NCLA Con 2025

Join Jennifer Smith for an introduction to mindfulness meditation using music as a tool to help you calm your mind and reduce stress mindfully. At the close of the session, participants will be able to connect and reflect about their experience. No experience needed.

This presentation will explore the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment and civil rights protections in the Fourteenth Amendment. The Constitution and federal and state laws provide the foundation for library policies and practices. Librarians must understand their responsibilities within this framework to communicate effectively with their community and stakeholders about these complex issues.

Official Opening of the Exhibits Hall

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into our daily lives is transforming the landscape of information access and research. This presentation explores the practical strategies and challenges of integrating AI into college-level information literacy and library research courses. We will share our experience in equipping students with the knowledge and skills to effectively and ethically utilize AI tools for research. Learn how our librarians are teaching students to navigate the evolving information landscape, critically evaluate AI-generated content, and understand the ethical implications of AI in academic research. We will also discuss the obstacles encountered and lessons learned during the implementation process, offering valuable insights for librarians seeking to incorporate AI into their library instruction curriculum.

What are future students' needs, and how do they view the library as part of their academic journey? Belk Library & Information Commons, the main library at Appalachian State University, turns twenty years old this year. Since the building opened in 2005, the student population at Appalachian State University has grown by 7,000 students, and technology advances continue to shift the higher education landscape. As such, the Dean of the University Libraries has decided to undergo a Master Planning process in order to ensure the building adapts to meet the current and future needs of the App State Community. In exploring the library of the future, we started the process by engaging the biggest users of our building: our students. The University Libraries first sought to gain insight from our students with the design of a new branch library on App State's Hickory campus. Students on our Library Student Advisory Board designed the layout of the space and selected the furniture. Hickory Library & Information Commons is therefore designed by students for students, and we want to apply a similar concept as we rethink Belk Library. This session will showcase the various ways we have worked to gather feedback on the building from our students, including a campus-wide survey, engagement with interior design classes, and multiple sessions with our Library Student Advisory Board. We will share our process for creating these engagements, highlight themes that we have learned across the feedback mechanism, discuss quick fixes we were able to address, and finally, talk about how the feedback informed how we engaged with the architects for the master plan.

In this session, we will discuss and demonstrate how we implemented a sustainable, programmatic approach to student learning assessment across the curriculum at Elon University. Attendees will address the nuances in creating and developing an assessment plan appropriate to their institution. Participants will learn how to work within their own unique cultural contexts, create ownership of assessment efforts among library staff, and take away strategies for creating their own student learning assessment plan. Student learning is the focus of everything we do. Investing in a sustainable student learning assessment plan allows us to reflect and respond in our instruction across all levels to the evolving needs of our students. At Elon, we launched our assessment program with the hire of the new Assessment & User Experience Librarian. In the last academic year, our priority was to establish a student learning assessment plan and create a community of practice where all library instructors are committed to providing evidence of student learning. We hope to use this data to make necessary, positive changes to our instruction methods, advocate for our library instruction program, and collaborate with each other and teaching faculty colleagues in unique ways as a result of our focused approach to library instruction and assessment. We hope to accomplish the following three things during our session: Share our evolving student learning assessment story at Elon; Engage participants in an activity where they reflect on their unique institutional assessment culture with a focus on student learning; Through discussion, everyone can share potential next steps and how they can effectively make an impact on their own institutional cultures of assessment.

AI-generated content has jumped full-force into an already overloaded information landscape, creating murky waters for both the novice and sophisticated information user. As it becomes an integral part of everyday technology, users must develop strategies to control when and how AI-generated content appears in their research. AI tools, such as Google's AI Overview, often provides helpful summaries on general topics, but can also present incorrect, unnecessary, or distracting information for more specific topics that require more depth and nuance in the search process. This session explores a couple of easy workarounds for toggling the AI-generated results on and off, such as using Google's search string operators, incorporating certain profanities, and other keywords that temporarily dismantle the AI tool. However, not all profanity and keywords trigger this effect, and understanding which terms work can empower users to take a more active role in getting research results. Participants will learn about the methodology behind this study, examine real-world examples where AI-generated results either enhance or hinder research, and discuss best practices for navigating search engines with AI integration. This session will also explore ethical considerations, potential biases in AI-generated summaries, and future implications for research practices in libraries and academia. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for managing AI-generated Google search results, ensuring they have greater control over their information-seeking process. This session highlights the evolving role of librarians in digital literacy, equipping patrons with the knowledge to navigate AI-enhanced research effectively.

