Dr. Kate Beane (Flandreau Santee Sioux Dakota and Muscogee Creek) holds a PhD in American Studies from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Museum of American Art, and serves as adjunct faculty in American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota. She is vice chair of the board for Vision Maker Media, a national organization based out of Nebraska, chair of the board for Wakan Tipi Awayankapi in St. Paul (Imnizaska), and in 2020 was appointed by Governor Walz to serve on the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board (CAAPB), which oversees Capitol complex preservation and development (including public art) in downtown St. Paul. Previously, Kate served on the leadership team at the Minnesota Historical Team where she was the director of Native American Initiatives engaging with both Native communities and tribes and advocating for and implementing Indigenous interpretation and involvement at historic sites throughout the state. In 2018 Kate and her father Syd Beane completed a documentary film, Ohiyesa: The Soul of an Indian, which shares the story of her grandfather, writer, reformer, and physician Charles A. Eastman and in 2019 she presented a Minneapolis TEDX talk titled “The Lasting Legacy of Place Names,” which spoke to her family’s work restoring the Dakota name to Bde Maka Ska in south Minneapolis (Bdeota).
Library staff play a particularly important role in the management process of electronic resources (e-resources). They work collaboratively with Electronic Resources and Metadata Librarians and assist with activations of incoming library materials, collections and databases maintenance, holdings synchronization across different platforms, and various clean-up projects. Due to the complexity of e-resources processing and management, the training, coaching, and mentoring of library support staff can be a challenge. This presentation will focus on training needs, methods, and techniques to develop appropriate skills for working with e-resources. Additionally, the audience will be introduced to influential training resources, programs, discussion lists, podcasts, and weblogs.
Discussions about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the library often cite cataloging and metadata creation as facets of library work that might benefit from adoption of these technologies. However, these discussions often do not consider whether or not AI is applicable to the current challenges faced by catalogers. With software vendors increasingly incorporating AI unilaterally into their products, it is important for librarians to effectively communicate their needs to these vendors so that new features align with the needs of the field. This presentation explores this topic by sharing current challenges related to technology encountered by print and electronic resources staff at an academic library and identifying which, if any, AI technologies would be appropriate to help address these challenges.
Librarians have traditionally approached spatial assessment via a heavily data driven approach--gate counts, heat maps, etc.--with occasional focus groups to gather qualitative data. However, to understand our users and their use of our space, we should leverage alternative methods to learn how our patrons read and thus imagine our spaces. In this presentation we will explore Edward’s Soja’s notions of Thirdspace and David Seamon’s concept of at-homeness as possible frameworks for space assessment. Understanding these principles can provide a new perspective through which to achieve a homeostasis between what home provides and what work space provides, thus realizing the ideal third space. The idea of purposeful space assessment (Danuta 29), or space assessment we use to define our function or purpose as a library is still fairly new- as is the integration of anthropological methodologies in LIS spaces research (Bedwell 4). To move beyond a counting frame of mind into one that asks why, that explores behaviors qualitatively instead of quantitatively, is an area of growth we seek to explore in this presentation, in addition to potential practical assessment tools for attendees to take back to their institutions.
The CARE data principles (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, and Ethics) are a conceptual framework meant to ensure ethical collection, sharing, and stewardship of Indigenous data. As part of a workshop hosted by [a consortium of data curators and stewards] in 2022, librarians created a foundational data curation primer on the CARE data principles and how they apply to data management, curation, and sharing. The primer touches on the cultural context regarding the CARE data principles, the historical misuse of Indigenous data, Tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous Peoples' right to governance of their data. Using the CURATE(D) checklist, the primer walks information professionals, researchers, and data curators through key questions and steps to ensure ethical use, sharing, and preservation of data. This poster will connect librarians both to the primer and to further resources about ethical data practices and explore ways of implementing CARE principles.
Digital Records Archivist, University of Minnesota
Sarah Barsness is a Digital Records Archivist in University Archives, where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the University Digital Conservancy and processes born-digital archival collections.
Feeling overwhelmed by the ever-growing list of e-resource projects? Join us as we explore our journey of implementing Planner, Microsoft's project management tool, to streamline our workflow and bring clarity to project chaos! We'll share practical insights on how we use Planner's features, such as kanban boards, task assignments, and progress tracking, to gain a more complete understanding of workloads and the amount of time it takes to complete a project. We'll highlight the transformative impact Planner has had on the Collections Team by reducing stress and frustration, increasing efficiency and productivity, and enhancing communication and transparency. Visit our poster and discover how Microsoft Planner can help you!
