, increase voting, and participate in social and civic organizations? Perhaps you are already at that table, or maybe you are the table where folks gather. Discover how a 21st century library is a cornerstone of democracy, and become inspired by achievable projects happening nationwide. Find out the secret of reaching politicians and government officials to create sustainable change.

  Presenters: Miriam Anderson Lytle, Gail Borden Public Library District; Susan Benton, Urban Libraries Council; Diana Brawley Sussman, Carbondale Public Library; Amita Lonial, Skokie Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Collaborate Tags: Administration/Management
• Friday, April 8, 2016, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Beyond Bad Covers, Poor Copyediting and Questionable Content: How to Deal with the Self-Publishing Onslaught

  More than 400,000 self-published titles are released every year, and most libraries grudgingly accept only a few from local patrons who are particularly persistent. Yet some of the most popular books on the market are coming from independent authors. Are important authors being overlooked? Should libraries be paying more attention to these titles? What are the implications of this trend on the future of publishing? We will moderate a lively panel discussion on these topics.

  Presenters: Jamie LaRue, American LIbrary Association Office for Intellectual Freedom; Keir Graff, Booklist Magazine; Mark Stevens, ; Nathan Lowell, ; Michael Saperstein, Harris County Public Libraries; Patti Thorn, BlueInk Review
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Challenge Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Acquisitions, Assessment and Evaluation, Trends and Forecasting
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM So a Planner and a Librarian Walk Into a Bar…

  Madison (Wis.) Public Library (MPL) has developed a new model for applying community planning principles to library service and design. MPL’s Library Planner and Neighborhood Library Supervisor will discuss the process of working with staff, neighborhood leaders, planners, developers, patrons, and traditionally underserved populations to build a culture of engagement for new library construction. This interactive session will present lessons from thinking cross-professionally and the perspective of a professional of color in designing methods of equitable engagement.

  Presenters: Sarah Lawton, Madison Public Library; Catherine Duarte, Madison Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Collaborate Tags: Spaces and Places, Buildings and Facilities, Civic Engagement, Collaboration, Community Surveys, Equity of Access
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Designing for Patron Behaviors

  We are turning conventional wisdom on its head in a suburb of Kansas City. Using demographic data to make decisions can limit the success of public services and spaces. This session presents the inspirations and innovations behind Johnson County Library’s new behavior-based services and facilities plan. Learn about the process used to create the plan and the implications and impacts of it.

  An online version of this concurrent program session was presented during the PLA 2016 Virtual Conference.

  Presenters: Sean Casserley, Johnson County Library; Jill Eyres, Group 4 Architecture
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Plan Tags: Spaces and Places, Assessment and Evaluation, Innovation, Public Services, Special Needs Populations, Trends and Forecasting
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Building Digitally Inclusive Communities

  Libraries have done tremendous work to provide Internet access to their communities. In fact, in 2/3 of US towns, libraries are the only source of no-fee Internet access. But there is more libraries can do to help build digitally inclusive communities. Learn how libraries can support new hotspots in key locations in your community thanks to the power of TV white spaces, how libraries are increasing Internet access by lending mobile hotspots and devices, and how one city is converting old pay phones with free public Wi-Fi kiosks.

  Presenters: Don Means, Gigabit Libraries Network; Kerry Ingersoll, Manhattan (KS) Public Library; Richard Kong, Skokie Public Library; Kelvin Watson, Queens Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Technology
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Where the Black and Brown Boys Aren’t (and Why)

  Too many young males of color have little interest in reading or engaging meaningfully in public libraries. The older these boys get, the more they opt out, often to the point where they drop out of reading completely. If they drop out, they miss out on many opportunities for achievement and future successes in life. Library professionals can and must become advocates committed to effectively engaging boys of color to reign as readers in libraries.

