10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.

"Neon Flashing Signs": Sensemaking and Design for Successful Library Makerspaces and Other Services
Shannon Crawford Barniskis, University of Kentucky
North Hall

"We have a makerspace?!" This is a disheartening question to be asked when you've been striving to offer makerspace services for years. Public library staff often feel frustrated when they realize people don't know what the library offers, despite all their marketing efforts and hard work. Worse yet, library staff may believe community members DO know what's available. But, spoiler alert: people generally DON'T know. Whatever not? And more importantly, what can we do differently and better?

This program will share results from a study of four Kentucky public library makerspaces. Participants in this hands-on workshop will learn about key design principles to follow for more successful spaces, marketing successes, and a wider variety of user groups being served. Participants will learn how to include community members in low/no-cost space and service design activities that will strengthen library services and awareness, as well as a sense of community. These tools are useful well beyond makerspaces, and can help your library better serve your communities in a variety of services and situations.

The Library as a Community Hub: Planning Creative Large-Scale Events
Heather Wheeler and Alexa Colemire, Mason County Public Library
Hotel Conference Room

Large-scale community events can transform a library from a quiet public space into a vibrant hub of connection, creativity, and community pride. Whether it’s a spooky seasonal celebration like Boo Book Bash or an arts-focused outdoor festival like Art in the Library Park, these events draw in new audiences, strengthen relationships, and showcase the library as a central gathering place for everyone.

This session will guide attendees through the full event-planning process—from the first spark of inspiration to final wrap-up. Participants will learn practical strategies for developing a concept, creating realistic timelines, coordinating logistics, and designing experiences that appeal to families and multigenerational audiences. We’ll discuss creative ways to use indoor and outdoor spaces, effective marketing approaches, and tips for ensuring events remain welcoming, accessible, and engaging for all.

A special focus will be placed on building and sustaining strong community partnerships. Attendees will explore how to identify potential partners, approach local organizations, businesses, schools, artists, and civic groups, and develop collaborations that add value for both the library and the broader community. We’ll discuss real-world examples of how partnerships can expand resources, enhance programming, increase visibility, and reduce workload by sharing expertise, staff, or materials. Strategies for maintaining these relationships—such as clear communication, shared goals, and post-event appreciation—will also be highlighted.

Using lessons learned from successfully executed large events, the session will address common challenges including budgeting, staffing limitations, weather contingencies, safety considerations, and managing high attendance. Attendees will leave with planning templates, partnership ideas, and actionable steps they can adapt to their own libraries—regardless of size, location, or funding.

Join us to discover how creative collaborations and large-scale events can elevate your library’s visibility, energize your patrons, and strengthen your role as a true community hub.

So You Have a Death Certificate - Now What?
Dave Scroeder, Kenton County Public Library
Ballroom A-B

Learn how to discover more about your family tree and to add those elusive, yet interesting details, to your genealogy.  This session will begin with the death certificate of a late-19th Century Kentuckian and follow the twists and turns of his (and his family's) life using both traditional and non-tradition resources and records. Grab a seat, learn from a real-life case study, and find out how one immigrant's life was forever changed by the 4th of July! 

Updates from KDLA's Library Development Branch
Denise Lyons and Nikole Gieske, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Ballroom C-D

Join staff from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives Library Development Branch to learn about our current initiatives, available services and resources, trainings, and plans for 2026! 

The Healing Library: Bridging the Gap Between Third Places and Community Well-Being
Zachary Benedict, MKM Architecture and Design
Ballroom E

With over 80% of all public libraries being located within small towns, a growing function of the modern third place will bear the responsibility to better understand how such institutions can support the growing health needs impacting these communities. This session will explore the connection between placemaking and health, providing a dynamic discussion focused on refining the library’s role as a supportive and inclusive environment for people of all ages and abilities.  The well-being of a community can be measured in many ways. However, new research supports the notion that the most important factor in longevity and health is interpersonal relationships. More precisely, it’s impacted by two fundamental types of relationships: close friends and frequent acquaintances. As the demographics of many areas change over the coming decades, anchor institutions such as libraries will play an increasing important role in the social determinates of health within the communities they serve. It’s a role that libraries should understand and embrace. By outlining short- and long-term strategies that libraries can employ to support the health needs within their buildings (addressing issues ranging from accessibility to trauma-informed design), this dynamic session will provide a series of case studies and operational recommendations to serve as a collection of best practices to address the growing concerns surrounding community health (especially within rural settings).