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.
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.
Wednesday October 15, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT Winston 1C301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Wednesday October 15, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT Salem 3C301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Wednesday October 15, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT Salem 1A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Wednesday October 15, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT Salem 3B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
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.
Wednesday October 15, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT Winston 1C301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Wednesday October 15, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT Winston 1B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
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.
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!
Wednesday October 15, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT Salem 3C301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Wednesday October 15, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Salem 1A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Wednesday October 15, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Winston 1A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Instruction & Graduate Student Support Librarian, Wake Forest University
Hu Womack is an Instruction and Outreach Librarian at Wake Forest University. He is the library liaison to the departments of Communication and Sociology and teaches credit-bearing information literacy courses and co-teaches first-years seminars. He is also an Academic Advisor.
Director, Special Collections & Archives, Wake Forest University
Tanya Zanish-Belcher received her BA in history (Ohio Wesleyan) and MA in archives administration (Wright State University). She co-edited Perspectives on Women's Archives (2013) and is a Past President (MAC) and Past President (SAA).
Wednesday October 15, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Winston 1B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Wednesday October 15, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Salem 3B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Wednesday October 15, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Salem 1B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Join Lisa Coats and Jenneffer Sixkiller for a 30 minute yoga session, followed by a 15 minute guided meditation. Participants can use a chair, or a mat; guidance for both is provided. Clothing can be comfortable conference attire; no need for “yoga clothes”. Care for your body, mind and spirit.
How can we center students in transforming instructional content? By collaborating with them! This presentation will explore how a unique partnership between an MLIS student and a librarian led to the redesign of asynchronous online information literacy modules for ENG 101, a first-year English Composition course. By visually mapping student learning outcomes, we identified gaps and redundancies in existing modules, guiding a scaffolded redesign rooted in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), inclusive pedagogy, and active learning. This project involved not only redesigning the module's content, but migrating from the Canvas Learning Management System to LibWizard Tutorials, increasing interactivity and improving the library's access to assessment data. This transition allowed us to create a more engaging learning experience while ensuring that students' needs were prioritized in the design process. This new collaboration came about as a result of an MLIS student, a recent graduate of our institution, volunteering within our department. This experience brought valuable, fresh insights from the perspective of someone who is both new to librarianship and has direct experience working through the course material, sharing a student's perspective that may be missing from typical assessment data and feedback surveys. This partnership not only addressed a long-standing need to revise outdated content but also provided an opportunity for mentorship and hands-on experience for the student in designing online learning objects. Partnerships like these are rewarding and bridge gaps between librarians and students to create instructional objects that meet their needs. In this session, we will describe our process from evaluating existing content to launching new modules, highlighting the value of librarian-student collaborations in instructional design.
Thursday October 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am EDT Salem 3A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Libraries serve as hubs for information and community engagement, yet traditional feedback mechanisms often fail to foster real dialogue between patrons and staff. This session explores how the "What's On Your Mind?" comment board at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library at Wake Forest University has evolved from a simple feedback collection tool into a dynamic platform for meaningful conversations and service improvements. Attendees will learn how the program was structured to encourage student participation, and the tightrope of maintaining a balance between accessibility and professionalism. The session will discuss key challenges faced in managing open-ended, public feedback-- challenges such as moderating responses, maintaining engagement, and ensuring that student concerns actually lead to actionable change. The discussion will include strategies for enhancing engagement using structured prompts, collaborations with campus organizations, and innovative promotional efforts. Additionally, the session will highlight improvements that are planned for the comment board. These changes will include transitioning to a more professional platform, the exploration of digital tools to track trends in student comments, and best practices in response management. By the end of the presentation, attendees will understand how libraries can move beyond passive suggestion boxes and create interactive, student-driven feedback platforms!
Thursday October 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am EDT Winston 1C301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Do you ever create reports or tables? Maybe you already turn data into charts or graphics. Hearing the term data visualization may bring complex infographics or visuals to mind but data visualization has many forms and you are likely creating data visualizations in your regular work already. This session will introduce attendees to data visualization best practices that apply whether creating a simple table or complex infographic. These practices are based on research into how our brains process and make sense of visual information and they increase the effectiveness of any type of data visualization. Attendees will also learn about free tools to aid in data visualization design from choosing the right graphic to ensuring accessibility.
