Wednesday • March 4
Wednesday • March 4
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Employee Excellence: A Performance Approach
Paul Dance
Room: Ballroom C-D
Being a public library director is hard work. As community needs grow more complex and library services become more difficult to deliver, directors need a team of highly engaged and performance driven employees to make their jobs easier, more rewarding, and capable of generating positive results for the library. Employees want to be mentored, they want to know exactly what you expect of them, they expect to hear from you how well they are doing, and when they have succeeded. Therefore, employee development must be a priority. Come join us as we dig deep into the Employee Excellence Model, and discover the ten essentials that directors will need in their toolkit to unleash employee excellence in public library service.
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Casting a Vision for Your Community
Lindsey Westerfield, Russell County Public Library; Alan Keck, Mayor of Somerset; Leslie Ikerd, Somerset Tourism Director; Julie Nelson Harris, Somerset Communications Director
The Virginia Theater, 214 E MtVernon St, Somerset, KY 42501
Calling all dreamers and leaders! Is your library doing the hard work of unlearning and relearning how to meet the myriad social challenges in your community? Do you want to engage in this work, but aren’t sure where to start? Are there local agencies contributing to community resilience but your partnership with them just isn’t aligned yet? This is the work of casting a bold vision for your community that includes a seat at the table reserved for your library.
Uniquely, the City of Somerset has been engaged in this transformative work for the last several years, cultivating revitalization and fostering social engagement in their community that will impact generations. In this session, leaders from our host city of Somerset will share how their story can be YOUR community’s story. ou will leave with tools and inspiration for intentional leadership, visibility and communication, strategic planning, physical revitalization, rebranding, and inclusivity. This session also includes a walking tour of downtown Somerset to inspire big dreams for your own community, plus a lunch at the local Urban Stillhouse sponsored by our hosts.
LIMITED SPACE
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Recharging Families: The Library’s Role in Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention
Tammy Blackwell, Marshall County Public Library; Kirsten Smith, Spencer County Public Library; Christy Terry, Johnson County Public Library; Ashley Wagers, Jackson County Public Library
Room: Ballroom C-D
Kentucky has the fourth highest rate for child abuse & neglect in the country. The commonwealth’s new Upstream model of a community approach to child abuse & neglect prevention shines a light on how public libraries can be part of the solution. This session will provide an overview of a community approach to prevention, information on where libraries can secure trainings for their staff, and insight into four libraries who are putting these ideas into practice as the 2025 Stories of Support grant recipients.
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
3D Printing
Brian Benjamin, Pulaski County Public Library
Held Onsite at Pulaski County Public Library
3D Printing. Making something from nothing, it's not magic, it's technology and science! Don't be intimidated by this craft, it really is a simple thing when you understand the machines and how they work. Join me in this hands-on session as I go over common machine styles, the mechanical parts, materials, and so much more. I have had the privilege to work on these machines for a few years now, and have taught myself everything I know via Google, Redditt, various Facebook Groups, and Youtube. This session will be for newcomers and old hands alike at this amazing craft. I will discuss how to get started, common problems you will run into for various machine types and how to diagnose them, regular maintenance to your machines, as well as advanced techniques for getting perfect prints! Most exciting? All attendees will be entered into a giveaway for a 3D printer to take back to your library!
Max of 30 attendees. Please bring your own laptop.
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Executive Committee Meeting