The Roundtable for Ethnic and Minority Concerns (REMCo) pays homage to Hip Hop through the exploration of its impact on librarianship. Join our session, Blackademia and Hip-Hop Culture, for a dynamic conversation amongst library scholars and Hip-Hop enthusiasts as they delve into how the music has influenced community engagement and outreach to reach larger audiences, bring awareness to library programming, and make organic connections with their communities. Featured Librarians from interviews: Forest Foster, Vivette White, Carlos Grooms, Candace Jacobs, Jonathan Jones, Billy Allen, Marcellaus Joiner. Background and Rationale: Hip-hop, as a cultural movement, has extended far beyond music to become a powerful tool for education, social commentary, and community building. Libraries, as hubs of knowledge and culture, have increasingly embraced Hip Hop to engage youth, diversify programming, and promote literacy. This documentary series will showcase how librarians across North Carolina have incorporated elements of Hip Hop-including DJing, MCing, graffiti art, breakdancing, and knowledge sharing-to connect with diverse communities. Format: This will be a 45-minute panel presentation that will include various short clips from REMCo interviews, followed by a facilitated panel discussion featuring library scholars. The session will encourage dialogue about the power of Hip-Hop to engage participants, promote social justice, and support lifelong learning. Intended Audience: This presentation will appeal to librarians, educators, youth program coordinators, and cultural workers interested in rejuvenating their outreach strategies, including intentional connections with underserved populations by, and exploring innovative approaches to literacy and cultural engagement. Conclusion: Blackademia and Hip-Hop Culture will not only highlight the dynamic relationship between Hip Hop and libraries but also inspire the library community to embrace this influential cultural movement as a means of empowerment, education, and creative expression.

The Civic Engagement Workshop Series is a collaboration between UNC's Park and Undergraduate Libraries that aims to support college students' civic awareness and self-efficacy and emphasizes the role of the library in developing students' civic engagement. In this presentation, we will give an overview of these workshops, discuss how they were developed and why we believe these skills are important not only for college students, but also for anyone who wants to learn more about how and why local government operates where they live and work, and describe how other library instructors can adapt the main points of these presentations to their own audiences. We identify the key databases and knowledge tools that are broadly accessible to NC libraries, building these information seeking skills in patrons. By the end of our presentation, attendees will understand how to use interactive pedagogy to engage with patrons and highlight topics that are already present in their daily lives but that may not have been immediately visible, engage in active conversation with patrons, and have tips and tricks to make these presentations successful. The relatively small demand on staff makes these programs accessible to many types of libraries, and the learning outcomes appeal to both public and academic library audiences. Public libraries may enjoy the opportunity to make community members more aware of the fundamentals of local governance, and academic libraries support their mission by instructing students on how to parse false and misleading content in the news. Ultimately, our presentation will teach attendees how to broaden patrons’ appreciation of libraries as a resource to learn about topics that affect their everyday lives. In turn, libraries support patrons' ability to develop themselves into informed political participants year-round.

This 45-minute presentation by High Point University's Gerald Ward, Media & Digital Services Librarian, and Lauren Ksa, Head of Reference Services Librarian-will demonstrate how hands-on bookbinding and zine-making workshops can transform library learning experiences. Attendees will discover how crafting books and zines engages patrons in active exploration of the history and cultural impact of print media, supported by educational theory and real-world program examples. The session will blend theory (critical library pedagogy, experiential learning, object-based learning, craft-based learning) with actionable strategies, showing how libraries-academic, public, or school-can develop sustainable programs that inspire creativity and learning. By highlighting High Point University's successful workshop series and Zine Library, the presenters will illustrate how creating and preserving handmade objects and publications can enrich collections and communities. Attendees will leave with both big-picture understanding and practical tips to implement these ideas in their own libraries.