I've been working in libraries since 2010. During that time I've had the opportunity to work in a public library, archives at a state school, two private academic libraries, and a law library. My research interests include accessibility, leadership, and management.When I'm not in... Read More →
With the continued improvement of AI tools and the growing popularity of such tools, it is increasingly important for library users to understand how AI functions and the nature of the information they receive when using AI tools. However, on a campus facing resource constraints and distrust of AI, getting buy-in on programming and instruction that discusses AI can be difficult. The library sought out campus partnerships with faculty, Career Services, TRIO programs, and Admissions to increase awareness of AI and to increase buy-in. Through instruction sessions and participation in existing campus programming, the library was able to initiate a greater number of conversations about AI on campus, which has increased interest in further programming and instruction. This poster aims to help other libraries identify potential partnerships on campus and give librarians tools to develop programming and instruction around AI in collaboration with other departments.
Research libraries are experiencing rapid change in response to changes in scholarly communications and library collections, and libraries stand to benefit from learning from each other's experiences in this regard. This poster will highlight the work of one university library to combine the functions of scholarly communications and collections into a unified division that emphasizes diversity and inclusion, data-informed decision making, access and accessibility, and communications. Poster presenters will share practical information about what's worked and what hasn't in bringing together these areas of work to provide the latest in information services to the university community. Participants will learn from lessons in leadership of research library services.
Associate Director for Collection Management, Virginia Tech University Libraries
Edward Lener is Associate Director of Collection Management in the University Libraries at Virginia Tech and College Librarian for the Sciences. Edward is the university's representative to the Collections Committee of the VIVA library consortium and a co-author of the book Graduate... Read More →
Librarians and administrators depend heavily on support staff to carry out the day-to-day operations that keep our libraries open and accessible to our users. Despite the importance of their work, they are often compensated poorly compared to the professional staff they work alongside and have fewer opportunities for professional development, resulting in burnout and low job satisfaction. Not only this, but Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), based on existing literature, are found in a greater proportion in this category of workers compared to their professional counterparts, highlighting an overall racial disparity in the library profession (Sanchez-Rodriguez, 2021). In this poster presentation, we will identify potential topics of concern to library support staff members, such as compensation, job satisfaction, and recognition for their work, based on existing literature and conversations from support staff members across the library profession. We will then outline possible solutions that librarians and administrators can implement to improve conditions for their staff as well as the overall working environment. Finally, we will discuss how we will implement a mixed methods research study that focuses on the lived experiences of support staff at academic libraries to learn how to improve their job satisfaction and working environment. Reference Sanchez-Rodriguez, N. A. (2021). In pursuit of diversity in the CUNY library profession: An effective approach to leadership in academic libraries. Journal of Library Administration, 61(2), 185-206. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2020.1853470
Technical Services and Collections Librarian, Eckerd College
I am an early career librarian at a small liberal arts college, doing technical services, collection development, and information literacy instruction. In other words, I feel like I'm doing it all! Before receiving my MLIS and becoming a librarian, I was a library support staff member... Read More →
This poster explores what it's like to lead a library that is experiencing frequent significant changes. This includes transitioning from a joint operation to serving a single institution; changing which subjects and departments are served by the library; significant staff turnover; and technological turmoil. It explores the questions: How do you provide a steady hand internally and a flexible appearance externally? How do you design an organizational structure that can provide strength and agility simultaneously? What does success look like over time? Can you think strategically within an uncertain identity? While not every library experiences these changes, all libraries struggle with some of these questions some of the time. And importantly, it will consider how library leadership can affect the morale and development of library staff amidst these changes.
In this poster session, the presenters will share their Library’s progress toward uncovering, understanding and addressing organizational efforts in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) through the implementation of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Self-Assessment Audit (DEISAA) developed by Dr. Kawana Bright and Nikhat J. Ghouse. The presenters will discuss the audit process including identifying the key roles and responsibilities of the Library’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, establishing a communication strategy, and sharing the results with library personnel and other campus stakeholders. The session will conclude with a discussion of the Library’s current efforts working with campus partners to identify actionable steps to address the recommendations from the audit including cultivating an organizational culture that values the importance of operationalizing DEIA work in the Library, and strategizing to develop an attainable, sustainable and transparent DEIA Action Plan to guide the library toward progressive growth and success.
This poster presentation will explore the "In the Margins" project at an academic library makerspace. This collection of books, journals, and activity books encourages students to underline, highlight, and draw in the pages. For centuries, libraries have discouraged these behaviors. Marginalia, or reader-generated notes and embellishments within a text, are typically considered a form of damage, but present a unique opportunity in library makerspaces. As libraries invite users to move from information consumers to creators, they ought to consider if there is value in preserving, sharing, and even soliciting marginalia from their communities. Attendees will learn how this experimental collection was implemented and consider how it contributes to the creative culture of the library.
Creative Technologies Librarian, Indiana University
Leanne Nay is the Creative Technologies Librarian for the Indiana University Libraries in Bloomington, Indiana. She received her Master of Library Science from IU in 2014, and also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production from Chapman University.