Thursday October 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am EDT Winston 1B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Success in the library field isn't just about where you are-it's about where you can go. This presentation will explore how adopting an opportunity-minded approach can help you grow within your current role while preparing for new and higher positions. The speaker will share lessons learned in her path from a second career librarian to stepping into the role of Dean of University Libraries. Attendees will gain insights into exploring different paths in librarianship, leveraging existing skills, career development and mapping strategies, and fostering leadership skills that empower them to take charge of their professional journeys. Additional topics include tips for getting involved in professional organizations, finding opportunities to develop and showcase your leadership skills, and overcoming imposter syndrome. Whether you're looking to advance into leadership or expand your impact in your current position, this session will provide the tools and mindset needed to move forward with confidence.
As part of its brand-new library, which opened in Summer 2022, the Hagemeyer Library at Central Piedmont Community College features a service desk staffed by both Library and ITS Help Desk employees. This joint service desk provides students with a one-stop shop for their questions, placing ITS experts in a space where students are already located-the Library! While the collaboration has many positives, there have been challenges to overcome. While front-line ITS staff are present in the library, their supervisors are not. Each department has different priorities, scheduling needs, and hours of operation. Additionally, students don't always know who is library staff and who is ITS staff. Aligning service models has taken time, trial and error, and a lot of communication. Despite the challenges, this partnership has been a huge success. The greatest benefit has been to students, who can now get a wide variety of questions answered in one location. Furthermore, having trained ITS staff on-site means that library staff no longer need to attempt to answer technical questions without the appropriate training or access to specialized programs. Although many aspects of the service desk required careful planning, adaptation, and problem-solving, the joint service desk has now become a highlight of the library. In this session, we will share our experience with all stages of planning and implementing a joint service desk. Some of the topics we will cover include: Considerations when dividing up the physical space of a shared service point, Aligning hours and schedules, Challenges when one department's supervisors are not in the same building, Addressing conflicts between staff from different departments. Deciding whether a written agreement, such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is a helpful tool. Supporting staff who are not in your department. Practical strategies for enhancing multi-department partnerships.
Thursday October 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am EDT Salem 1B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Thursday October 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am EDT Winston 1A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Thursday October 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am EDT Salem 1A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
At times, being a middle manager in libraries can feel like being stuck in a liminal state: Balancing management responsibilities with the nuts and bolts of daily library operations, putting out short-term fires while also making time for long-range planning, focusing on the needs of your team while also supporting your own wellness, and operationalizing higher level administrative decisions while not having a seat at the tables where those decisions are made. For new managers, this liminality brings unease, discomfort, uncertainty, and doubt on top of navigating the new frontier of formal leadership. Leadership training opportunities can help address these fears by offering theoretical foundations, ethical principles, and frameworks for approaching supervisory roles. However, such training typically ignores the less glamorous daily duties assigned to managers: Policies and procedures, change management and organizational restructuring, employee turnover and leave, and more. These management tasks offer opportunities for building in equity and person-centered approaches to doing library work, while also being limited to the larger organizational structures and systems that may-or may not-allow for such expectations to be set. How can new managers, grappling with their own changing professional identities and position responsibilities, confidently take up this call to action while building up their own supervisory skills? In this session, two managers will share their experience of their first years serving as middle managers in academic libraries. They will talk about how they navigated their roles, translated their leadership skills into management skills, built new relationships with their team, and learned some of the essential skills of management that are not taught in library school or leadership webinars. Topics will include setting boundaries for yourself and for team members, navigating hybrid work in the post-pandemic workplace, balancing operational tasks with strategic planning, building a network with other managers to help you tackle the tough challenges, and more. Presenters will share specific examples of management challenges and practical advice on how to proceed, while acknowledging that there is rarely any one "right" solution. As people in positions of authority and power-albeit limited-this session will advocate for the small changes that are possible within a team environment in order to advance individual and organizational goals toward the new frontier of slow, justice-oriented, and people-centered librarianship. Attendees should leave this session with greater empathy and understanding of what is involved in supervisory roles.
This presentation will begin with a comprehensive description of the technologies available in the CP Library makerspace. It will then discuss three key elements to fostering engagement with your community through your makerspace including: creating student buy-in, creating staff and faculty buy-in, and promoting your makerspace through student events and instruction services. Student buy-in can be created through a variety of training options, both one-on-one and in groups. It can also be created through encouraging students to attempt to utilize new technologies and flexing their creative muscles. Student buy-in also requires the encouragement for students to make projects for their own personal edification in the makerspace and to engage in iterative learning through a trial-and-error approach. Staff/faculty buy-in can be created through a variety of methods including cross-departmental staffing of the makerspace within the library, implementing a train the trainer method, encouraging non-library staff to receive free one-on-one training, and encouraging staff and faculty to make projects for their own personal edification. Promoting your makerspace successfully among your community includes tying makerspace tours into instruction sessions, attending student events and running tables, and hosting events open to the entire college community in the space.
