NCLA Con 2025

The issue of library media collections being relevant today has been discussed recently. There have been recent news features on the decline of DVD and music CDs in popularity and sales. Streaming is constantly being mentioned as the reason effect will be discussed. Some libraries have chosen to no longer offer physical media. This presentation will also focus on the current state and future of library media collections. It will also provide information on maintaining those collections.

Managing a Floating Collection across 24 library branches is a complex but rewarding process that ensures materials remain accessible, diverse, and relevant to our patrons. Wake County Public Libraries has developed a strategic approach to maintaining this system, balancing selection, circulation logistics, and deselection to create a dynamic collection that serves the needs of our community. In this session, our Selection Manager, Materials Manager, and Deselection Manager will guide you through each phase of the book lifecycle, sharing insights on how we select, manage, and refresh materials across our system. The selection process plays a critical role in ensuring our collection remains balanced and representative of our patrons' needs. Our Selection Manager will discuss the criteria used to choose materials, emphasizing diversity, relevance, and demand. With a system as large as ours, selecting books that resonate with our communities while maintaining a broad range of perspectives is key. Once books enter our system, the challenge shifts to managing their movement across branches. Our Materials Manager will explore how we track and maintain circulation through an efficient logistical framework. Technology plays a crucial role in monitoring the movement of materials, preventing bottlenecks, and ensuring that all branches have a well-rounded selection of books. We will discuss the tools and strategies we use to keep books flowing smoothly while minimizing delays and gaps in availability. Just as important as adding new materials is the process of removing outdated or underutilized items. Our Deselection Manager will cover the evaluation criteria used to determine when books should be weeded from the collection. Factors such as circulation data, physical condition, and evolving community needs all play a part in these decisions. Floating Collections offer many benefits, including greater flexibility, improved access to materials, and a more patron-driven distribution model. However, challenges such as uneven distribution, wear and tear on popular titles, and maintaining balanced collections across branches require proactive management and problem-solving. By sharing our strategies and experiences, we hope to provide practical insights for libraries, whether they have a floating collection or a traditional one. Join us for this informative session as we break down the key components of our collection management. Whether you are involved in collection development, materials handling, or library operations, this discussion will offer valuable takeaways on best practices, lessons learned, and future innovations in library collection management.

We would like to use this opportunity to showcase what social work and peer support looks like at the High Point Public Library. We will share what prompted this partnership between the Mental Health Associates of the Triad and the High Point Public Library, what services we provide not only for the patrons but also for the staff, as well as the data and statistics we have collected since starting our program. Additionally, we will share creative ways other libraries can still be a resourceful place for vulnerable populations without requiring funding. Furthermore, we will cover examples of future endeavors for libraries, social workers, and peer navigators serving the mental health and homelessness population.

Family Place LibrariesTM (FPL) is a national model that transforms public libraries into community centers for early literacy, parent education, and family support. Since its formation in 1996, over 500 libraries in 32 states have joined the FPL network. The Haywood County Public Library (HCPL) implemented the national model in 2019. The overarching goal of this initiative is to help improve library services for young children and families, and to strengthen the library's role in contributing to shared goals in the community. The purpose of this presentation will be to inform other North Carolina library staff about this program and its components, to detail the staff experiences, to share the value of this program, and to advise others regarding lessons learned. The presentation will overview the seven FPL goals and how a public library can implement the program, including: improving library services for young children and their families, strengthening the library's role in the community, and enhancing literacy access for young children. Libraries can implement these goals by training staff, updating parent collections, designing special spaces for children and families, collaborating with community partners, and hosting five-week parent-child workshops and other children's programs. The FPL model supports the community goals for young children set by North Carolina' Early Childhood Action Plan. Interacting in an environment that equips children to build strong brain architecture and school readiness skills, helps ensure healthy development. This vision for healthy, successful children is set by North Carolina's Early Childhood Action Plan, and implementing the FPL model is one way North Carolina public libraries can align with this vision. The FPL components build on the traditional strengths of public to libraries in creating opportunities for children and families to flourish. In 2023 at the 64th Biennial North Carolina Library Association Conference, Canton Branch Manager Jennifer Stuart & Youth Services Librarian Ashlyn Godleski presented a poster on the HCPL's positive experience of becoming a Family Place Library. Implementing the FPL model has been a great experience for Haywood County. The program is achievable for any size public library and is a great opportunity for other NC public libraries who would like to build their role as a vital community center for young children and their families.

When libraries partner effectively within their communities, everybody wins. This discussion with staff from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation will cover the process of building successful partnerships by defining what a partnership is, identifying different partnership tiers, and discussing ways that partnerships and fundraising intersect and strengthen each other. By the end of the session you'll be prepared to engage deeply with community partners and leverage partnerships to inspire and engage your community and meet their needs creating connections that result in meaningful change for your community.