Do you want to keep bees at your library? Are you not sure if you do? Would you like to find out some great ways to get started? Or how your community might find value in it? Then come to my sweet session about honeybees and libraries. Where I can give you some beginner tips, and talk about programming and community involvement.
In a 1986 meta-analysis of perceived control by employees, Paul Spector observes that "although enhanced control is often strongly advocated, many have questioned if it is a universal panacea to employee ills," and continues to note that "with increased control comes increased responsibility and often increased workload." Control and agency are central issues in anecdotes about burnout related to micro-managing bosses, demanding service models, or opaque decision-making processes. In fact, job control and burnout are inversely correlated, and job control serves as a predictor of burnout. However, in interviews, librarians themselves note that high levels of control can be daunting and may be related to a lack of guidance and leadership from their supervisors. For library leaders and managers, how can we provide librarians with the necessary individual control to thrive while advancing strategic library and team priorities? How can managers work with their teams and direct reports to consider dimensions of job control and identify opportunities to increase individual job control or to cede control for collective progress? Management styles centered around coaching and mentoring and decision-making processes that are shared and transparent are example avenues for building feelings of agency, control, and self-efficacy within teams.
Budget issues and the changing needs of students and faculty on college campuses are forcing libraries nationwide to rethink the support they provide for the campus community. In this presentation, we'll look at the process of leading a group of librarians through assessment and potential changes to a liaison program at a large R1 academic library. This will include the planning and information gathering before the assessment began, strategies for managing the emotions and worries of large scale change and a look to what the future of library support for academic departments on campus holds.
A wave of retirements, restructuring, and new hires amidst the Covid-19 pandemic gave way to a brand new technical services team at a small university's specialized, statutory college library. The new technical services department built their cataloging capacity from the ground up, with the goal that all team members would be expected to contribute to the library's original cataloging of its niche subject matter. The team dug in deep, working together to figure out an open and realistic training approach. With the support of the library's administrators and a philosophy to use any and all available resources, the technical services team combined modest professional development funds, discussion groups, consortia guidelines, mentoring, and out-of-box approache - such as auditing university classes in specialized subject areas - to meet their goal. This poster illustrates how a collaborative, creative approach to developing budding catalogers can bridge up-front barriers when it comes to introducing metadata work to brand new learners.
Metadata mapping for service providers is crucial as it enhances the discoverability of digital resources. Recognizing the common notion that 'any mapping would compromise metadata quality,' metadata mapping for service providers often involves translating specific locally developed metadata schemas into a standardized set of metadata, typically Dublin Core. This is especially challenging for metadata specialists and digital collections curators who need to strike a balance between facilitating discovery and meeting specific descriptive needs, particularly for digital collections originating from special collections. This poster will delve into the roles of metadata in supporting the discovery, access, and management of digital resources. It will then explore how library systems address these specific metadata needs by leveraging reusable metadata profiles. The poster will also offer guidance and strategies on using a defined set of metadata elements for service providers to enhance discoverability.
Parents and caregivers enrolled in academic institutions deal with intense schedules and time demands; balancing school, family, and work means it can be hard for these students to visit a local public library. As a public librarian-turned academic librarian, I used my experience in youth services to develop a collection of early literacy kits (Story Time in a Bag) working in collaboration with our Masters of Teaching students and the local public library. These kits contain picture books and early learning activities to support literacy without adding an extra errand to the list.
After moving from library assistant into the position of Cataloging Librarian at a mid-size institution, this presenter also began supervising one full time employee and co-supervising another. This created an opportunity to reflect on the current workflows and protocols for Technical Services as well as decide on their leadership style. This includes bringing institutional knowledge into official protocols, working with others in Technical Services to align workflows, and cooperating with other supervisors when managing more than one employee. This was done while there were significant personnel changes at the library, including the Dean of Library Services. This on-going process created opportunities for personal reflection, a guideline of expectations for Technical Services, and how to best support direct reports.
National Coming Out Day is just one opportunity throughout the year that allows libraries to celebrate our queer-identifying community members. During the year 2023, our academic library seized this opportunity by hosting two exciting events tailored for our LGBTQ+ students and community members. The library collaborated with ALLIES and Queers & Allies to organize a Queer Closet event during the day. In the evening, we hosted a Boy Band-themed fitness class. While one of these events was incredibly successful, receiving excellent feedback, the other event was poorly attended and missed the mark. This experience provided valuable insight, highlighting events that the library could annually participate in while prompting a reassessment of the less successful event. This poster aims to showcase both our successful and less successful attempts to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in an academic setting.