Thursday October 16, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT Winston 1A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Usage statistics can be challenging to collect and interpret. NC LIVE is uniquely positioned to provide libraries with guidance and context for interpreting their statistics. To leverage this we've been building an updated statistics portal that gives librarians more control over what data is included in their usage reports, and provides new tools to analyze them. In this presentation, we'll go over the goals, process, and challenges of redesigning the NC LIVE Statistics Portal, how librarians can use it to get data about their own usage trends, and how they compare to those of their peers, and how they can use them to better understand their resource usage.
NC LIVE is North Carolina's statewide library cooperative, supporting 200+ public and academic libraries across North Carolina. Since its founding in 1997, NC LIVE has saved the state millions through innovation and collaborative efforts.
Thursday October 16, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT Winston 1B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
To further establish libraries as dynamic hubs of entrepreneurial activity and support, NC IDEA (a foundation dedicated to supporting North Carolina's entrepreneurs) has partnered with NC LIVE to pilot a groundbreaking fellowship program that empowers librarians to effectively support the "patron-founders" who walk through the library doors. The Libraries for Entrepreneurial Advancement Fellowship Program (LEAF Program) is a fully funded professional development experience that invites a cohort of 20 librarians to a 2-day in-person summit followed by virtual skill-building sessions throughout the year. Fellows gain confidence in speaking the language of entrepreneurship, they expand their knowledge of business resources, and also strengthen their market research skills using tools like Data Axle and Social Explorer. Through this program, librarians develop meaningful connections with peers and ecosystem partners. They also learn how to capture and communicate the numbers and stories of the library's contributions to local economic development. In this session, meet a current LEAF librarian and hear from NC IDEA's program manager. You'll understand how the LEAF Program works, what it hopes to accomplish, and how it has been developed in close collaboration with ALA's Libraries Build Business, BLINC, and the State Library of North Carolina. Attendees will leave inspired by how our state can serve as a national model of library-powered, equitable economic development. Application materials for the upcoming LEAF cohort will be on hand. (To ensure accessibility for all library systems, NC IDEA is committed to covering 100% of all Fellow expenses -- hotel, food, transportation.)
NC LIVE is North Carolina's statewide library cooperative, supporting 200+ public and academic libraries across North Carolina. Since its founding in 1997, NC LIVE has saved the state millions through innovation and collaborative efforts.
Thursday October 16, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT Winston 1C301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
This presentation will provide some concrete examples of emergency events that happened at our libraries over the past few years and how we managed these crises situations during periods of uncertainty. It includes our responses to Hurricane Helene, mold issues in the library, updates to our emergency procedures, and what we learned throughout these processes. The discussion of these topics is relevant to any library or institution that has faced a natural disaster crisis situation before, or would like to become better prepared for future emergency events with appropriate planning and procedures in place. Attendees will have an opportunity to engage with presenters on these topics through Q&A, and also share what they have learned about emergency planning through past/current similar experiences and circumstances at their own libraries. Our collective goal is to continue to provide equitable access and critical services to our communities during difficult times.
Thursday October 16, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT Salem 3B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Thursday October 16, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT Salem 3A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Thursday October 16, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT Salem 1B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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".
Artificial intelligence is transforming the research process, offering new ways to support topic development and critical thinking. This session explores how AI tools can be effectively integrated into research assignments while addressing the diverse needs of a multigenerational student body. Attendees will examine the role of AI in guiding students through topic exploration, evaluating sources, and developing research strategies. The discussion will include a comparison of Credo Reference's Mind Map tool with other key research features, as well as the integration of library databases to enhance information literacy. Participants will gain practical strategies for helping students critically engage with AI tools while leveraging reliable academic resources for their research.
Library advocacy is the support of libraries and their services, often through campaigning and donations. The goal is to ensure that libraries have the resources they need to serve the community. This presentation will help define why you need to advocate, and provide tips and information about best practices to move forward.