This past year, the High Point Public Library has participated in a city-wide initiative to help provide meaningful access to public services for all individuals, regardless of their preferred language. This presentation will have two parts. Part one will discuss the process the Language Access Committee went through in developing the Language Access Plan, and its first year of implementation throughout the City of High Point. Part two will discuss how the Language Access Plan is allowing the library to better meet the needs of patrons in our community while helping to further the High Point Public Library's mission of "nurturing the joy of reading, sharing the power of knowledge, strengthening the sense of community and enhancing cultural and economic vitality".

Join us for an inside look at Wake County Public Libraries' Kit Services, a dynamic initiative designed to engage readers of all ages and meet the evolving needs of our community. Our Kit Services provide carefully curated collections that foster literacy, discussion, and connection, supporting patrons in a variety of ways. From Book Club Kits for Kids and Adults to Memory Care Kits designed for individuals experiencing memory loss and their caregivers, our offerings provide valuable resources that enhance learning, spark meaningful conversations, and promote community engagement. Libraries are continuously evolving to meet new demands, and Kit Services represent a powerful way to extend access to high-quality materials in a flexible and user-friendly format. Book Club Kits allow groups to explore literature together, making it easier for schools, community organizations, and book clubs to facilitate discussions without the burden of tracking down multiple copies of a title. Meanwhile, our Memory Care Kits serve a specialized need, providing resources tailored to individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's, along with their caregivers. These kits incorporate books, activities, and sensory tools that encourage reminiscence, engagement, and cognitive stimulation, supporting both individuals and their families. Developing and managing these kits requires thoughtful planning and ongoing assessment. Our team carefully selects materials based on community needs, circulation data, and emerging trends in reader engagement. We will share insights into our selection process, including how we balance popular titles with diverse and inclusive options to ensure broad appeal. Additionally, we will discuss the logistics behind maintaining, tracking, and refreshing our kits to keep them relevant and in excellent condition for patrons. Distribution and accessibility are also key considerations in Kit Services. Ensuring that kits are easy to find, request, and borrow requires a seamless workflow that integrates with existing library systems. We will outline our approach to organizing, cataloging, and circulating kits across our library system, including how we manage reservations and track usage to optimize availability. By streamlining these processes, we enhance the overall user experience and ensure that as many patrons as possible can benefit from these resources. Promotion and outreach play a crucial role in maximizing the impact of Kit Services. Effective marketing strategies, staff training, and community partnerships help spread awareness and increase engagement with these valuable resources. We will explore different ways to promote kits both inside and outside the library, including collaborations with local organizations, digital outreach efforts, and programming that highlights the benefits of using kits for group learning and discussion.

Interlibrary loan has provided users with access to physical books from beyond their single library's collection for a long time, but the sharp increase in ebook purchases the past five years means we must adapt our ILL services to include ebooks. In our current environments, there is no neat and tidy solution for sharing ebooks, and each institution must determine the technologies and policies for borrowing and sharing these electronic resources. This panel will represent perspectives from two institutions and multiple areas of the library. Panelists will discuss how they facilitate borrowing and lending of these resources from the perspective of interlibrary loan practitioners, subject specialists, and technical and collection services. These academic libraries have been piloting different approaches to providing ebook access for their patrons and will engage the audience in a discussion of vendor-neutral options and best practices for getting started.

In order to keep up with changing times and patron expectations, libraries constantly add innovative new resources, formats, and services. But we cannot just keep adding. Sometimes things must be taken away for us to continue to provide excellent service. What has your library technical services unit recently stopped doing? Maybe you stopped collecting print serials, or purchasing individual ebooks? Maybe you stopped classifying childrens books, or you've stopped having big monthly meetings in favor of short weekly "stand-up" meetings to plan the week ahead. We are primarily looking for deliberate decisions driven by patron needs and expectations, rather than unfortunate changes forced by budget constraints, unless you turned them into something wonderful! What have you stopped doing? The session will feature 3-4 panelists plus a moderator. Each panelist will give a 10-15 minute presentation and the session will end with some questions from the moderator and attendees addressed to all panelists. Panelists will be asked to address these questions in their presentations: What were the reasons for your decision? Was there resistance to the change? If so, how did you deal with it? What has been the effect of the change? What has stopping doing that thing allowed you to start doing instead?

When Wake County Public Libraries (WCPL) decided to phase out their Books on CD collection due to rising purchase and maintenance costs, they knew they needed to find another way to facilitate access to accessible audiobooks to their patrons who needed them. To accomplish this, WCPL reached out to the State Library of North Carolina - Accessible Books and Library Services (ABLS) to explore a partnership that would ensure these patrons retain access to no-cost audiobooks. This session will explore how ABLS and WCPL collaborated to bridge this service gap, offering an innovative model for other libraries across North Carolina. We will discuss how the partnership formed, the process of educating WCPL staff integrating ABLS resources into their own, and the impact this collaboration has had on WCPL patrons who are now also ABLS patrons. The panel will share what their experiences have been as a part of the collaboration. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how state and public library collaborations can enhance library services for underserved populations in their communities, ensuring all readers have access to the materials they need.