Efforts to restrict or suppress content can take many forms and come from various sources. When such efforts arise from concerned parents or members of a community, it is crucial to have honest and difficult conversations. However, if they become politicized or are done for political purposes, they may be driven by external agendas rather than legitimate local concerns. This session will provide insights on distinguishing between external agendas and legitimate local concerns. Being well-prepared to address the issues, organizations, and political beliefs fueling these divisions is crucial.

Many libraries host traditional book clubs, but what happens when those formats don't fit the needs of modern readers? Book Chat and Chill offers a fresh alternative, creating casual, social spaces where people can talk about books without the pressure of assigned reading. This program meets patrons where they are-literally-by partnering with local businesses like breweries, coffee shops, and restaurants to offer relaxed, low-commitment bookish discussions. In this session, we'll walk attendees through the evolution of Book Chat and Chill, from its initial concept to its current model, shaped by trial and error, community feedback, and creative problem-solving. We'll discuss how we built relationships with local businesses, marketed the program to attract a diverse audience, and adapted our approach as we learned what worked (and what didn't). One of the key benefits of this format is its flexibility. Rather than focusing on one assigned book, participants are free to share what they're reading-books they loved, books they hated, and books they want to read next. This freeform structure encourages lively discussion, allows for more personalized recommendations, and helps readers build their ever-growing To Be Read lists. It also fosters a sense of community, drawing in both avid and reluctant readers who might not commit to a traditional book club. Beyond adults, this concept can easily be adapted for teens and kids. A teen Book Chat and Chill offers a space where young readers can talk freely about books-without school assignments dictating their choices. For younger kids, the program could be a fun, interactive way to promote a love of reading outside the classroom. Of course, like any new program, there were challenges. Attendance ebbed and flowed, venues varied in suitability, and we had to fine-tune our approach to keep conversations engaging while ensuring the program remained accessible and welcoming. We'll share our lessons learned and strategies for overcoming obstacles, so attendees can anticipate potential roadblocks and tailor the program to fit their own communities. By the end of this session, attendees will leave with a clear framework for launching a Book Chat and Chill (or similar) program at their library. Whether they're looking for a way to revitalize book clubs, build new community partnerships, or create more informal literary spaces, this session will offer practical insights, real-world examples, and plenty of inspiration to take back home.

Public libraries have long served as essential community hubs, providing access to information, resources, and support for diverse populations. As society becomes more aware of the challenges faced by justice-impacted individuals, libraries have a growing role in supporting successful reentry. This panel will explore how libraries can collaborate with state agencies, reentry councils, and community organizations to provide vital services that help individuals transition back into society. Led by the State Library of North Carolina, this panel will bring together representatives from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (DAC) Reentry and Rehabilitation Division, a local reentry council, a justice-impacted individual who has directly experienced the reentry process, and a social worker embedded in a North Carolina county library system. The discussion will explore how libraries can build partnerships with correctional and reentry organizations, develop targeted programming, and serve as accessible and welcoming spaces for individuals returning to their communities. Panelists will share insights on reentry needs and ways to integrate reentry services into library programming. The session will highlight the importance of information access, digital equity, and community partnerships in reducing recidivism and promoting long-term success. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of the reentry landscape, the needs of justice-impacted individuals, and practical steps to create or enhance library services that contribute to successful reintegration into society.

The State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) has developed new tools to support public libraries as centers of community archiving. Learn about various types of community archiving and resources to facilitate these services. A wide range of community archiving initiatives across public libraries statewide includes services to patrons to help them preserve their own treasures, work with grassroots community organizations to store records; and facilitate books and exhibits with patron-created content. Speakers will share nine preservation tipsheets for public distribution, recorded panel discussions with ideas and guidance from peer librarians statewide, and community archiving guidebooks for library staff. A Q &; A session after brief presentations will supplement these resources by building a community of practice with librarians sharing ideas about successes and challenges and catalyzing collaborations.