  Presenters: Nichole Shabazz, Cleveland Public Library; Phyllis Hunter, Phyllis C. Hunter Consulting, Inc.
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Serving Youth, Advocacy, Children's Services, Diversity, Literacy, Multicultural Services
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Bite-Sized Staff Training: Transform Staff Development for Busy Employees

  Discover ways to maximize the impact of staff training to fit the ever-changing needs of the modern learner. Using instructional design principles, adult learning theories, and personal learning styles, participants will learn tips and tricks to engage staff members using microlearning techniques that are easy to integrate into a busy library schedule. At the end of the session, participants will have tools to customize and modernize their staff training program.

  An online version of this concurrent program session was presented during the PLA 2016 Virtual Conference.

  Presenters: Julia Huprich, Georgia Public Library Service
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Play Tags: Administration/Management, Administration and Management, Distance Learning, Leadership, Professional Development, Training
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM The Changing Landscape of Library Privacy

  Some argue that libraries should collect, retain, and use patron data to provide better personalized services to patrons. This is a serious challenge to the profession’s ethical commitment to protecting patron privacy, especially since many platforms providing these services are operated by vendors who may not share librarians’ professional values. We’ll explore these issues and discuss possible frameworks that allow libraries to provide personalized services while maintaining their commitment to protecting patron privacy.

  Presenters: Michael Robinson, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage; Deborah Caldwell-Stone, ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Challenge Tags: Administration/Management, Administration and Management, Guidelines and Standards, Hot Topics, Privacy, Technology
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM The Hyperlinked Classroom: Extraordinary Learning Experiences in Public Libraries

  The hyperlinked library is welcoming, participatory, and incorporates user input. It is a playful model emphasizing collections and spaces that evolve via user and staff participation in a transformational anytime, anywhere service dynamic. What does the future look like going forward as we encourage learning everywhere as a means for transformative change for ourselves and our users? This session will explore new ideas and thinking about learning at the library.

  Presenters: Pam Sandlian Smith, Anythink Libraries; Michael Stephens, San Jose State University SLIS
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Play Tags: Serving Adults, Collaboration, Innovation, Organizational Change, Professional Development, Transforming Libraries
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Eric Carle Meets Rachel Carson: 21st Century Environmental Literacy

  Presenters will examine the need for outdoor education, explain how exposure to nature through play leads to exploration and discovery, engaging both the physical and mental abilities of children, and link the role of the library as a community institution to the environmental movement. Learn how to bring the outdoors inside, regardless of your location, as well as move library programming outside, further redefining library spaces and enhancing community engagement and partnerships.

  Presenters: Sheila McNair, Anythink Commerce City; Tracy LaStella, Middle Country Public Library; Christie Chandler-Stahl, Freelance Writer and Educator, Evanston, IL; Erin Francoeur, Shasta Public Libraries
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Collaborate Tags: Serving Youth, Collaboration, Partnerships, Special Needs Populations, Transforming Libraries, Youth Services
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM One Community, Many Faces: Building a Diverse Staff

  Public libraries serve a rich blend of multiple communities, from varied ethnic and cultural groups to LGBT to the disabled. How do you assemble a staff reflective of the communities you serve? A library director and HR manager from a large and a mid-sized urban system will share their strategies for building inclusive communities internally with their own staff in order to provide the best possible experience for their external customers. Participants will learn how these libraries identified and filled gaps in staffing, developed nontraditional job descriptions, and created welcoming, safe environments for all staff.

  Presenters: Marcellus Turner, Seattle Public Library; Terry New, Kalamazoo Public Library; Sara Dallas, Southern Adirondack Library System; Aurora Martinez, Morley Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Lead Tags: Staffing, Administration and Management, Diversity, Human Resources, Personnel and Staffing, Support Staff
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Steal This UX: Improving Your Collection With Content Strategy and User Testing

  Content strategy and user testing are buzzwords from the online realm, but these principles can be just as useful for practitioners of old-school collection development. Tear out some pages from the digital librarian’s playbook and learn how user interviews, evaluative research, A/B testing, and other fast, inexpensive UX techniques can revolutionize your approach to collection management.