Thursday October 16, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Salem 1B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Mentorship in libraries is a powerful tool for professional growth. It plays a key role in helping librarians develop essential skills, advance in their careers, and overcome role-specific challenges. Both formal and informal mentorship provide invaluable support, particularly for early-career professionals and those navigating job transitions. For mentees, these relationships provide guidance, help build confidence, and offer a sense of direction, while mentors benefit from fresh perspectives, strengthened leadership skills, and the opportunity to pass on their knowledge Beyond individual growth, mentorship aids in the creation of a supportive network, promoting knowledge transfer across generations and job roles. By leveraging existing networks, libraries can build and sustain meaningful, mutually beneficial mentorship relationships that extend across institutions and strengthen the field as a whole. Throughout our careers, we've each benefited from both formal and informal mentorship experiences that have helped us grow professionally, build meaningful connections, and navigate the complexities of the library field. As libraries continue to evolve in response to new technologies, changing job roles, and shifting institutional priorities, mentorship will become increasingly important, as it offers a sustainable way to adapt to these changes while nurturing professional development and fostering a culture of collaboration. In this session, we will use real-life examples to show how mentorship assists early-career professionals with navigating job transitions and career difficulties. We will highlight why mentorship is particularly crucial in today's library landscape, and how it contributes to resilient, adaptive, and confident professionals who are ready to face future challenges. By exploring the many ways mentorship strengthens libraries, we will demonstrate how it encourages idea-sharing, promotes collaborative problem-solving, and offers opportunities for personalized, low-cost professional development. Ultimately, mentorship helps librarians grow their skills, build networks, and achieve professional goals, ensuring the continued evolution and success of libraries.
Thursday October 16, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Winston 1C301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Explore the wide range of legal issues affecting libraries and discover strategies to better prepare for potential challenges. This session will allow participants to gain a foundational understanding of how the First Amendment, copyright, and privacy laws impact libraries, as well as how the impact may differ for public vs school libraries. Bring your questions and curiosity and leave with more confidence about how your work is supported by law.
How nimble is your library? If a staff member is gone for an extended period of time, can their major job duties be covered? Do your staff want to build new skills? Cross-training is a solution to all of these challenges! Cross-training is any form of employees learning job duties that are outside their normal focus from their colleagues within the same library system. Implementing a cross-training program not only helps your staff grow professionally, but it also benefits your library as a whole while keeping training costs low. By emphasizing cross-training at your library, you will have staff that can step in and fill gaps that may arise and develop well-rounded, skilled staff. Cross training can have a variety of appearances, from people within a single library learning each other's areas, to creating staff who are comfortable at more than one branch location, to back-ups for tasks crucial to the library's success. Cross-training is also beneficial to library staff by allowing them to build new skills and gain experience in different aspects of the library to support their own career goals and professional development. In this session, librarians will discuss the benefits of cross-training and ways to implement it at your library. Whether you work in a single library or multi-branch system, there are multiple ways to design a cross-training program to help your staff grow and enable your library to rapidly adapt to changing needs. Practical tips and ways to avoid common pitfalls will also be covered.
Thursday October 16, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Salem 1A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Improving the accessibility of your library online content doesn't have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. Small, intentional changes can make a real impact on how users engage your resources. This session will outline six practical, actionable steps that libraries of any size can take to improve accessibility and prepare for the new ADA Title II requirements. Topics will include tips for performing an accessibility audit of your library's custom content, how to leverage existing accessibility tools and consortial efforts to streamline work, and how to prioritize content for remediation. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies they can implement to create a more accessible online experience for all patrons.
NC LIVE is North Carolina's statewide library cooperative, supporting 200+ public and academic libraries across North Carolina. Since its founding in 1997, NC LIVE has saved the state millions through innovation and collaborative efforts.
The job search process can be daunting for early career librarians and not always something they are prepared for as part of their graduate program training. The success of the search process for these librarians may be impacted by several factors, including the job ads that often dictate whether an early career librarian even chooses to apply for a position. This presentation will highlight the findings of an extensive qualitative study of the job search experiences of early career librarians. Utilizing a series of focus groups and semi-structured interviews, the researchers investigated early career librarians' job search process, including how they located positions, which factors motivated them to apply for a position versus red flags that deterred their application, and other aspects of the job search process. Participants also shared suggestions for library and information organizations interested in attracting early career librarians to their workplaces. The findings of this study offer insights for both job applicants and library and information organizations looking to recruit early career professionals and offer valuable and applicable suggestions to improve the overall job search experience and, ultimately, professional experiences in the LIS workplace.
Thursday October 16, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Winston 1B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
Thursday October 16, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Salem 3C301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
In Spring 2024, USC Lancaster held the first-of-its-kind student research showcase on the campus. The new "Celebration of Lancer Excellence" featured a poster session, student presentations and performances, and awards announcements. The event was a success among the campus community, leading to an expanded annual student research showcase in April 2025. In this session, librarians share their experiences planning and hosting this successful celebration of student achievement. We will cover lessons learned and tips for librarians interested in creating similar events. This successful collaboration demonstrates the importance of positioning the library as a research center at all stages of the process. This event' success highlights the importance of cross-campus collaboration with faculty, campus offices, students, and community groups.
