Tuesday

9:00 - 9:45 AM

Dust, Decisions, and Discovery: Renewing Special Collections Through Change

Nancy Richey, Amanda Drost, Joe Shankweiler

Special collections libraries are often defined by rarity, preservation, and legacy, yet they must also remain responsive, accessible, and relevant to the communities they serve. This presentation explores the transformation of a university special collections department through a major collection relocation, policy redevelopment, inventory assessment, cataloging improvements, and collection management practices designed to better support student success, curricular engagement and the community.

During the move of thousands of archival and special collections materials, librarians were frequently required to balance expediency with professional best practices. While logistical challenges created difficult decisions, the process also provided an opportunity for renewal, and library change and growth. Through collaborative planning and stewardship, the department undertook a comprehensive reevaluation of workflows, collection priorities, and descriptive practices in order to create a more purposeful and accessible special collections environment. We will discuss the development of new policies and procedures, large-scale inventory and assessment projects, improved cataloging and metadata practices, and thoughtful weeding and deaccessioning initiatives that strengthened the overall integrity and usability of the collections. 

The session will also examine how these efforts helped redefine the role of special collections within the academic mission of the institution by aligning collecting priorities and access strategies with teaching, learning, and student engagement. By sharing both successes and challenges, this presentation highlights how periods of disruption can become opportunities for innovation, advocacy, and renewed connection to library stakeholders. Attendees will gain practical strategies for managing change while maintaining a focus on accessibility and student-centered stewardship.

Returning Recharged: Personal, Professional, and Institutional Benefits of Sabbatical Leave

Lidiya Grote

During this presentation, attendees will learn about the benefits of academic librarians’ sabbaticals based on scholarly literature, and reflections on my personal experience. Time away from day-to-day responsibilities provides space for renewal and research productivity, frequently benefiting both the librarian and the institution. In my experience, having time for strategic thinking, reflection, and rest led to fresh perspectives and the development of a thoughtful strategic direction for the Affordable Learning and OER Initiative on campus, as well as planning for career advancement and promotion. Gerke, Couture & Knievel (2023) noted the lack of support for mid-career librarians in their article aptly titled Once You Get Tenure, You’re on Your Own. 

While sabbatical leaves improve librarians' readiness for promotion, most eligible librarians forego them due to guilt about their colleagues having to take on day-to-day work activities, and sometimes workplace culture (Gerke et al., 2023). Lack of dedicated time for research is the most commonly reported barrier to promotion, and sabbaticals provide the needed time, frequently leading to promotion to Full Professor or Full Librarian (Gerke et al., 2023). While highlighting the pitfalls and opportunities librarians encountered while pursuing sabbatical leave, I will engage attendees in discussion and reflection on barriers to research productivity and ways to overcome them, as well as personal, professional and institutional benefits of librarian sabbaticals. In this session, I hope to reframe the sabbatical experience as an investment in growth, productivity, and a positive impact on the library and university.

Presentation Title: Accessible for All: A Checklist Approach to LibGuides

Cammy Riemann

This presentation will explore a project at Augusta University Libraries to remediate all of our LibGuides (or research guides, as our patrons know them) to comply with the recent ADA Title II web accessibility rule. Attendees will learn about a LibGuides-specific accessibility checklist that was created to help individuals edit each of their guides by listing and explaining necessary action items. This checklist breaks down requirements of the web accessibility rule, categorizing action items as related to navigation, structure, text, or media, and providing brief instructions for each of how to accomplish the unmet action item. An overview of the checklist will allow those interested in making their guides accessible to gain a basic understanding of common accessibility problems within Springshare’s LibGuides platform. 

For those potentially interested in replicating such a project, the checklist will be described in the context of the various project stages, the project timeline, and other related LibGuides projects at Augusta University. In either case, attendees will leave with a greater understanding of the complexities and urgency of web accessibility and hopefully feel in a better position to ensure their guides meet the new extended deadline for the ADA Title II web accessibility rule (April 2027 or April 2028, depending on institution size). Finally, this session will emphasize how accessibility projects can be a form of advocacy and a means of increasing engagement with library resources and services.

