NCLA Con 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how information is accessed, organized, and utilized. For librarians, understanding AI tools and their applications can enhance research support, instructional services, and workflow efficiency. This hands-on pre-conference workshop will introduce participants to a range of AI-powered tools relevant to librarianship, provide guided experimentation with different tools, and facilitate discussions on real-world use cases. Attendees will leave with practical knowledge and strategies for integrating AI tools into their professional practice. This workshop will empower librarians to navigate the evolving AI landscape with confidence, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to leverage AI effectively in their professional practice. Workshop Objectives: By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to: Identify and evaluate AI tools suitable for different aspects of librarianship, including research support, instruction, and content organization. Experiment with AI tools hands-on to understand their capabilities and limitations. Explore case studies demonstrating successful AI applications in library settings. Discuss ethical considerations and best practices for AI integration. Develop a plan for incorporating AI tools into their workflows. Workshop Format: The workshop will be structured to balance learning, experimentation, and discussion: Introduction to AI in Librarianship (30 min) – Overview of AI technologies, their impact on library services, and key considerations. Exploring AI Tools (50 min) – Guided demonstrations of AI tools for research, instruction, and workflow automation, with opportunities for participants to test them. Break (10 min) Use Cases and Applications (45 min) – Real-world examples of AI in action, presented as short case studies from different library contexts. Hands-on Experimentation (50 min) – Participants engage with AI tools in breakout groups, with the facilitator available to answer questions. Break (10 min) Discussion and Q&A (45 min) – Participants share insights, challenges, and questions about AI implementation. Intended Audience: This workshop is designed for librarians in all roles and settings who are interested in learning about AI tools and their applications. No prior experience with AI is required. Technology Requirements: Participants should bring a laptop or tablet to engage in hands-on activities. Wi-Fi access will be necessary for online tool exploration.

Participants will learn how to design and implement library programming centered on Black superhero comics, including strategies for curating collections, collaborating with campus and community partners, and creating programs that engage diverse audiences. Participants will gain insight into the significance of Black superhero studies as an academic and cultural field, with a focus on the portrayal of Haitian culture in comics and animated television. Participants will explore how comics can serve as tools for critical media literacy, helping learners examine the implications of power, race, and cultural representation in popular media. Participants will consider the importance of cultural sensitivity when engaging with stories rooted in Black and African diasporic traditions, particularly those that have been historically misrepresented or misunderstood. Participants will leave with concrete tools, prompts, and activity ideas for centering marginalized voices through storytelling in their own instruction, programming, or community initiatives.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How can academic libraries promote a culture of reading in their spaces and communities? This paired presentation summarizes efforts to connect books of all shapes and sizes with community building and wellness initiatives on campus. It highlights the successes (and some of the pitfalls) of leisure reading programming at a liberal arts college. From book clubs to outreach strategies, attendees will hear about ways in which students, faculty, and staff have connected with books (and beyond) through their academic library.

Over the last 20 years, Belk Library's collection development policy has shifted from prescriptive to descriptive, deemphasizing specific collections outcomes and empowering liaison librarians to make purchasing decisions for their partner areas. Without any coordination or mandates, librarians began purchasing materials meant to meet the whole-person needs of their liaison groups, converging on a collection capable of supporting campus both through and beyond the curriculum. Our presentation will explore the effect of placing more collection development in the hands of liaison librarians already immersed in different user populations. This case study demonstrates how extending the trust already placed in liaison librarians to include materials selection can yield new and improved relationships throughout the university, as well as deeper library involvement in projects and activities across campus and the surrounding communities. We offer lessons learned on the counterintuitive ability of decentralization to build collections with a shared vision; how popular materials can advance the mission of academic libraries; and the value in crafting policies allowing for organic and responsive collection development rather than those imposing narrowly prescribed visions on library collections.

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.

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.

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.