  Presenters: Annabelle Mortensen, Skokie Public Library; Stephanie Anderson, Darien Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Invent Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Collection Development, User Experience (UX)
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Leamos (Let’s Read) at the Library: Using Web-Based Curriculum to Engage Latino Families

  This program shares up-to-date results of the pilot project “Leamos (Let’s Read) at the Library,” a model program within California public libraries intended to meet the literacy needs of adult Spanish speakers who cannot read or write in any language. These adult learners struggle to learn English, have difficulty navigating American systems, and work in low wage jobs. And they certainly do not go to libraries. Learn how Leamos (Let’s Read) is changing that.

  Presenters: Cathay Reta, Azusa City Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Invent Tags: Serving Adults, Adult Services, Innovation, Literacy, Multicultural Services, Technology
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Stress Tests: Conducting Strategic Analyses of Services and Programs to Guide Libraries of the Future

  Libraries need to change without abandoning their core mission and services. To adapt in this dynamic landscape, the Free Library of Philadelphia (Pa.) developed an analytical tool that objectively and effectively “stress tests” programs and services to determine their impact, feasibility, viability, and sustainability. In this interactive workshop, we will describe our stress test and demonstrate this versatile tool for producing analysis that can guide libraries in new directions.

  Presenters: Joel Nichols, Free Library of Philadelphia; Nathaniel Eddy, Free Library of Philadelphia; Autumn McClintock, Free Library of Philadelphia
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Plan Tags: Administration/Management, Organizational Change, Strategic Planning, Transforming Libraries
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Giving Your Community Back its Voices: Making Your Oral History Collections Fully Accessible

  Special collections departments in Colorado public libraries discuss how they are making oral history collections discoverable, understandable, available, and usable at their institutions. Discussion will cover: the value of oral histories to the community served by your library; how to get that “shoebox” collection of tapes online; how to structure your metadata for oral histories and why this matters; and how to grow a unique collection your community will draw on for generations to come.

  Presenters: Adam Speirs, Douglas County Libraries; Cyns Nelson, Carnegie Branch Library For Local History, Boulder Public Library; Tammi Moe, Pueblo City-County Library District / University College London, Qatar
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Broadcast Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Digitization, Local History, Metadata, Special Collections, Technology
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Open to All: Serving the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Community in your Library

  Serving gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) customers can often be challenging for public librarians, particularly in small and rural libraries. This session will help library staff work with a new toolkit from ALA’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table – “Open to All: Serving the GLBT Community in your Library.” This session will teach best practices, how to find local partnerships, and how to make your library open to all.

  Presenters: Peter Coyl, Dallas Public Library; Ann Symons, Symons et al.; Deborah Sica, Alameda County Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Advocacy, Diversity, Equity of Access, Hot Topics, Other GLBT Issues
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Walking the Literary Landscape: Using Mobile Apps to Connect Literature to Your Community

  Move out of the library and into the literary world! By employing mobile mapping technology to develop literary walking tours, public librarians will connect the community with their local authors and literary heritage. Walking tours can spark conversation and enhance the community’s collective literary imagination. This program will provide librarians with effective project management tips, recommendations on open source mapping apps, content management templates, and suggestions on how to create visually appealing and engaging tours.

  Presenters: Tom Cole, Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library; Keith Gorman, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Kathelene Smith, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Invent Tags: Spaces and Places, Civic Engagement, Collaboration, Local History, Mobile Technology, Outreach Services
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Weed? In Denver?: Collection Maintenance at DPL and Fort Worth

  There’s more to weeding than CREW and MUSTIE. Two libraries share their tools and tips for establishing a standard approach to weeding. These include guidelines, best practices, training, reports, weed disposal, and strategies for handling the impact of floating. We’ll share context and training for staff to help them effectively communicate what’s happening with the collection when users ask about shifts and weeding.

