NCLA Con 2025

This workshop offers library professionals a full day of immersive, hands-on learning in two complementary parts. The morning session introduces the art and history of books and bookbinding, while the afternoon explores zine-making as a medium of personal expression and community engagement. Participants will actively create their own hand-bound books and self-published zines, guided by an experienced instructor. Throughout both sessions, the workshop emphasizes experiential, object-based, and craft-based learning theories – demonstrating how tactile, “learning-by-doing” activities can deepen understanding of library collections and the social impact of print culture. By the end of the day, attendees will not only have new creative skills and finished projects to take home, but also concrete ideas for implementing bookbinding and zine programs in their own libraries. This workshop is beginner-friendly and open to all. All materials and tools will be provided, and participants are encouraged (but not required) to bring any personal images, magazines, poetry, or artwork to incorporate into their zines. Connection to 45-Minute Conference Presentation This workshop is proposed in conjunction with a 45-minute presentation at the main conference, and together they provide a cohesive learning experience on bookbinding, zines, and experiential learning in libraries. 
Participants can select to attend the morning or afternoon session, or both.

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.

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. 

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.