Thursday October 16, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT Salem 3B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
The integration of library services into student transition programs has emerged as a novel approach in the evolving landscape of academic affairs on college and university campuses. At Augusta University (AU), the AU Libraries have partnered with the Office of New Student and Family Transitions for orientation events and transformed the library space into a dynamic event venue for other unique activities welcoming students to campus, such as ice skating in the library (yes, you read that correctly). This cross-departmental partnership between transition programs and university libraries directly addresses the need for creative academic engagement from the first day on campus. It reflects the growing emphasis on holistic student development, integrating academic resources and recreational activities to enhance the student experience. This session will highlight the importance of collaboration in creating impactful student experiences and showcase the potential of libraries as multifunctional spaces for student activities. Attendees will learn strategies for incorporating library services into transition programs and will understand the benefits of early library engagement in fostering a culture of resource utilization among students
If ever there was a time to educate the community on how to access credible, authentic government information, now is that time. As a librarian working in an academic library, I typically assist students with locating sources of government information. However, after presenting online sessions to the general community in fall 2024 and spring 2025, on how to locate federal and North Carolina state sources of government information, the Coordinator from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), a university-led and member-supported organization that provides lifelong learning opportunities for adults 50+, contacted me to see if I would be interested in teaching these same sessions in an in-person format to this community group. During my presentation, I'll discuss the format/content in which I taught these sessions, the interaction and feedback of those who enrolled in the course, and things I learned while presenting this as an in-person session for the first time.
In conjunction with the already complex issue of copyright, more students, librarians, and faculty are increasingly mystified by AI and the ways students are incorporating AI tools in their schoolwork. Librarians need to be aware of how AI technology constantly evolves, how students are utilizing AI resources, and where boundaries for academic integrity need to be set. Students will keep pushing the boundaries of what is considered academically acceptable and what constitutes plagiarism until these boundaries are clearly defined and communicated.
Outreach in academic libraries is rewarding but often comes with challenges like managing capacity, avoiding burnout, and justifying the return on investment. This session will offer actionable strategies to measure workload, determine how much to take on, and handle over-capacity scenarios. We'll explore ways to sunset ineffective programs, leverage collaboration to lighten the load, and build sustainable outreach practices that align with institutional priorities. Attendees will gain tools to manage internal and external expectations, advocate for resources, and foster growth opportunities for their outreach teams. The session will also delve into balancing creativity and practicality, addressing hidden labor like event cleanup, signage design, and material storage. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to outreach, this session provides practical tips for maximizing impact, sharing ownership, and adapting to evolving needs-ensuring your outreach efforts remain impactful, feasible, and personally sustainable over the long term. As current outreach librarians and staff members, we believe outreach is the heart of connecting libraries with their communities, yet it's often one of the most demanding and underappreciated aspects of our work. Balancing creativity with practicality, impact with sustainability, and enthusiasm with capacity is a challenge every outreach professional faces. We are particularly inspired by the opportunity to explore innovative ways to sunset ineffective programs and embrace new ideas, all while fostering teamwork and advocating for resources.
Thursday October 16, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT Salem 3A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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.
As we move past the hype (and perhaps the fears) regarding generative AI, we believe that implications and best practices for using AI in information literacy and literature searching are becoming clearer. This presentation provides overviews and case studies of how three academic librarians are navigating AI in research and library instruction via their research projects, classes, and liaison work. This talk should be useful for any library worker involved in information literacy, research consultations, and scholarly communication. The speakers will leave time to engage the audience, inviting them to offer their own lessons learned and best practices, as well as ask questions and even provide pushback. Our topics will include an overview of Scite.AI, Litmaps, and other scholarly literature products; use of general LLMs like ChatGPT in research and the classroom; an overview of vendor AIs including ProQuest, Scopus, and Statista; and a comparison of an AI-integrated research process to a more traditional research process. We will share our lessons learned, best practices, recommendations, and concerns for any librarian using these tools with their patrons and students. Ophelia has been conducting an IRB-approved research study of undergraduate and graduate students' experience of using AI for scholarly literature searching. Morgan is working with graduate students in a client consulting project to utilize AI in information discovery, analysis, and strategy. Steve has his entrepreneurship research students explore using AI for data discovery, and is now an administrator and trainer of a Scite.AI subscription for his business school. All three of us also have our students engage with the ethical aspects of generative AI. Questions we have been exploring include: What is the impact on students' research abilities in finding, analyzing, and synthesizing information? Do AI tools complement or replace library databases? How do the tools facilitate literature reviews, including evidence synthesis? How do students perceive the value and reliability of AI tools? How are students responding to librarian-led instruction on AI tools, and how does the instruction shape their approach to research and information evaluation? Are scholarly AI tools worth the money? Can they replace Google Scholar? Or Scopus and Web of Science?