  Presenters: Deborah Duke, Fort Worth Library; Rachel Fewell, Denver Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Plan Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Collection Development, Guidelines and Standards, Partnerships, Public Services, Technical Services
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Read & Reach: Promoting Physical Activity in Storytime Programs

  Join us for this lively, engaging session which will introduce Read & Reach, a comprehensive resource of children’s books that encourage physical activity. Read & Reach provides detailed information to assist librarians in developing storytime programs that encourage health promotion. Background information on reasons and rationale for integrating physical activity into library programs will be discussed. Popular youth services librarian and immediate past-president of ALSC, Starr LaTronica, will lead an active storytime session.

  Presenters: Mary Grace Flaherty, SILS - University of North Carolina; Starr LaTronica, Four County Library System; Faith Burns, Durham County Library
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Play Tags: Serving Youth, Children's Literature, Children's Services, Programming/Services, Public Programs, Youth Services
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Put Learning First: Developing a Staff Learning Philosophy

  An organizational learning philosophy can guide our learning. It can be a way of thinking, guideline for engagement, and an ideal path for personal growth. In this session, explore truths about learning and collectively develop a session learning philosophy with activities that can be adapted within your organization. Richland (Columbia, SC) Library staff will share how they drafted their learning philosophy, engaged in skillful conversations, and worked to sustain dialogue and discover ways of nurturing interdependent learning.

  Presenters: Susan Lyon, Richland Library; Thomas Lide, Richland Library
  Concurrent Program Session High interaction: facilitated discussion; small group discussion; hands-on activity Track: Lead Tags: Staffing, Facilitation, Organizational Change, Personnel and Staffing, Resource Sharing, Training
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Extraordinary at Any Size: Tips for Keeping Your Library Relevant and Your Community Engaged for Every Size Library

  A library can transform a community and a community can change a library. An engaged library system demands a shift in internal communication, focus, and training. Institutional relevancy requires an ability to reject traditional library responses to community issues and truly innovate. Participants in the Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC) initiative will share how their systems achieved significant change by “turning outward.” Topics include administrative buy-in, staff training processes, system adaptations, successes, and challenges.

  Presenters: Kelly Tyler, Los Angeles Public Library; Madeleine Ildefonso, Los Angeles Public Library/Wilshire Branch; Aileen Luppert, Spokane County Library District; Randall Studstill, San Jos? Public Library/Tully Community Branch Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Collaborate Tags: Administration/Management, Administration and Management, Assessment and Evaluation, Leadership, Organizational Change, Transforming Libraries
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Blowing Up The PLDS: Measuring Impact

  We all know that our traditional statistics – visits, circulation, reference questions – no longer paint the full picture of the important work of public libraries. But what can we replace these familiar numbers with? In this interactive panel, library leaders will share their work on this topic, ranging from the PLA Performance Measurement Task Force to Calgary Public Library’s measurement of social impact, and lead audience members in developing their own measure to bring home.

  Presenters: Lynn Hoffman, Somerset County Library System of New Jersey; Brian Auger, Somerset County Library System of New Jersey; Katina Jones, Mid-Continent Public Library; Mark Asberg, Calgary Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Plan Tags: Administration/Management, Assessment and Evaluation, Research and Statistics, Transforming Libraries, Trends and Forecasting
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Creating Community Conversations about Homelessness

  Public libraries are utilized daily by homeless individuals. These patrons can offer learning opportunities for the rest of our community. Through LSTA funds, Fresno’s unhoused became significant players in a constructive community dialog about homelessness. Hear lessons learned in the process of working with this unique population and watch library patrons explain on camera the role the library plays in their daily life on the streets.