10:00 - 10:45 AM

AI Without the Anxiety: Real Tools, Safe Practices, and Honest Conversations from a Public Library IT Team

Adam Branscum

Artificial intelligence is showing up in every library conversation right now, and for a lot of staff, it raises more questions than it answers. At North Little Rock Public Library System, our IT team has spent the past year putting those questions to the test. We have been evaluating AI tools with a focus on two things: safety and accuracy. That means running models locally, keeping patron data off third-party servers entirely, and testing how different platforms and models actually perform on real library tasks like document retrieval and reference support. 

We are building a locally-hosted AI resource guide that IT staff can use for document search and retrieve without relying on cloud services, and we have compared a range of models and platforms to identify what works best in a small to mid-size public library setting. What we have learned is not a polished success story. It is a working account of what we tried, what fell short, and what we are still figuring out.

The Workforce We Need: Recruiting and Retaining Library Talent

Crystal Gates

Libraries are navigating a rapidly changing workforce landscape. Recruiting qualified applicants has become more difficult, employee expectations have shifted, and burnout continues to impact staff at every level. At the same time, libraries are being asked to do more than ever for their communities. Traditional approaches to hiring and retention are no longer enough to build the strong, adaptable teams libraries need for the future. This session explores practical and realistic strategies for recruiting, developing, and retaining library staff in 2026 and beyond. Topics will include recruiting beyond traditional library pipelines, hiring for adaptability and emotional intelligence, creating workplace cultures built on transparency and trust, and developing talent from within the organization. 

The session will also address the challenges of burnout and emotional labor in public-facing environments, along with ways libraries can better support staff while continuing to meet community needs. Using real-world examples, lessons learned, and honest reflections on what has and has not worked, this presentation focuses on sustainable leadership practices that help employees feel supported, valued, and connected to the mission of the organization. Attendees will leave with practical ideas and actionable strategies that can be adapted to libraries of all sizes as they work to build and retain the workforce needed for the future of library service.

Gamifying the Library: Constructing Low Cost, High Joy Community Engagement

Ellen John, Kenya Iverson

Libraries are built on stories, but how do we get people to walk through the doors and experience those stories? Real community renewal starts when we spark connection and joy. This fast-paced, hands-on session will focus on creating immersive, low-stress, and creative engagement events, such as library puzzle nights, collaborative community contests, and local treasure hunts that create core memories and deep community connections without breaking the bank. Participants will put theory aside and jump right into the design. Participants will work in micro-groups to storyboard a plug-and-play engagement event for their audience. Everyone will leave with a practical “Play Toolkit” framework for hosting a low cost, high impact event at their own library.

1:30 - 2:15 PM

Strengthening the Southeastern Library Ecosystem: Building Connections for Greater Community Impact

Crystal Gates, Carrie Wilkerson

Libraries do not exist in isolation. Across the Southeast, public, academic, school, special, and state libraries form an interconnected ecosystem that supports literacy, education, workforce development, civic engagement, and lifelong learning. While each library serves a unique community, the challenges we face—and the opportunities before us—are often shared. This session explores how libraries can strengthen the Southeastern library ecosystem through intentional collaboration, resource sharing, professional networks, and collective advocacy. Participants will consider how patrons move among different library environments throughout their lives and how stronger connections among library professionals can create a more resilient and responsive network of services. 

Drawing on examples from across the region, attendees will examine strategies for breaking down silos, building partnerships across library types and state lines, and leveraging the collective strengths of Southeastern libraries. As communities evolve and expectations shift, a healthy library ecosystem allows us to accomplish more together than any single institution can achieve alone. Participants will leave with practical ideas for fostering collaboration, strengthening professional relationships, and positioning their libraries as active contributors to a thriving regional ecosystem that expands access, advances learning, and strengthens library services throughout the Southeast.

Integrating Self-Guided Library Skills Learning Modules into Information Literacy Instruction

Ashley Dees, Melissa Dennis

Self-guided instruction has become increasingly prevalent in academic libraries for a variety of reasons. This presentation will highlight the creation and implementation process of the self-guided Library Skills Learning Modules at the University of Mississippi Libraries (UML), including results of the first academic year of use and planned next steps. It will demonstrate the impact of self-guided information literacy instruction and how this format can be used to address AI information literacy. 