Book challenges are not a new phenomenon, but today's intellectual freedom landscape presents unprecedented challenges for library workers and educators. To explore these complexities, we developed a semester-long First Year Seminar at Wake Forest University titled Who's Afraid of the Big Banned Books? Through this course, we engaged with Gen Z students in dynamic discussions about censorship, intellectual freedom, and the broader societal impact of book bans. Using I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Winston Salem's most famous poet, Maya Angelou, as a case study, our class analyzed historical examples of book challenges and bans, including the social and political context of these book challenges. We compared this analysis of historic book challenges to current examples selected from challenges being tracked by NCLA's Intellectual Freedom Committee to look for trends in censorship efforts in the United States over time and elements that are unique to the intellectual freedom landscape today. While we were familiar with these issues, our Gen Z students' perspectives deepened our understanding in unexpected ways. In this session, we'll share key insights from our experience and discuss how they can inform library messaging, advocacy strategies, mission statements, and outreach efforts for all library types.
Librarians are creating more asynchronous online content, services, and workshop sessions than ever before in higher education, and many of these products are made using Springshare products. The ability to tell the story of how libraries meet the needs of patrons (including online and distance) through their Springshare solutions is essential as we continue to navigate through this dynamic and transformative era of librarianship. This presentation will provide an introduction to Springshare, LibGuides, and LibWizard; analytics on the backend and then offer other methods of non-native quantitative assessment of LibGuides and LibWizard tutorials. We will cover three assessment projects: looking at web statistics on how patrons are entering LibGuides, an accessibility audit of LibGuides, and assessing interactive tutorials in LibWizard. This presentation will provide a blueprint for asynchronous assessment strategies for all librarians that can be adapted based on each team's institution and needs. Though this presentation is focused on Springshare products, the elements of quantitative assessment presented can be applied to other websites and online learning materials. This presentation will be interactive and include time at the end for questions and answers.
Libraries are constantly evolving to meet the needs of their communities, and book clubs and readers' advisory services are no exception. Today's readers expect more than just book recommendations - they crave deeper engagement, diverse perspectives, and access to content that enhances their reading experience. Gale Literature Resource Center, often viewed as an academic research tool, is an underutilized resource for public libraries that offers a wealth of materials to support and enrich programming. With primary source sets, author interviews, scholarly articles, and even podcasts, this database provides valuable historical and contemporary insights that can spark meaningful discussions in book clubs and enhance readers' advisory services. This session will explore how libraries can integrate these resources to create richer, more dynamic book club discussions and connect patrons with literary works in new ways. Presenters will showcase practical strategies, such as using primary source sets to provide historical context or incorporating author interviews and podcasts to connect readers with contemporary voices. Attendees will receive discussion prompts, hands-on demonstrations, and concrete ideas for making their library's programs more engaging and impactful. Beyond the tools themselves, this session will also highlight the value of collaboration between vendors and library consortia in meeting the changing needs of member libraries. By working together, we can ensure that libraries have access to high-quality, curated content that not only supports traditional book-related services but also expands their role as community hubs for learning and conversation. Whether you're looking to reinvigorate an existing book club or enhance your library's approach to readers' advisory, this session will provide actionable insights and materials to help you navigate the future of programming in both in-person and virtual environments.
NC LIVE is North Carolina's statewide library cooperative, supporting 200+ public and academic libraries across North Carolina. Since its founding in 1997, NC LIVE has saved the state millions through innovation and collaborative efforts.