This health sciences library shows how they use space and resources to support all university health sciences students. This includes a School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Health, and a Trauma Center, Level 1 facility. As the only building on the health sciences campus that is accessible by badge access 24/7, the library serves as an anchor point. Security officers monitor the building and surrounding areas during non-business hours, meaning our student staff members are not required to work outside of business hours. For over ten years, the library has not housed physical medical journals or texts, which allows increased space for flexible student areas that can adapt to personal need and learning style, namely: individual and group study rooms, comfortable pods, cafe tables, tables and chairs, and soft furniture. Along with increased flexible student space, the library shares space with campus partners who offer courses, labs, or resources to health science students. The library offers checkout technology to all students which includes virtual reality headsets, Anatomage tablets, and podcasting equipment. These examples demonstrate how this health sciences library provides access equitably to students and enhances learning opportunities in the academic environment.
This poster visualizes the workflow that our scholarly communications team designed to ensure that faculty are set up with ORCID accounts. This collaborative effort involved educating law school faculty on the benefits of persistent identifiers, creating a scholarship database out of a Microsoft SharePoint site, and finding the most effective ways to utilize the individual strengths of various staff and librarians within the law library. A representative from the scholarly communications team, the metadata librarian, will be on site to walk attendees through the workflow, talk about their experience with ORCID as a product, and answer any questions related to the poster project.
Diana Dulek is the Metadata and Digital Initiatives Librarian at the University of Houston Law Library. Diana holds a BA in Spanish from Whitman College and MLS from Texas Woman's University. She's been told she gives off "theater kid vibes."
This poster session will detail the planning and implementation of a space in the University Library for students who parent on campus. The space is a partnership between the Library, Dean of Students, Student Union and Students who Parent on Campus. We are also partnering with others, such as the campus food bank, when requested. The space includes furniture, a lactation pod, height adjustable desks with computers and a play space with books and toys. The space opened in September 2023 and has received very positive feedback and media coverage, even extending beyond the local area. This secure space helps with equity for parents who can now bring their children with them to the library and work, without the fear of disrupting other users. The challenges of reconciling library staff expectations and communications for such a space with those of so many external partners will be covered, as well as EDI and accessibility concerns. Also emphasized, will be the security, safety and health considerations, along with our process for creating policy and procedures. Also included will be tips on furniture procurement, facility modifications and child proofing. The space is being used as the model for opening similar spaces across campus.
Open science initiatives can be intimidating, especially in established research organizations that are contract-based. To help internal stakeholders such as researchers and administrators become more familiar with open science principles, we utilized outside-the-box thinking. As a research organization connected to a state university, we must follow state document depository requirements for select publications. Using this mandate, we can create an environment of internal trust to create public trust. Internal stakeholders need to know that we are only sharing information that is not confidential or proprietary. The public deserves trustworthy scientific information to combat the misinformation that is widely available. By placing publications in an institutional repository, documents are webcrawled by the state and become immediately available to the public. Additional benefits include further visibility for the organization and the potential for new partnerships, usage statistics, and basic preservation of born-digital materials. With the upcoming changes to federally funded research requirements, getting stakeholders at research organizations comfortable with open science is imperative.
As linked data becomes more of a reality for the library community, OCLC has worked with libraries around the world to better understand how data, tools, and services can help integrate linked data into existing workflows and provide a clear path to transition to linked data. In this presentation, we will talk about insights from those libraries, the linked data work OCLC has done over the past few years to help with this integration and transition, and new linked data native tools and services we are developing for future library work.
In an increasingly asynchronous world, libraries are faced with the challenge of offering service hours and access to library spaces in ways that meet their users' needs. One emerging solution is self service access, which extends service beyond regularly staffed hours. As a complement to traditional staffed hours, these new service models can be a valuable addition by offering patrons the opportunity to use their libraries when it best suits their schedules. In this session, four Minnesota library systems will share their experiences with self service building access solutions. By the end of this session, attendees will understand how these technologies can be implemented in different ways for various service models and communities. They will also discuss the broader impact on both frontline staff and library users in their diverse mix of urban, suburban, and rural communities.
Library Technology Manager, Scott County Library (MN)
I have over 20 years of experience in both public libraries and school libraries. Ask me about Extended Access self service periods, community engagement, staff training, process improvement, and grant writing!
Scott has worked in public libraries for over 20 years. He obtained his MSI from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Since 2023, he's served as the Library Director for Hennepin County Library.
This presentation will focus on the lived experience of a librarian who recently moved into a large middle management role at a sizable R1 institution, while adjusting to a new discovery of their neurodiversity. Through discussing their lived experience, the presenter hopes to illustrate some of the lessons about neurodiversity in their current leadership role. They will also discuss their new journey into understanding their life as a neurodivergent person and how it intersects with their career. Finally, while this presentation will provide tips that the presenter has found helpful in their experience with neurodiversity and library leadership, it will also stress that part of neurodiversity is a lack of universality to our experiences. The presentation will address the importance of discovering what works on your own path. It will also discuss how to work with your neurodiverse colleagues to discover what will help them best succeed in their roles in their own institutions.