  Presenters: Lisa Lindsay, Fresno County Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Broadcast Tags: Serving Adults, Diversity, Equity of Access, Outreach Services, Social Change, Urban Libraries
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Crossover Appeal: Books that Work for Teens and Adults

  Join us for a YA Crossover panel to hear from fantastic authors whose works appeal to both teen and adult readers. Whether you’re involved in Collection Development or Readers’ Advisory, or you’re just always looking for good books with broad appeal, this will be a relevant and exciting panel. Authors include: Paul Rudnick, It’s All Your Fault (Scholastic); Robin Talley, Lies We Tell Ourselves (Harlequin TEEN); Marissa Meyer, Heartless (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan) and Matthew Quick, Every Exquisite Thing (Little Bown Brooks for Young Readers). A book signing will follow the event. Brought to you by the AAP Children’s Library Marketing Committees.

  Presenters: Tina Jordan, AAP; Paul Rudnick, Scholastic; Robin Talley, Harlequin TEEN; Marissa Meyer, Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan; Matthew Quick, Little Bown Brooks for Young Readers; Dodie Ownes, Douglas County Libraries
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Broadcast Tags: Collections/Tech Services, Collection Development, Readers' Advisory, Young Adult Literature
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Strong Girls School: Create a Program Addressing Gender Bias, Inequality, and Self-Esteem Building for Girls

  Many youth services librarians are afraid to run gender based and/or “risky” programs. This session will discuss Strong Girls School, a successful and rewarding young adult program for girls created by librarian Nancy Evans that addresses gender bias, inequality, and self-esteem building. You will learn why this type of programming is necessary and valuable, how to create and run a similar program, and how to overcome fears about programming risks.

  Presenters: Nancy Evans, Levittown Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Low interaction: single speaker/panel with Q&A at the end of the program Track: Challenge Tags: Serving Youth, Programming/Services, Social Change, Young Adult Services, Youth Services
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Library Board Wars and Power Plays: How to Resolve, Avoid, and Do it Right!

  This program will deal with Board wars and power plays among the trustees, the Board, and the director. Role playing will be an essential part of the program. How can the director manage the Board in a positive way ensuring successful outcomes? How can Board wars be avoided and how can it be done right?

  Presenters: Sally Reed, United for Libraries; Paul Mills, Fountaindale Public Library; Nancy Bolt, Nancy Bolt & Associates; Peggy Danhof, Fountaindale Public Library; Dierdre Brennan, Reaching Across Illinois Library System; Kathy Spindel, Fountaindale Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Lead Tags: Administration/Management, Administration and Management, Leadership, Trustees
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Cultural Connections: Celebrating Diversity with Picture Books and Poetry

  This session weaves together the perspectives of scholars, authors, and librarians to consider how we celebrate diversity in the materials we select, programs we plan, and children we serve. We’ll consider practical strategies for valuing the diverse cultural fabric of our communities while pairing diverse genres like picture books and poetry to build deeper literacy, too. We’ll provide print and digital resources for diversity programming while incorporating required reading skills (e.g., CCSS) in meaningful ways.

  Presenters: Sylvia Vardell, Texas Woman's University; Janet Wong, Pomelo Books; Ally Garcia, Clearview Library District; Nancy Bo Flood, Boyds Mills Press; Marianne Follis, Valley Ranch (Irving) Public Library
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Invent Tags: Serving Youth, Children's Literature, Children's Services, Diversity, Programming/Services, Readers' Advisory
• Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Dragons in the Library: Tabletop Gaming and the Public Library

  Want to introduce role-playing or tabletop gaming at your library? The Fresno County (Calif.) Public Library developed the Bookwyrm Gaming Convention to do just that. They’ll discuss how to reach new library users including comic enthusiasts and tabletop gamers, as well as how to organize, advertise, and connect with local businesses to create a similarly successful event at your library.

  Presenters: Tiffany Polfer, Fresno County Public Library; James Tyner, Fresno County Public Library - Gillis Branch
  Concurrent Program Session Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout Track: Imagine Tags: Marketing/Advocacy, Games and Gaming, Partnerships, Popular Culture, Social Media, Young Adult Services