Friday October 17, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am EDT Winston 1A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
The Source Evaluation Taste Test is an interactive, innovative program that can be adapted for patrons of all ages and backgrounds. This session explores how library programs can incorporate playful, hands-on methods to promote information literacy, while also fostering meaningful connections between patrons and library staff. Through creative use of food-themed metaphors and engaging activities, the program encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboratio-supporting both academic and personal growth. The learning outcomes for this program are to: Improve critical thinking and information literacy skills. Increase confidence in identifying credible and relevant information. Create an interactive, engaging learning environment. Support independent, lifelong learning through the use of library resources. The presentation will be structured as follows: A walkthrough of the Source Evaluation Taste Test program, including examples and materials used. A discussion of how the program aligns with both public and academic library environments. A breakdown of how this program intersects with core areas of library work, including instruction, outreach, programming, and the use of simple technologies. Ideas for adapting the program into a series that meets the needs of different user groups, including teens, first-year college students, and adult learners. The goal of this proposal is to demonstrate how a flexible, engaging program like this can be adapted and reimagined across various library settings. As an early-career librarian, I've used this workshop as a way to meet students where they are, and it's been well-received. I believe it offers other librarians a creative and approachable way to reconnect patrons with the library-especially in times of transition, when staffing changes or gaps in instruction may have left users feeling disconnected. This session ties directly to the conference theme, Books and Beyond: Navigating New Frontiers, by helping patrons think more critically about the information they consume-where it comes from, how to evaluate it, and how to confidently move through an increasingly complex information landscape. As libraries continue to evolve and face new challenges, including the spread of mis- and disinformation, changing technology, and shifting community needs-programs like this offer a way forward. They help library workers support digital and information literacy in ways that are both accessible and meaningful. Additionally, this program can be used to highlight and center diverse voices and collections, making it a valuable tool for advancing equity, inclusion, and representation. For libraries looking to reengage underrepresented groups or promote DEI-related resources in a fun, low-barrier format, this program offers a flexible starting point. The Source Evaluation Taste Test blends creativity, instruction, and community-building while equipping library staff with tools to reach users wherever they are on their information journey.
Libraries serve as pivotal community hubs, offering spaces where individuals of all ages can learn, engage, and celebrate cultural traditions together. This session delves into the development and execution of multigenerational cultural programming, emphasizing its significance in strengthening community bonds. Using the Traditions of Ramadan & Eid series as a case study, participants will gain insights into: Program Development; Steps to conceptualize and design inclusive cultural events that resonate with diverse audiences. Outreach Strategies: Effective methods to engage various community segments, ensuring widespread participation. Partnership Building: Techniques to collaborate with local organizations, businesses, and cultural groups to enhance program authenticity and reach. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies, templates, and resources to replicate multigenerational cultural programming in their own libraries. Whether you're just starting out or looking to enhance your library's approach to inclusive community engagement, this session will provide you with the tools and inspiration needed to bring meaningful cultural programming to life.
Friday October 17, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am EDT Salem 1A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
The hoopla and intentionality with which many library outreach programs are pitched to undergraduate students are not always replicated for graduate students, especially when their numbers are small. Direct outreach to grad students may only come at the end of their time at the institution through support around theses and dissertations. Inadvertently, libraries may be overlooking a population with diverse support needs that go beyond graduation checklist steps - we certainly were! Our targeted support for graduate students began 16 years ago when the library launched our institutional repository and the Graduate School began requiring students to submit electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). Our scholarly communication committee advised on the technical steps for submission and hosted a workshop to introduce students to the system and answer questions. Hiring a Scholarly Communication Librarian in 2009 enabled the library to provide expert guidance to students around copyright and fair use and to faculty advisors who were skeptical of the benefits of open access for ETDs. After learning about graduate student boot camps at ACRL 2017, we expanded support for graduate students that fall semester with the creation of a graduate student boot camp hosted by the library during the University's fall break. We offered sessions on addressing writer's block, time management, copyright and open access, research databases, and citation tools. To encourage participation, we included coffee and lunch for participants. We partnered with both the writing center and learning assistance office to help lead the sessions and received funding from the library and Graduate School. Over the eight boot camps we have hosted, survey feedback has allowed us to tailor the boot camp to the needs of the students, changing the time of the event, the workshops offered, and even the menu for lunch! Most recently, in 2024, through internal restructuring, we created a new liaison librarian position, part of whose time is dedicated to outreach to and support of graduate students. This new position works with the University's team that prepares and conducts graduate student orientation and represents the library on a University collaborative team that brings together staff who support graduate students from across the campus. Additionally, this librarian offers workshops on research and citation management to graduate students both on campus and in online graduate programs. This expanded outreach aligns with the library's commitment to improving student study spaces, which included relocating the graduate student lounge to a suite with a printer, kitchenette, and snack station. Building from our support around theses and dissertations preparation and submission, we slowly crafted an outreach program for our graduate students. Given that our initial in-road for support came at graduation, we grew our program from end to beginning and now offer a matriculation-to-graduation comprehensive program that provides multifaceted assistance to a critical campus population. Join us for this session, where we will share a scaffolded and replicable model for library support of graduate students that they can customize and implement at their institution.
Friday October 17, 2025 11:00am - 11:45am EDT Winston 1A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
AI's role in academic libraries predates the rise of generative AI, evolving from early computational tools to today's advanced research applications. This workshop explores the historical trajectory of AI in libraries, from machine-readable cataloging and early expert systems to AI-driven discovery tools and research assistants. By understanding this progression, attendees will gain insight into how AI has transformed information retrieval and academic research support. This session will highlight key developments, discuss current applications in academic databases, and examine best practices for integrating AI responsibly in library services. Through discussion and analysis, participants will leave with a clearer understanding of AI's impact on academic libraries and strategies for navigating its future developments.