AI is making lots of headlines, but how can we harness its powers for good? We are working on a series of much-needed renovations and remodels to create user-centered spaces that make our students feel comfortable and welcome. Recently we've begun exploring the use of generative AI to help us envision possibilities for existing spaces and take a "shortcut" through the design process by allowing us to share AI-generated ideas and images with the university's remodel and construction services unit. Ultimately, the use of AI tools in the design process could save both time and money, while opening new possibilities and ideas that we might otherwise overlook.
In this presentation we'll share examples of how our library is experimenting with generative AI tools to support building improvements, get better feedback from users, and support library space design that will support campus diversity and inclusion goals. We'll also host a discussion among attendees about how cutting-edge AI tools could be used, or are already being used, to support facilities enhancements in other libraries.
Passionate about creating libraries that invite community and connection, I’ve had the privilege of working in both public and academic libraries. Currently I am managing library spaces and building operations at Colorado State University Libraries. I’m driven by a commitment... Read More →
Discovery products providing a single search interface to library collections have become industry standard in large academic libraries since their emergence in the late 2000's. The process and parameters by which libraries select and evaluate these products is, however, neither standardized nor well represented in the literature. This presentation begins to fill in gaps by discussing libraries' procurement processes and assessment methods including usability studies, drawn from both the literature and real life. Presenters proceed by offering insights into how commercial discovery products use more standardized and proven metadata schemas like MARC, gleaned from mapping metadata for implementations of EDS (EBSCO Discovery Services) and Primo (Ex Libris). It concludes by offering a preview of novel research using metadata to benchmark the precision and relevance of search results from proprietary discovery products, reinforcing the importance of maintaining the integrity and accessibility of legacy metadata.
For decades we have discussed what the libraries of the future would be to have a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of those who work and visit. For decades we have forecasted building designs that could have a direct impact on climate change. Those libraries have been built, are being built, and are in design. The 2030 challenge for buildings impacting climate change is upon us in a few short years.
Come and learn the best practices that are having an impact on the lives of so many community members across the nation through the healthy and sustainable libraries they have built and how they are contributing to diminish climate change through the 2030 challenge and COTE Top Ten Principles. This session will provide information from case studies and current methods that are being successfully used and implemented along with ways to fund these needed methodologies such as how to access federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act.
As MSR Design’s interior design discipline lead and a firm associate, Veronica believes that the most successful library projects arise from an inter-disciplinary design approach. Veronica has worked in communities across the country developing inclusive spaces that not only tread... Read More →
An interior designer and associate with MSR Design, Emily is passionate about developing concepts to inform an interdisciplinary design process from start to finish. She focuses on creating spaces that are intuitively designed for users and offer an inclusive sense of place. Emily... Read More →
Saturday November 16, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Orchestra B
In January 2024, ChatGPT Plus, Microsoft Copilot Pro, Google Gemini Advanced, and Claude Pro were four of the most popular Generative AI services available to the public. Each had subscription plans for around $20.00 a month. Meanwhile, at [LIBRARY], library student workers were creating basic metadata for scanned electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) from the 1920s-1990s. Due to time constraints, these historical ETDs only had basic metadata fields such as title, author, and date. How could the Oklahoma State University library add valuable metadata with limited staff and time? To solve this problem, [LIBRARY] student workers began testing these four, subscription-based Generative AI services to see if they could create reliable, accurate abstracts and keywords. To do this, student workers learned how to create accurate prompts to gather the best possible metadata, and then they learned how to evaluate the results with a rubric provided by their supervisor. This presentation will demonstrate how student workers used Generative AI to create abstracts and keywords for electronic dissertations and theses for an institutional depository. Then it will compare these four Generative AI options, evaluate their performance for creating metadata, and envision the future of generative AI and metadata.
Representatives from the committee and other practitioners will discuss the latest news and questions about browser technology changes, troubleshooting, Federated Credential Management (FedCM), results from the 2023 Library Automation Perceptions Survey, and whatever is on the audience's mind. How are changes affecting your institution's current authentication system? How are resource vendors responding? Ask questions and make suggestions. If we can't address your concern in the session, we'll make sure the Core Authentication and Authorization Committee gets details out to the community in future communications. The FA Committee web page has resources that provide an understanding of authentication technology from foundational to expert. This session follows up on previous information sessions at ALA and Core Forum
Electronic Resources Librarian, Cornell University
I'm an Electronic Resources Librarian at Cornell University, and have been here since June 2016. My current focus, as of 2023, is split between work on Cornell's Open Access strategy, and ensuring that our databases and online resources all work well together for the benefit of our... Read More →
Saturday November 16, 2024 1:30pm - 2:30pm CST
Orchestra D
The focus of this presentation will be to share best practices and lessons learned in building a public safety and social service collaboration. These two presenters have been working together for several years (one from the security and safety side and the other from the social service side). Utilization of technology to address both of these issues will also be shared.