Burnout, or chronic job related stress due to work-imbalance issues and career disillusionment, has always been a significant problem for library information science professionals, but it has become a major crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic (Bury 2024, Kenyon & Henrich 2024). Academic librarians are in a state of burnout as the values of librarianship come into continued conflict with the neoliberal corporate models that have been broadly adopted within academia (Nardine 2019, Wood et. al. 2020). As part of this on-going conversation, the researcher will showcase how they used assessment tools and techniques to create an "anti-burnout" plan for their team of librarians and support staff that make up the First-Year Writing (FYW) library instruction program at a large four-year research university. While acknowledging the limitations of individual-driven solutions in combating burnout, they share their work with the hope of encouraging participants to develop their own plans to reduce burnout in their own instruction programs. While the focus of the presentation is on academic FYW instruction, the tools shared are applicable for all forms of library instruction and applicable for those with minimal assessment knowledge. These tools include visualizations created using instructional request data, predictive models, and guides for structured conversations on teaching capacity. The researcher used the information gathered from these tools to create realistic boundaries for librarian teaching capacity; while recognizing that the process of saying "no" to an instruction request is difficult and comes with the fear of harming relationships with faculty members. To reduce this pressure, the researcher and their team developed infrastructure that would support saying no to instruction requests. In addition, the researcher will discuss how their team balanced the necessity of saying no to some instruction requests with the reality of the poor labor conditions of the contingent faculty and graduate students who disproportionately make-up the instructor pool for FYW programs. By engaging with the researcher's presentation participants will walk away with practical strategies for creating an "anti-burnout" plan tailored to their instruction programs, informed by tested assessment tools and techniques. They will begin the process of setting realistic boundaries with faculty, while fostering team accountability and as a result, address the impacts of neoliberal decision-making on librarians.

Libraries are dynamic spaces that offer more than just books and digital resources-they serve as vibrant hubs of activity, fostering creativity and engagement. At East Carolina University's Joyner Library, we proudly host a diverse range of exhibits, from special collections to interactive displays that engage and inspire students, faculty, and the broader community. Our primary exhibition space, the Janice Hardison Faulkner Gallery, spans 1,600 square feet and is a versatile venue for various exhibitions, including art, history, and beyond. The gallery's mission is to highlight the creative work and scholarship of faculty, students, community, and region while also featuring traveling exhibits from other institutions. In addition to exhibitions, the gallery serves as a dynamic event space, hosting many activities such as poetry readings, artist talks, academic lectures, and more. In this presentation, J.H. Faulkner Gallery curator Charlotte Fitz Daniels will provide an in-depth look at the gallery's operations. She will discuss the types of exhibits displayed, the library's exhibit planning process, and the collaborative efforts with academic departments and the local community. Furthermore, she will explore the gallery's unique space, the equipment used for exhibitions, and the process of sourcing artists, drafting contracts, and more. This model can be adapted for use in other libraries, offering inspiration for expanding your own library's exhibit spaces and programming.

This presentation will discuss two ongoing initiatives in the University Libraries' Interlibrary Services department, both of which serve to strengthen relationships with NC public libraries. The first aims to increase access to the University Libraries' collections, while the second focuses on our students' access to the public library and pleasure reading. Last spring we conducted a survey of N.C. public library staff that focused on identifying needs and barriers related to resource sharing. The goal was to inform how we may better support N.C. public libraries and their patrons, especially in rural communities. We'll share some characteristics of our current lending profile, survey results, and the project's next steps to begin addressing some of the barriers to access to our collections. Last fall, in collaboration with the Overdrive/Libby group, we piloted a "Books for Break" event. We invited Chapel Hill Public Library staff to campus for the event, which served as a CHPL library card drive, along with the opportunity to share information about the public library and its resources. And of course, there were fun giveaways and swag! We also shared various resources to locate the public library and all it has to offer. We will share qualitative and quantitative feedback received from this event, as well as information on the follow-up event that occurred in Spring 2025.