In the fast-paced and often demanding environment of library work, staff members face numerous challenges that can impact their professional well-being and success. This session will explore the vital role of mentorship in supporting library staff, with a particular focus on the unique challenges faced by BIPOC employees. While mentorship in libraries is neither a new concept nor a hidden one, it remains underutilized in many library settings. By fostering a culture of mentorship, libraries can create spaces that promote professional growth, emotional support, and retention for all staff members. Join Ciera and Candace as they share their insights from research, and firsthand experience, in both academic and public library environments. They will highlight the positive impact of mentorship programs, discuss strategies for implementing and expanding these programs, and provide practical recommendations for library leaders and staff. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of the importance of mentorship and how it can be used to strengthen and empower library teams, particularly for BIPOC library workers.
No matter your position, you can cultivate leadership skills by embracing the transformative power of self-awareness and leading with authenticity and purpose. As the NCLA Leadership Institute emphasizes, "Lead from where you are." At the heart of effective leadership is a deep understanding of oneself. In this session, Jenneffer (academic librarian and former public librarian) and Jenny (Assistant Director at a public library and former school library media coordinator) will share their complementary yet distinct leadership journeys. As mentees, mentors, and planning committee members of the NCLA Leadership Institute, they will provide insights into how self-awareness shapes authentic leadership and fosters resilience. Through reflective discussions and interactive exercises, participants will explore how their core values and strengths influence their decision-making, workplace relationships, and leadership effectiveness. Attendees will engage in practical activities designed to deepen self-awareness, assess their leadership styles, and identify actionable steps to enhance their leadership practice. Topics will include the role of self-care in leadership, the importance of setting healthy boundaries, and the power of storytelling in leading with impact. Participants will leave equipped with tools to turn reflection into meaningful action, confidently navigating their leadership journey.This session is ideal for library professionals at any career stage who are eager to strengthen their leadership abilities, foster collaborative environments, and contribute to a culture of growth and innovation. Join Jenny and Jenneffer to discover how intentional self-awareness can empower you and your library to navigate new frontiers of leadership.
Library staff encounter people with trauma histories every day. We don't usually know their stories, but we can approach our patrons and our colleagues with a person-centered, trauma-informed lens. In 2024-2025, Amanda Goldson (librarian at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library) and Rachel Green (licensed clinical social worker at Jewish Family Services) developed and presented 6 training sessions on the PCTI lens to CML staff members. At the same time, Amanda put together a grant-funded, PCTI healing arts series for the public with local artists teaching a variety of media. In this presentation, Amanda and Rachel will talk about the basics of PCTI and what was learned by adapting PCTI to library services and programs.
Library Programs help to bridge the gap between customers, organizations and authors. In my experience, library programs is a safe place for meeting, it opens the doors for new library customers. Programs also lead to lasting partnerships which is a key element to community relations and resources. In keeping with High Point Public Library motto: nurturing the joy of reading, sharing the power of knowledge, strengthening the sense of community, and enhancing cultural economic vitality. I seek to create programs that foster the joy of reading organizing Programs that create a space for connections to be made and lasting friendships to form while educating attendees. Programming such as hosting author events is an excellent way for authors to network with other authors, meet and greet their readers and it's an opportunity for community engagement and promoting education.
Friday October 17, 2025 11:00am - 11:45am EDT Salem 1B301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
As staff members of a statewide library consortium, we see tremendous variations between our member libraries marketing needs. Some library systems have entire marketing and outreach departments; others rely on the precious little free time of their creative staff members. However, one commonality is that many librarians express confusion and frustration about marketing e-resources. Because of these disparities and the lack of existing literature on this topic, we launched a national survey to discover the primary barriers libraries face in promoting e-resources specifically.In this presentation, we will present the findings of our survey and share some of the ways that a diverse sample of libraries approach e-resource marketing. We will also share the primary barriers that libraries reported along with insights into the challenges they face in marketing e-resources. Additionally, we will discuss strategies for fostering collaboration among member libraries to share best practices and resources. By leveraging the strengths of larger institutions and supporting smaller libraries, we aim to create a more equitable framework for e-resource marketing. This session will equip participants with practical recommendations for their own libraries and an understanding of how library consortia can help address these challenges and make marketing e-resources more effective for all types of libraries.
Friday October 17, 2025 11:00am - 11:45pm EDT Salem 3A301 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