In the summer of 2025, UML developed asynchronous learning modules covering a broad range of introductory information literacy learning skills: narrowing a topic, developing keywords, using web sources, news literacy and media bias, and information literacy and critical thinking. Previously, librarians used modules that were embedded in a library-created course within Blackboard. However, users had to self-enroll in the course, creating a barrier to efficient use. In order to provide an accessible alternative for users, librarians created self-guided learning modules using LibGuides. LibWizard was used to embed quizzes into the modules allowing students to send scores to themselves or instructors. In this presentation, the librarians will present the full academic year of usage, quiz results, and provide the opportunity for participants to interact with the modules. Presenters will also discuss the benefits, challenges, and impact of using self-guided learning modules and next steps. Due to the increasing presence of AI in the educational landscape, librarians next steps include creating additional modules using newly created artificial intelligence information literacy learning outcomes (AI-ILLOs) based on ACRL’s information literacy framework.

Time: 2:30 - 3:15 PM

Comparing Apples to Oranges: Creative Leadership Thinking for Complex Library Challenges

Jamie Collins, Shannon Crawford-Barniskis

Library leaders frequently navigate complex challenges that resist simple solutions—balancing staff needs, community expectations, budgets, and evolving service models. Traditional leadership discussions often rely on familiar frameworks, but creative prompts can help leaders and teams view problems from new perspectives. This interactive session introduces a playful yet practical facilitation tool developed by Jamie Collins: a set of fruit-idiom leadership cards designed to spark reflection, creative thinking, and collaborative problem-solving. Using common phrases such as “comparing apples to oranges,” “low-hanging fruit,” and “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” participants will explore how metaphor-based prompts can challenge ingrained management assumptions and open space for innovative dialogue. 

Through small-group exercises and scenario-based discussions, participants will practice applying these prompts to real leadership and management situations faced in libraries. The activity demonstrates how simple, accessible tools can help teams reframe challenges, surface diverse perspectives, and encourage inclusive participation in decision-making processes. Participants will leave with a flexible strategy for facilitating engaging staff conversations, strategic planning discussions, and leadership development activities that promote creativity, reflection, and shared problem-solving in library organizations.

The Data Made Me Do It: Cancelling Everyone's Favorite Journal and Weeding Everyone's Favorite DVD

Linda Marie Golian-Lui, Audri Pabustan

After 17 years of a flat materials budget, more than 10 years without a full collection review, a 63+% FTE increase, a reduction of 43% in personnel, and a change in Carnegie Classification to R1, the FAU Library budget reached a crisis point where collection cancellations were necessary to stay within its annual allocation. The Libraries proactively decided to create a process utilizing the principles of transparency, self-advocacy, and stakeholder education to guide a campus-wide process to complete a comprehensive collection review of all renewable subscriptions and all one-time purchases over a 3-year period. This presentation will highlight lessons learned after one complete year of the newly created campus-wide Collection Advisory Committee (CAC).

Knowing Your Place: Giving Yourself Permission to Volunteer and Accept Help

Kayla Kalnasy

Description: As participation in our various organizations stagnates, Louisiana Library Association President Kayla Kalnasy talks about giving yourself permission to help your association, no matter your job title or what you're able to contribute. She will also stress the importance of delegation so more people are empowered to volunteer their time.

3:30 - 4:30

Keynote: Amanda Jones

Wednesday

9:00 - 9:45 AM

Storytime with Let's Learn Kentucky

Emily Cornett

Discover how to bring kindergarten readiness to life through engaging, family-centered storytimes. In this session, participants will explore a ready-to-use collection of four themed storytimes—Count Together, Move Together, Play Together, and Read Together—designed to support early learning and strengthen connections between libraries and families. Grounded in Let’s Learn Kentucky, KET’s statewide kindergarten readiness initiative, these storytimes reflect a whole-child approach to early development. Let’s Learn Kentucky provides trusted, research-based resources that help families build the foundational skills children need for success in school and beyond, including early literacy, math, physical development, and social-emotional learning. 

Attendees will learn how each storytime intentionally weaves together books, songs, movement, and play with simple caregiver messaging and take-home resources. Participants will also gain strategies for using Raising Readers in Kentucky materials from LetsLearnKY.org to extend learning beyond the library—empowering families to practice key skills at home through everyday routines like counting, talking, reading, and playing together. Whether you are new to storytime planning or looking to deepen your impact, this session will provide practical tools and inspiration to help you create meaningful learning experiences that last far beyond the library walls.