This session explores the significance of connecting readers with books they love as an integral part of excellent customer service in libraries. Delve into the various ways working with readers positively impacts library services and discuss how personalized book recommendations not only cater to individual preferences but also foster a sense of community engagement. By understanding the unique interests and needs of each library user, we can create a more inclusive and enriching reading experience for all. This session promises to equip library staff at all levels at any size library with the knowledge and tools needed to provide outstanding customer service through personalized book recommendations.

This will be a collaborative and social session including multiple roundtables on a variety of topics for participants to share their experiences and ideas. Topics will include: ILS victories and challenges, Mentoring and training your technical services team, Share your bright ideas and successful projects. We hope to provide the RTSS community with an opportunity to celebrate their successes, get support for their struggles and build their overall resources and technical services' systems professional network.

Read Free NC is an initative of the Intellectual Freedom Committee Helpline to support NC librarians and library workers deal with attacks on the Freedom to Read. The website features a blog that highlights issues at various libraries across the state and sheds light on how different scenarios are being handled. This panel discussion will invite several library workers from these libraries being featured and let them share more on what they are facing and how their situations were handled. We think this is more important now than ever with censorship efforts on the rise. Librarians and library workers should be able to be a resource in these trying times and we want people to know that there is a resource for them with ReadFreeNC.org.

Migrating library systems has its benefits; it also comes with challenges. As one of the University of North Carolina libraries migrating to Ex Libris Alma in 2025, Western Carolina University brings their experience to NCLA to share what went wrong, what went right, and what we learned along the way. Attendees from all library backgrounds will learn about the benefits and pitfalls of migrating library systems and gain insights into the logistics of migrating. Erica Barnett, Acquisitions Librarian, and Emily Wros, Systems Librarian, will present on the migration process from beginning (hey, we need new software!) to end (wow, everybody check out our new software!). They'll talk about communication, collaboration, training plans, internal and external partnerships, and the hardest part of all: squeezing all that extra work into your already full schedule. While Erica and Emily will be presenting from the perspective of an academic library conducting a major LMS migration, every library and every librarian is affected by changes in software and will benefit from attending the talk. 

Entering a difficult job market fresh out of library school can feel like being dropped into a foreign land. In our panel discussion, we will share how our LIS education prepared us for library jobs, but also how choosing a specialization such as business or pursuing generalist roles impacted the way we approached networking, selecting mentors, and finding career opportunities. Library school may have started us on the path, but finding mentorship within these specialties is where we found our true sense of direction in navigating the academic and professional space. We are going to further discuss how it led us to making professional connections through workshops and conferences as library students and early career librarians. These experiences have proven valuable to our panel as Ben acquired a business liaison position six months after graduation and Elizabeth became an instruction and research services librarian prior to graduation. We also plan to dive into what it has been like adapting to the current political and economic uncertainty surrounding higher education and academic spaces while starting off our careers. This panel will offer insights to library school students and seasoned professionals looking to support new librarians. In addition to answering questions moderated by Nancy Lovas (Entrepreneurship & Business Librarian at UNC Chapel Hill), there will be time set aside at the end to respond to questions from the audience and hear from them about their own experiences with mentoring, difficult job markets, and uncertainty for the academic space. 

Public libraries have well documented the challenge of ensuring that staff reflects the community it serves; this disparity is especially pronounced in rural communities. As a three-county regional library system covering a rural area facing significant economic challenges, Neuse Regional Libraries (NRL) researched and developed the Teens Lead program, which provides paid learning opportunities with an emphasis on opening the door to positive learning experiences in the field of librarianship for diverse individuals. The Teens Lead internship program focuses on developing life skills and immersing teens in real-life work experiences through community volunteering initiatives in partnership with our local public school systems. The Teens Lead initiative is a workforce development program for teens entering 11th or 12th grade. As part of the internship, participants are required to complete a capstone literacy project that exemplifies the library and promotes lifelong learning in the community. Each internship program offers information sessions on librarianship career pathways through professional guest speakers in the academic, public, and school library fields; financial literacy education; leadership development training; entrepreneurship workshops; and work etiquette instruction using a toolkit platform that can be shared nationally for replication for all types of libraries. The toolkit centers on a community-focused approach that allows users to adapt the program to the specific representative needs of their community. Students who complete the program receive a monetary stipend and earn a Career and Technical Education (CTE) credit in conjunction with public schools. The Teens Lead program has opened the door for young adults in our communities to gain positive learning experiences in the librarianship field, thus building a more sustainable future for libraries and the library profession.