David Corrington is a former U.S. Federal Agent with the US Department of Homeland Security. Prior to becoming a Federal Agent, David was a Criminal Defense Investigator for the Federal Public Defenders Office in Washington. In addition to Federal criminal investigations, David has... Read More →
Technical services librarians do not often participate in library instruction. At our university, the technical services librarian partnered with an instruction librarian and teaching faculty on a DEI grant to explore issues of information privilege with students in first-year foundation classes. We are investigating existing systems of information collection and dissemination, with the premise that such systems are often inequitable and potentially harmful. We are teaching students how data algorithms play into information distribution, the reasons for missing and marginalized perspectives in published research, and privilege in access to information. Our experiences with this grant showcase how metadata and collections librarians can share their expertise in electronic resource acquisition and collection development, as well as show the principles of critical cataloging in metadata and classification are relevant to patrons. We will demonstrate how our instruction sessions have made students more successful in finding and evaluating information.
Coordinator of Library Collections, Elon University Belk Library
Shannon Tennant is the Coordinator of Library Collections at Elon University’s Belk Library in Elon, NC. She received both her BA and her MLS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and then worked at a public library in New Hampshire before coming to Elon in 2000... Read More →
n the summer of 2023, three departments within the Access and Resource Services Division of a large academic library created paid summer internships to provide opportunities for graduate students from underrepresented groups to gain practical library and preservation experience. In preparing for our second round of internships, we reflected on what went right during our pilot year and where we could improve, including streamlining recruitment and onboarding workflows and creating a community for our interns. This presentation will focus on the changes we made and their impact on the success of the 2024 intern program. Panelists will share observations on the use of library internships as a DEI strategy and the logistics of creating engaging internship experiences, including developing job descriptions, hiring checklists, interview questions, potential projects and funding sources. We will discuss both intern and library staff assessments of the value of participating in one or both years of our internship program. This presentation will be helpful to those who want to implement shorter internship programs in libraries of different types and sizes and to creatively leverage collaboration between departments and libraries for easier planning and higher impact.
Leading staff in an ever-changing, unpredictable environment can be difficult. Right now, library staff at every level are facing new (and old) challenges to their emotional well-being at work. When both staff and supervisors are feeling overloaded, it can be hard to find the time and space to lead staff effectively. Coaching can be a powerful tool for proactively supporting staff, even in times of constant transition. In this session, we'll discuss the impact that coaching methods can have on building resilient employees and teams. We'll share tools and techniques that help supervisors create intentional space for thoughtful, productive conversations with staff that address concerns, provide feedback, and enhance professional development. We'll discuss ways to create a habit of using coaching skills and how proactive coaching sessions can positively impact your employee development and team-building efforts. Join us at this session to learn how adding coaching to your professional toolbox can yield substantial benefits.
Stacey Hendren is the Library Manager of the Northtown Branch in Anoka County and a long-time member of the Minnesota Library Association, Public Library Association and the American Library Association. At MLA, Hendren was President (2021), Public Libraries Division Chair (2017... Read More →
Director of Outreach & Instruction, SELCO (Southeastern Libraries Cooperating)
In addition to working for SELCO as their Director of Outreach & Instruction, I'm also a Certified Narrative Coach Practitioner. My focus is providing support to library and nonprofit staff so they can attain their professional and personal goals.
Librarianship, along with other public service and care professions, is facing a self-care crisis. While all levels of a library’s organizational chart are susceptible to burn-out in our challenging climate, a significant pressure is placed on managers to look out for their employees and hold everything together. This workshop is designed to assist library leaders who are struggling with burn-out, harsh inner critics and imposter syndrome. The workshop will be a mini-retreat wherein the participants will engage in facilitated conversations, journaling, and guided meditations to develop compassion for themselves and build resiliency in community with other library managers.
Libraries are more than repositories of information—they are evolving community and student hubs, fostering holistic wellbeing, interactive learning, and hybrid environments. We will explore current trends shaping both academic and public library spaces to support the diverse needs of their communities, students, and patrons. We'll begin by examining wellbeing-focused design trends, from biophilic elements and wellness spaces to outdoor areas that enhance personal growth and community success. Next, we'll delve into interactive spaces, discussing the evolution of children’s areas, the rise of family rooms in both public and academic libraries, and how libraries are becoming hands-on environments for making and creativity. Finally, we'll look at the hybrid revolution, unpacking how libraries are adapting to support hybrid learning, flexible staff workspaces, and reimagined user spaces like study rooms and pods to meet the demands of both in-person and digital interactions. Join us for a thought-provoking session on the future of library design that aims to equip you with insights for creating more inclusive, versatile, and engaging library spaces.