Library Experience Day: A Partnership for K-12 and Academic Libraries

Melissa Dennis

This presentation gives an overview of an ongoing community-engaged partnership called Library Experience Day (LED). For 3 years, librarians at a university library have worked with librarians at local high schools to design a day of learning for a small group of selected high school students. This presentation outlines the benefits for high school librarians and their students, as well as the benefits for university librarians and their students. Discussions will examine the costs, planning, and ongoing communication involved to design this day of learning.

Invisible Infrastructure, Visible Impact: Making the Case for IT Investment in Public Libraries

Adam Branscum

Library IT work is largely invisible. When it is done well, nobody notices. Patrons connect, staff communicate, devices work, and the building hums along. When it is underfunded or neglected, everyone notices, and the library's ability to serve its community takes the hit. Over the past several years, the IT department at North Little Rock Public Library System has made a series of targeted investments across our branches that improved service delivery, reduced costs, and strengthened our ability to protect the people who use our libraries. We upgraded network infrastructure to expand reliable access for patrons using library Wi-Fi for job searching, coursework, and everyday needs. 

We implemented a VoIP phone system that cut communication costs across branches while improving how staff stay connected. We improved device availability so patrons have consistent access to the technology the library promises to provide. We deployed new monitoring and management tools that give our small team visibility across the entire system without requiring a large staff. And we built out security practices that protect patron data without requiring an enterprise budget. None of these projects were flashy. Most of them went unnoticed by everyone except the people who needed them to work. This presentation tells that story with real numbers and honest context, and gives library IT staff and administrators a practical approach for documenting similar work at their own institutions so it gets the recognition and funding it deserves.

10:00 - 10:45 AM

Talking About the First Amendment to Your Community

Dorcas Hand

How can you bring the First Amendment (1A) into conversation when under fire and when out and about? 1A supports your work, gives voice to your community, and educates all ages. Conversations bring communities together to understand each other and solve problems. Attendees will explore ways to mention how 1A impacts daily life and develop conversational tools that support this subtle advocacy. Attendees will leave with NEW FTRF resources. 

Add'l info Many library staff are intimidated by the current political situation from discussing the First Amendment (1A), but libraries are essential to this constitutional right. Librarians will find their jobs are made easier when they understand 1A themselves, and can talk about it comfortably. Librarians have a responsibility to discuss how 1A impacts their patrons every day. This increased understanding and facility when speaking will support the broader community to use their own voices in support of everyone’s 1A rights.

The Joy of Text: Sharing Successes and Scholarship by Writing for a Professional Library Journal

John Barnett, Melissa England

Whether it’s a scholarly research study, a this-is-how-we-do-it practitioner article, a book review, a news item, or a thought piece, there are many approaches you can take to share your story by writing for a professional library journal. But where do you start? Two editors, one from a state library journal, one from a regional library journal, offer guidance on submitting a manuscript for consideration by a professional library journal. The editors also explain the editing and publishing processes and detail how they got involved in editing a library journal. 

Through this session, aspiring authors can learn how to increase their chances for successfully publishing in a professional journal. Authors will be able to match manuscripts with appropriate journals and pitch their own story ideas to the editors. Attendees will also gain insights from the editors on the use of generative AI in writing and editing.

For the Love of a Book: The Past and Present of American Literacy and the Public Library

Matthew Goldberg

At a time of increased funding difficulties, the downward trend of circulation statistics, and overt attacks on the profession, this session will examine the core responsibility of a library - connecting patrons to books for their research, enjoyment, or escapism. This presentation will detail the history of reading in American culture, the roots of libraries as a public good, and the relationship of books to creating a critically engagement population. The history of literacy in the United States, the growth of public libraries across the country, and their impact on reading trends will be examined to place a single checkout in its wider context. 

Though the profession faces challenges, there are few more joyful moments in a librarian's day than connecting a patron to a book they are excited to read. This presentation will tell that story in the specific and aggregate to recenter our profession's mission on the most humble of our processes as a reminder of our role and stake in the community.