This thesis investigates the intricate relationship between librarianship and the coined concept of vocational awe, as articulated by Fobazi Ettarh. Vocational awe, characterized by an intense emotional investment in library work that works to place librarianship and libraries beyond critique, has surfaced as a critical lens for examining the culture of the profession (Ettarh 2018). Ettarh contends that idealizing librarianship can result in unrealistic expectations, burnout, and an unhealthy blending of professional boundaries. Drawing parallels between vocational awe and historical sentiments, reminiscent of Robert Leigh's "The Library Faith"; this study explores the enduring nature of the unnamed features of librarianship that inspire unwavering devotion. By connecting the concepts of library faith and vocational awe, the research aims to elucidate how individuals' sense of calling to librarianship influences work motivations and perspectives. Using a triangulated mixed methods approach, A quantitative survey, utilizing the Calling and Vocation Questionnaire developed by Duffy et al., alongside inquiries into the presence of negative vocational awe impacts works to inform the qualitative interviews. Interviews function as the primary data source and will delve into participants' work motivations, perceptions of librarianship, and the influence of these factors on negative job experiences. This paper will work to identify a) if a sense of being called to librarianship/library work influences devotion to the library faith or a sense of vocational awe, b) values that current librarians/library workers have with library work, c) their experience with negative features of vocational awe, and d) if there are perceived supports in place to mediate these problems. Studying this adds to the ever-growing literature on vocational awe in librarianship and can provide a basic assessment of workers' experiences with vocational awe, which can be used to inform workplace support infrastructure and implementation of critical librarianship.

Cooking and sharing food is a powerful way to connect with patrons of all ages and backgrounds. In this interactive workshop, you will learn how to start a cooking club that will bring in your patrons and leave them hungry for more!

Libraries are uniquely positioned to support local non-profits by providing resources and expertise. This session will explore innovative ways libraries can (at little or no cost) provide non-profits with a wide array of programs, training, and volunteer recruitment support. Attendees will gain practical strategies for launching similar initiatives in their own libraries, which will both aid the non-profits and promote the library through the people who are often the most active in a community.

While traditional library instruction offered in a one-shot model often focuses on finding and evaluating sources, librarians often lack an adequate platform for further guiding students through deeper concepts within the Information Literacy Framework for Higher Education. Gardner-Webb Library designed a series of application-based workshops in collaboration with the university's Student Success division, which also serve as an alternative to our traditional information literacy & instruction offerings. Our workshops include podcasting, 3D printing, Copyright 101, utilizing University Archives, and visual design using Canva. These workshops emphasize hands-on learning and visual literacy, equipping students with the skills necessary to integrate research into their academic and professional work. Each session is designed to help students move beyond the research phase and into the creation and communication of knowledge. For example, students can use podcasting to engage in scholarly discourse in a low-stakes environment, and Canva to visualize data and research findings. These workshops foster deeper engagement with materials while building transferable skills. A key component of our program's success is our collaboration with the Student Success division on campus. This partnership has allowed us to tailor workshops to student needs, ensuring alignment with coursework and career readiness goals. The demand for these workshops has grown significantly, with faculty requesting customized sessions for their students as well as their own faculty-focused workshops to support professional development, research dissemination, and tenure promotion. An unforeseen benefit to the workshops has been a reframing of how librarians are viewed on our campus. While our campus community frequently praises the library's helpfulness, it is often within the context of traditional research support. These workshops have highlighted the broader scope of the library's contributions to teaching and learning, giving faculty and students a greater understanding of the diverse range of expertise the library offers. Given our library's small staff size, we greatly benefit from creating strategic partnerships across campus with CETL and Student Success. We have also been conscious of making the workshops part of sustainable change so that the workload is manageable. This session will discuss how our library implemented these workshops, strategies for effective campus partnerships, and best practices for expanding library's instruction beyond the traditional one-shot model. Attendees will leave with practical and actionable ideas for integrating application-based learning into their own instructional programs, fostering innovation, and reinforcing the library's role as a key player in student and faculty success.