Director, Capital Planning & Project Management, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Throughout the past two decades, Wendy Tressler, M.Ed., MLIS has worked in a variety of leadership roles at Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML). Currently serving as the Director of Capital Planning & Project Management, she leads construction, facilities, technology, and lean/operational... Read More →
Assoc. Dean, Library Information Systems, Access & Facilities, University of Miami
The University of Miami has a number of renovation projects in progress or queued up as part of the Libraries Master Plan, completed in 2022. Areas of interest: building & collection security; collection storage facilities; creation & mgmt of spaces to promote wellbeing and accessibility... Read More →
Special Projects and Initiatives Manager, Saint Paul Public Library
Marika’s passion for public libraries began in 2001 when she developed the first homework center at the Saint Paul Public Library. Since then, she has developed several impactful programs, including the Saint Paul Read Brave initiative, a citywide reading initiative that fosters... Read More →
CEO, president, and principal with MSR Design, Traci uses design as a tool for positive change for her clients and their communities. Recent projects Traci has led include the Missoula Public Library and Culture House—the first project in North America to be named IFLA/Systematic... Read More →
Scott has worked in public libraries for over 20 years. He obtained his MSI from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Since 2023, he's served as the Library Director for Hennepin County Library.
Genre/form terms describe what a resource is, while subject headings describe what a resource is about. While genre/form vocabularies have been available for use in libraries for years, they were often only used in special collections cataloging, in favor of using subject headings to provide genre/form information. As the use of faceted vocabularies has become more popular, so has the use of genre/form terms. The presentation will provide an overview of using genre/form terms in resource description today. Topics covered include the difference between genre/form terms and subject headings, benefits of recording genre/form terms, and how terms are recorded in various schema (e.g., MARC 21, Dublin Core, and BIBFRAME). A variety of genre form thesauri will be featured from Library of Congress Genre Form Terms to more specialized vocabularies such as Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus, RBMS Controlled Vocabulary for Rare Materials Cataloging, and Genre Terms for Tabletop Games.
Recent research in the cultural heritage conservation field has identified arsenic and other toxic heavy metals in pigments used in 19th century book bindings. How hazardous are these materials, and what should libraries do if they have 19th C. items in their collections? This presentation will provide background information on this growing field of interest, and a broad overview of some of the research to date. We will also provide a case study of the ongoing research project at the [UNIVERSITY] Library, testing for the presence of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead in pigments used to color bookcloth and paper. We will describe our planning process, communication plans, the current state of our findings, what we've learned so far, and outstanding questions. Not every library has the staff or funding to undertake a large-scale research project, so we will also provide tips to identify potentially problematic pigments, as well as things to consider when handling or providing access to these materials.
Collections Care Coordinator, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Shelby Strommer is the Collections Care Coordinator in the Preservation Services unit of the University of Illinois Library. She holds a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan, where she specialized in Preservation. She is also a member of the National Heritage... Read More →
Collections Care Graduate Assistant, University of Illinois
Arthur Hall is the Collections Care Graduate Assistant for the University of Illinois's Preservation Department. He is currently obtaining his MSLIS from UIUC, where he received his BFA for New Media in 2023.
In 2022, our library migrated to a new library management system, joining an established shared implementation of Alma and Primo. Integrated resource sharing and document delivery was partially available to our user community at go-live, and expanded considerably over the following year, with the addition of a new network and new partners. In this presentation, we will share our experiences over the past two years. We will discuss challenges that we have encountered with an expanding resource sharing network - both high-level and "on the ground" for our User Services staff - and how we have worked to address them, as well as the benefits we have found. We will also share insights on how making our collections, especially our legacy physical collections, more visible has opened them to new users beyond our local community and supports the larger movement in academic libraries toward greater emphasis on sharing collections across institutions.
Associate University Librarian, Distinctive Collections, McMaster University Library
Wade Wyckoff joined McMaster University Library in 2006, where he is currently Associate University Librarian, Collections. Previously, he held appointments as Cataloguing Policy Librarian, Collection Services Librarian, and Associate University Librarian, Collections with the University... Read More →
Explore how artificial intelligence can revolutionize libraries by enhancing accessibility, streamlining operations, and fostering community connections. In this session, Brian Pichman will share innovative AI applications tailored for libraries, focusing on open and transparent solutions that empower both public and academic institutions. Discover strategies for integrating AI technologies in marketing, user interaction, and information dissemination, ensuring libraries remain at the forefront of knowledge and technology in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Brian Pichman, a forward-thinking technologist and champion for progress, breathes new life into libraries and educational institutions through his groundbreaking work across his careers. By seamlessly integrating state-of-the-art technology, fostering dynamic collaboration, and... Read More →
As library leaders transition into new roles, it is anticipated they will encounter various challenges at their new institution. These challenges may include issues such as space shortages, team vacancies, low staff morale, or new library administration. There is an inherent expectation that new managers will grapple with at least one of these challenges from the start. However, what happens when these leaders find themselves facing multiple challenges simultaneously? As it's often said, when it rains, it pours. This session aims to provide insights into effectively navigating these challenging waters and redirecting the downpour to overcome each obstacle, no matter the number. Attendees will discover how one library and its staff turned adversity into an opportunity for growth, restoration, and revitalization. The session will explore how the library leveraged collaborative cross-campus partnerships, capitalized on staff strengths-building opportunities, and fostered the development of a healthy work environment amid challenging circumstances.