From Throw Away to Teaching Tool: Using Ephemera in an Education Living Learning Community

Sara McCaslin

Assessment is critical in creating and maintaining effective information literacy instruction for all students. Kuh and Gonyea (2015) recommended a necessary collaborative relationship between classroom faculty, student affairs, and library faculty to promote “educationally purposeful activities” (p. 373). Establishing strategic partnerships between academic libraries and campus partners can lead to more student involvement both inside and outside of the classroom. Libraries are positioned to provide the necessary collaborations needed to increase institutional involvement that leads to student success and retention. 

This research sought to measure the impact of primary source material information literacy instruction on first-year Living Learning Community (LLC) Education students at Western Kentucky University. Students enrolled in the fall 2025 EDU 250 – Discover Teaching course visited the library to learn about ephemera and how these unique materials can be incorporated into their future classrooms and curriculum. Students were introduced to the overall concept of ephemera and explored many examples of this type of primary source. Featured items included post cards, vinegar valentines, advertising materials, calling cards, posters, and invitations. After the class, students completed a short survey to reflect on the impact of this learning experience. This presentation will explore these survey results and offer insight into the importance of welcoming undergraduate students into the archives. Kuh, G. and Gonyea, R. (2015). The role of the academic library in promoting student engagement and learning. College and Research Libraries, 76(3), 359-385.

Rooted in Belonging: Transforming Faculty Librarian Onboarding into a Culture of Mentorship and Community

Sebastian Themelis, Andrew Adler, Hannah Mooney, Susann deVries, Nancy Richey

Description: Onboarding new academic librarians is often treated as a short-term orientation, but for tenure-track library faculty, it also marks the beginning of a new professional identity. New librarians must learn job duties, faculty expectations, institutional culture, and the practical work of developing a research agenda. After recognizing gaps in our previous onboarding practices, our library used the arrival of two early-career tenure-track librarians in fall 2025 as an opportunity to create and refine a more intentional model. Library administrators developed a structured onboarding plan tailored to each librarian’s position.

 The plan included a detailed four-week schedule, short-, mid-, and long-term expectations, meetings with campus stakeholders, time to review institutional and departmental policies, and opportunities to identify priorities for the first weeks, months, and year. Each new librarian also completed a reflective memo to summarize learning, set goals, and name areas where additional support was needed. The program also paired each new librarian with a senior faculty mentor whose experience aligned with the mentee’s role. These mentoring relationships were designed to be confidential, non-evaluative, and mutually beneficial, offering mentees trusted guidance while helping mentors remain engaged with the changing work of academic librarianship. This panel will bring together new librarians, mentors, and administrators to discuss the design, implementation, and impact of this onboarding model. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for building sustainable onboarding programs that foster confidence, belonging, professional relationships, and long-term success for tenure-track library faculty.

11:00 - 11:45 AM

Celebrating Young Authors at Your Library: Strategies, Examples, and Planning Steps for Uplifting Young Voices in Your Community

Kim Howard

Help encourage young writers by celebrating their work at your library. This interactive session provides easy planning steps and plenty of fresh ideas and examples for ways to nurture, showcase, and celebrate young authors. Through access to great books and programs, tools needed to hone their craft, and a platform to share their work, young authors’ voices can be amplified. 

At a time when we need to hear from all voices, especially marginalized voices most profoundly, you can provide a safe space and platform for the youth in your community. As the wider community is invited to browse young authors’ work and celebrate alongside them, the entire community is enriched. You’ll leave this session equipped and excited to host your own young authors. Join an author, educator, and Young Author Night alum to learn how to leave a lasting impact on kids in your community with a unique opportunity they'll never forget.

Library Leadership Perspectives on Reimagining the Academic Library

John Barnett, Anna Ayoung-Stoute, Breanne Kirsch

Featured are perspectives from three library leaders on reimagining the academic library to meet contemporary student learning needs. This program explores practical approaches to aligning the library services to strategic university initiatives, including supporting student retention and success, designing spaces to foster student learning and belonging, and advancing campus-wide AI literacy. The presenters share their successes and challenges in conveying the library's vital role to administrators and students alike. They address how they engaged their library colleagues to understand and participate in these initiatives.