In information literacy sessions, librarians will often begin at the library's homepage to discuss research and available resources. Using the library as the starting point, however, can decontextualize how the library fits into the larger information world that students interact with on a daily basis. This in turn makes it harder for students to understand how to approach searching the library databases for information, especially as first year students. By recontextualizing how information is organized and located, we can recognize and build upon how students primarily seek information online, and aim to reinforce life-long savvy searching behaviors across the internet. At Appalachian State University, all first year students are required to take an introductory writing course, Rhetoric & Composition (RC) 1000. In this presentation, I will discuss alternative lesson plans that three of us piloted and adapted for library instruction in several sections of an instructor's RC1000 course across different semesters starting in Fall 2023. From the pilot sessions, the lessons were adopted into other RC1000 courses sections and expanded. These two RC classes provide the foundation of Appalachian State University's Vertical Writing Curriculum, which is designed to provide scaffolded writing experience with an information literacy component each year of an undergraduate's academic career. Therefore, it is highly important to our information literacy program to be well integrated into these courses as they also are meant to set students up for research as they then transition into their majors.For background, the traditional RC1000 information literacy lesson plan discusses different source types, credibility, and keyword searching before diving into the library's homepage for a search demonstration through App State's discovery system. The new alternative lesson plan instead aims to approach instruction through starting with a setting that students are familiar with, the open web, before going into the library resources. This foundation then helps to describe the databases using the language of the internet and web searching. To do this, we focus on how the internet functions through exploring the ways search algorithms work, and how information is "layered" within the internet. Once this foundational knowledge is established, we can then contextualize searching in both databases and search engines. Additionally, this recenters the role of the librarian from mainly explaining databases to being experts in how information is organized and how this impacts the way we find information. Over time, this class has shifted in response to student feedback and instructor needs, with options to include discussions of social media, AI, and information ethics. I include the process from our first sessions to the current curriculum, noting the iterative process of teaching, learning, and student-driven decision making. I'll note what has and hasn't worked, and what has resonated with students throughout the different iterations of the sessions through showing student feedback and takeaways. I hope attendees will walk away from this session with ideas on how to situate the library within a larger information context to aid in student understanding both within and outside of academia.

Jane McGonigal's keynote address at the 2014 ALA Annual Conference detailing a successful collaboration with the New York Public Library (NYPL) to create a game celebrating NYPL's Centennial inspired a group of academic librarians to create a camp to challenge, engage, and support student writers. The inaugural Camp achieved three outcomes/objectives: engage students in a fun and scholarly activity; showcase the library's Special Collections and Archives (SCA); and the publication of a book, cataloged with participants as authors whose work will be housed in the library's permanent collection. The camp continues to appeal to and serve a diverse group of student writers, giving them a platform for their work and an opportunity to share their work. The librarians believed hosting an intellectually stimulating and creative outreach event with an individual-based component could potentially attract and engage a different audience of students, ones who prefer smaller groups and/or individual, reflective activities. Writing skills are relevant to every discipline of study and to virtually all chosen career paths. Any opportunity to write is an opportunity to become a better writer and to do so without the pressure and/or worry of a grade and negative comments. The creative aspect allowed students to write without restriction in whatever form they chose (e.g., poetry, short stories, essays), to work independently, and to explore and use the library as a place to self-express. It also allowed students to meet and network with others outside their area of study and their usual group of friends. This presentation will chronologically outline the four creative writing camps hosted by the university library beginning in 2016. The evolution and subsequent streamlining of camps will be discussed with a focus on these elements of the planning process: funding/partners, marketing, application submission and review, event preparation, pre-and post-event activities, editing and publication, and post-event survey/feedback.Turning the writers' camp concept into an actionable goal was no small feat as resources, both financial and human, from cross-campus partners were necessary. The first camp was the most challenging, but rewarding because the event concept was proven sound and became the basis for subsequent camps. The librarians made multiple changes thereafter, such as making this a biennial event. We incorporated student feedback so that successive camps met students' needs and interests with available resources. An important theme of this presentation will be the value of flexibility and continued innovation. Learning Outcomes: Participants will explore the experiential learning possibilities of creating their own Writers' Camp event or similar program. Participants will be able to develop a model for a creative writing event and specifically adapt it to fit their community's needs. Participants will receive practical suggestions on logistical elements involved in establishing and implementing a one-time writing event.