This study aims to investigate the alignment between a university (UW-Madison) library’s resources and the research outputs of the university’s scholars. By comparing citations in university publications with the library collections, we seek to quantify the degree to which the library supports academic research at the university. This analysis will involve comparing research outputs, extracting cited references, and assessing the library collections of overlaps and gaps. This study will rely on data from popular bibliographic databases such as Web of Science, and the library cataloging records. The project’s merit lies in providing evidence-based insights for library collection management, enhancing support for academic research, and optimizing resource allocations in university libraries. Findings will inform strategic decisions in collection development, ensuring resources are closely aligned with the university’s research needs. This endeavor will not only improve library services but also contribute to the broader scholarly communication field, offering a replicable model for similar assessments at other institutions.
As censorship becomes more prevalent throughout the country, states are turning to legislation to cut attempts off at the knee. From proposed legislation threatening state funding to libraries to proposed administrative fees to individuals who challenge multiple books per month, states are looking for ways to defend the inalienable right to read. In New Mexico recently proposed legislation which aimed to curtail censorship within public libraries was recently introduced but ran out of time in a short budget session. While this legislation was well supported and will likely be reintroduced, there are lessons to be learned. Follow the legislative process, and hear from NM Deputy State Librarian and ALA UABB member, Kate Alderete on the ups and downs of passing anti book ban legislation and what ALA resources are available to library workers.
Join library staff members, as they delve into the rapidly evolving landscape of Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT within the context of public libraries. Amidst continuous media attention and daily technological changes, the library proactively formed a cross-departmental AI task force to monitor advancements and its impact to libraries.
In this session titled, "If I hear the word AI one more time" we invite you to explore the task force findings, focusing on their relevance to library customers and staff. The presenters will not only discuss the benefits of AI technology for libraries but also underscore the associated challenges, including biases and inaccuracies.
These recent technological strides have sparked dialogues among our peers and customers. We'll discuss how AI can enhance staff productivity and how libraries can support customer adoption. As gateways to knowledge, libraries have a pivotal role to play in facilitating the safe use of AI.
So, gear up for a lively and interactive discussion. Join us as we demystify AI together!
While many associate creativity with individual work in the fine arts, creativity–the development of a valuable new product, idea, or problem solution–is vital to innovation, solving problems, and facilitating change. While some elements of creativity are dependent on a person’s inherent interests and abilities, creativity is significantly influenced by a person’s context. In other words, an individual’s creativity largely depends on whether their environment supports creative work. Creativity is constantly demanded of libraries as they face challenges and bans, technological changes, and fluctuations in the characteristics and interests of their user populations. While the value of creativity may seem obvious, the practices needed to cultivate it in the workplace are less understood. This presentation will draw on both quantitative and qualitative data collected by the presenter from academic library staff and leaders over the last several years to identify barriers that both library staff and leaders face when trying to cultivate a creative work environment. It will then provide attendees with specific strategies that can contribute to a work environment that encourages creativity among employees while countering destructive environmental elements that can contribute to bullying, low morale, and burnout.
Traditionally, web accessibility efforts concentrated on providing alternative text for images, employing proper heading structures, and ensuring videos were accompanied by captions. However, the landscape of web accessibility has evolved significantly since the U.S. 2021 Executive Order, which integrated Accessibility into Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (now DEIA) initiatives. This shift has heightened the focus on making websites universally accessible.
My goal is to demystify the process of enhancing your website's compliance with DEIA. This non-technical session is designed to guide attendees through the essential adjustments needed to embrace this broader perspective on accessibility. We'll explore the critical role of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and offer a glimpse into the forthcoming standard. Join me to learn how to make your website not only accessible but also inclusive, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.
Library renovation projects are filled with surprises, pitfalls, and endless decisions - far more than an inexperienced leader will generally expect. Panelists represent a broad spectrum of librarians, partners, and professionals who are integral to any facility project. Three of the five panelists are in leadership roles at public university libraries somewhere in the renovation process and the others hold key roles in keeping renovations moving and on track. Two are in the midst of renovations - one for their entire building and the other on the next step of a phased building renovation. The third will soon be kicking off a whole building renovation. Through the planning and renovation process, they have gained experience collaborating with architects, project managers, campus stakeholders, and their library colleagues to design a library to serve their campus community for years to come. This presentation will provide insight from the perspectives of library leadership, architects, and construction project management. They will discuss the importance of developing and maintaining partnerships with stakeholders on campus and beyond, navigating the complicated landscape of construction and renovation, fundraising, the best and worst parts of renovation, and lessons learned.