Meeting a Need: Developing a Resume Workshop for the Clinical Medical Assistant Career Pathway

Ruth Slagle Galey

A partnership that began 5 years ago simply from getting know a brand-new professor and offering embedding support to her programs has evolved into a collaboration. In the fall of 2020, I started embedding into the A.A.S. Health Science Degree/Certificates. Offering reference, instruction and general library support to these programs. Each fall, spring, and summer I embed in the online sections of 4-5 courses with usually 10-12 sections. The first workshop was born in Spring 2024, the professor and I have been tweaking the workshops ever since. That one three-hour long workshop has transformed into 3 separate sessions focusing within the Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA) courses over CMA 1, CMA 2, and Clinical.

At this point, the faculty member and I have changed it to the point where students get their resume reviewed by myself based on a grading rubric that has been created as a collaboration. From there they made the appropriate corrections and bring to it to “Mock It Till You Rock” Interviews, which have been designed as the last part of professionalism before the student graduates. This relationship has been one that has been both rewarding and a major learning curve. As I knew very little about the health science fields before coming to my position. This presentation will talk about the journey that is continuously evolving out of a relationship I formed in the fall of 2020. Currently I am working on an article about this, of which I hope to publish within the next year.

Developing Collection Strategies in Lean Budget Years: How Libraries Address Shared Challenges

Camille McCutcheon, Peggy Kain

Over fifteen years have passed since the U.S. economy took a significant downturn causing libraries to rethink and retrench library resources. To date, few, if any, libraries have ever completely recovered from this financial crisis and continue to struggle with ongoing challenges to library budgets. Libraries must be prepared for possible budget reductions. Unfortunately, budget challenges can result in widespread impact, affecting more than just the collection. Possible results may include such related challenges as reductions in staffing and hours of operation. Required equipment maintenance or technology upgrades may also feel the brunt of budget cuts. 

Librarians from two institutions will share their strategies for addressing reductions in library budgets, demonstrating how they have (barely) survived and continue to readjust their collection strategies to meet users’ needs. The presenters will discuss how various types of libraries can effectively spread the word about cuts to resources and services to ensure support from their stakeholders. This presentation will foster a lively discussion among the attendees that will include best practices and practical tips to address the impact of budget reductions. Despite these challenges facing libraries today, come explore how we can continue to provide relevant resources and necessary services to support our communities.

Government Documents in the Time of the Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968)

Tim Dodge

A historical overview of some of the major federal government documents produced during and about the Civil Rights Era (1954-1968). This includes U.S. Supreme Court decisions, federal legislation, presidential papers, and more.

Time: 1:00 - 1:45 PM

Finding Joy with the 2027 KBA Nominees

Jennifer Dolan

Join me for an overview of the 2027 Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) nominees. I'll highlight the books selected for each grade level, share brief book talks, and discuss ideas for promoting the nominees and engaging students in the KBA program at your library.

Beyond the Performance Review: Rethinking Staff Development

Lacy Wolfe

Description: Public libraries are navigating constant change, from evolving community expectations and emerging technologies to staffing challenges and new approaches to workplace culture. Despite all these changes, many libraries still use the same annual performance reviews that feel outdated and disconnected from daily work and staff growth. In this session, we’ll talk about how libraries can leave behind the old evaluation model and create a more practical, human approach to staff development through regular check-ins, ongoing feedback, and collaborative goal-setting. Based on real-world library leadership experience, this talk will explore practical ways to create a culture of feedback. You’ll hear how regular check-ins and development conversations can make communication easier, strengthen relationships, clarify expectations, and help everyone feel more connected to the library’s mission. 

The session will also address common challenges library leaders face when implementing new evaluation and communication practices, including manager discomfort, time constraints, and staff anxiety around feedback. Participants will leave with adaptable ideas, sample frameworks, and actionable tools that can be implemented in libraries of varying sizes and staffing structures. Whether your library is rethinking annual reviews entirely or simply looking to improve communication and staff support, this session offers practical approaches to developing a healthier workplace culture and stronger library teams.

Fostering a Culture of Staff Led Innovation and Leadership

Leah Banks, Julie George, Kenndra Martin, Sierra Herald, Justin Stewart

Library staff are the unseen foundation of our institutions. Beyond operational responsibilities, they are the employees most connected to our patrons. They are essential contributors to the library experience, gaining valuable insight into patron needs and challenges through daily interactions. However, staff in paraprofessional or entry-level roles are often overlooked as innovators and leaders. Though many hold advanced degrees, their ideas and perspectives are not always encouraged or supported. At EKU Libraries, we intentionally foster a culture where every employee’s voice matters and innovation grows through experimentation, collaboration, and trust. By supporting employees in developing new skills, pursuing leadership opportunities, and implementing their ideas, we have strengthened services and deepened patron relationships across our library system. 