Librarians are no longer just caretakers of books-they're digital architects, advocates, marketers, and community leaders. In this session, we'll explore how the librarians behind the Read Free NC website took on new roles to create a platform that supports library workers facing censorship and promotes intellectual freedom in North Carolina. Through the process of designing and promoting the website, we'll highlight the innovative ways librarians are adapting to meet the demands of advocacy and community outreach. From website design and blog writing to social media marketing and grassroots advocacy, librarians are leading the charge in defending the right to read. Attendees will learn how to leverage digital tools to build platforms that support advocacy efforts and enhance their libraries' public presence. We'll discuss strategies for stepping into new roles, overcoming challenges, and turning digital projects into powerful engines for change. This session is perfect for librarians looking to expand their skill sets and make an impact beyond traditional library services.

When circumstances change and a library department reorganization is discussed, it can be daunting and confusing at first for many. With some planning and teamwork, the results can be beneficial for all. Last year our library divided its Circulation and Interlibrary Loan Department into two separate departments after over 10 years of being merged. We will share our planning and preparations and discuss feedback from employees in both departments who worked before, during, and after the reorg to learn what went well as well as the lessons learned about what could have perhaps gone better. Finally, we will discuss our ongoing efforts to incorporate employee feedback to continue a healthy working relationship after a reorg.

Do you have a diverse community but struggle with how to incorporate other cultures into your programming at your library? This session will share strategies to work with cultural groups to implement a successful program or series that highlights and provides a journey into another culture. Using an example of a Culture of India series that was successfully implemented at a branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, we will share how you can engage your community in celebrating international cultures, diversity and inclusion, as well as highlighting ways to successfully work together to promote understanding. For urban and rural communities alike, you will learn ways to implement a stand alone program or series that can support and educate about a culture within your community. After this session, you will leave with tools to get started and step by step instructions to successfully plan a series that celebrates an international culture. The session will provide an opportunity to engage and brainstorm with other attendees a foundation to take back to their library to implement cultural programming. We'll also share opportunities to support cultural programming whether funding is limited or robust. There will also be a discussion on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's annual program plan and how this helps guide and support cultural programming. In addition, we will briefly mention Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's welcoming initiative, WelcomeCLT.

From day-to-day operations at a branch to large-scale collaborations across an organization; the outcomes of group efforts are influenced by two things: project management, and team dynamics. Panelists will discuss experiences with a variety of projects and teams, and share what they have learned about best practices and effective methods to help teams set themselves up for success. Some focus areas for this discussion include: communication methods, identifying strengths, creating timelines, building accountability, finding common objectives, defining resource and informational needs, fostering healthy dynamics, measurable goal-setting, identifying deliverables, delegation, division of labor, and tracking progress. This session will include a Q&A portion with panelists.

In 2018, Wake Forest University announced that it would be receiving the donation of then-Senator Richard Burrs political papers in preparation for his leaving office. This donation would lead to the hiring of a visiting archivist tasked with processing the collection within a three-year timeframe. In this presentation, former Collections Archivist Stephanie Bennett and Burr project archivist Kate Trathen will discuss their experience working on the Richard M. Burr Congressional Collection. Stephanie will address advocating for staff in advance, preparing for an inaugural direct report, and supervision and project management of large archival projects. Kate will discuss getting into the nitty-gritty of processing around 500 linear feet of material, project managing the processing work, challenges and opportunities of government documents and the materials of a public figure, and the importance of preserving and providing access to government records.

Vendor Reception in Exhibit Hall