This presentation highlights staff-led initiatives developed with support from the leadership team. The Propagation Library serves to naturally drive student foot traffic and engagement. The reading toolkit was created to help students rediscover the enjoyment of reading outside of assigned coursework. Finally, the Good Noodle Board initiative is an internal program that celebrates our student employees who go above and beyond in their work. These initiatives demonstrate how investing in staff creativity and professional growth at every level can enhance library services and foster innovation at every level of an organization.

The Final Frontier: Space Limitations and Their Impact on Library Collections and Services

Camille McCutcheon, Peggy Kain

Libraries are constantly assessing and evaluating the use of space so they can better serve the needs of their communities. Space considerations in libraries can take various forms and can include those beyond the repurposing of internal library space or reconfiguration of existing collection space. Oftentimes, significant space modifications are decided by those outside the library and may occur without the input from library staff or users. Such practices may lead to frustration for everyone. Consequently, libraries must deal with the fall-out from these space reductions. For example, how will the housing of necessary physical collections be addressed? With a smaller footprint for physical collections, decisions must be made concerning retaining, withdrawing, or relocating materials to off-site storage. 

Reduced spaces in libraries may have an impact on necessary services to their communities. The lack of space also may affect the visibility of libraries, the perceptions of users, and the need for adequate funding. The presenters will discuss how various types of libraries are managing their space constraints and responding to reactions from their user communities, while continuing to meet the needs of their constituents. The presentation will feature best practices and practical tips to address library space limitations. Join us in a discussion about how libraries are successfully navigating space challenges while maintaining high quality service to their patrons.

Time: 2:00 - 2:45 PM

Creating a Joyful Library from Within: Building a Culture of Care at EKU Libraries

Julie George, Ashley Cole, Leah Banks

A joyful library begins with the people who work there. Inspired by Kevin McClure’s The Caring University, this session explores how EKU Libraries has intentionally fostered a workplace culture grounded in care, connection, communication, and collaboration. At EKU Libraries, care is reflected both in meaningful community-building efforts and in the everyday practices that help employees feel informed, included, appreciated, and supported. Presenters will share examples of celebrations, recognition initiatives, shared meals, campus engagement activities, and staff-led opportunities that foster joy and connection within the workplace. 

The session will also explore how communication, preparation, flexibility, and collaborative practices contribute to an environment where employees feel informed, valued, and empowered to contribute. From transparent meeting practices and collaborative decision-making to peer recognition efforts and staff-led community-building activities, this session highlights practical, sustainable approaches that libraries of any size can adapt to strengthen workplace culture and employee well-being. Attendees will leave with ideas for fostering workplace environments that restore energy, renew connection, and support a shared sense of purpose within the library.

How Library Supporters Can More Effectively Engage their State Legislators

Tim Dodge

This session will present the basis of the legislative process and lessons learned from seasoned library advocates. Lead the do's and don'ts of engaging with state legislators, as well as making the best use of the limited time available with them.

Measuring What Matters: A Data-Informed Framework for Championing Student Employee Workforce Readiness

Olivia Oestreich

Student employees are often an underleveraged population in terms of intentional professional development. In the Access and User Services Department of Ekstrom Library at the University of Louisville, we designed a structured growth framework to position the library as an active contributor to student workforce readiness for its student employees. Built around the KY CPE 10 Essential Skills, our model combines beginning and end-of-semester student self-assessments, parallel supervisor evaluations, and intentional goal setting to create a comprehensive picture of our student employees’ professional growth during their time with us. 

Rather than treating assessment as a one-time checkpoint, we designed a continuous feedback loop that supports students in building self-awareness, identifying areas for growth, and connecting their experiences as library student employees to broader professional competencies. This presentation will walk attendees through the framework’s design, our assessment instruments, and early findings from our first full implementation cycle. We will also discuss the roadmap for expanding the model to include mid-semester check-ins and structured goal reviews. No matter how many students you supervise, this session offers practical tools and a replicable model for cultivating a culture of growth, accountability, and joy in the student-employee experience, demonstrating libraries’ unique role in preparing students for the workforce.