Conference Program

Current research shows that people with high levels of emotional intelligence (EQ) are more successful personally and professionally. High EQ is correlated with building trusting relationships, engaging discretionary effort and energy, strengthening self-regulation and demonstrating social skills--key qualities for leaders and staff. In this insightful and informative workshop, deepen your ability to engage, encourage and empower staff capacity and enrich your credibility and respect as a leader.

Join us for a full demonstration of an ECRR 2.0 workshop with hands-on activities. A panel of children’s librarians and early literacy experts will share tips, along with their experiences and insights into using ECRR 2.0 in a variety of settings. Special topics will include foundational early literacy skills; community partnerships; informal ECRR presentations; using volunteers for ECRR outreach to low-income neighborhoods; training caregivers and parents; and seizing the opportunity to be a positive partner with families around the topic of media and young children.

Something's changing - and everyone on staff needs to understand it, accept it and contribute to its success. Great leaders know that people are different and that, in order to have an effective team, messages need to come in all shapes and sizes. Understanding the differences people have involving change will give you the language, insight and tools needed to address the most challenging of tasks - getting everyone on board with change.

Participants will dive into creating and sustaining a culture that acts differently using innovative thinking in response to complex changes affecting libraries today. Corporate innovative strategy will be applied to the dynamics of the library's culture and operations. Attendees will have the opportunity to apply the content learned to their specific library. The session will be highly interactive allowing participants to share ideas and experiences taking away a roadmap to creating an innovative culture.

As libraries shift to places of content creation, keeping up with all things digital can be overwhelming. Experience a team building, creative day learning and creating video, digital art, animation, podcast and more. Discover how small teams working with skilled mentors and simple technology tools can become content producers. This day-long pre-conference provides a showcase for our creative talent and, it provides a simple template to reproduce staff training at your library.

Public libraries are reinventing themselves by modifying their children’s spaces with literacy nooks, interactive play centers, and inspiring playscapes. Discover your potential for creating a dynamic early learning environment for your library, no matter your space, size, or budget. A panel of children’s librarians and early literacy experts will discuss how libraries can best respond to community needs and create a space that gets children excited to come back again and again. Specific topics will include: incorporating ECRR practices; literary whimsy; the genius of blocks; the importance of color, style, and beauty; and practical parent tips.

Target Audience: Any staff specializing in children’s services and early learning or in space design.

At the end of this preconference participants will:

• Know several innovative methods for transforming library space into a dynamic place for children to play and learn;
• Understand how to incorporate the ECRR 2.0 five early literacy practices into play and learn environments; and
• Be ready to unleash their library’s potential for creating interactive children’s areas inside and outside library buildings.

How do we encourage participation? How do we get folks on the same page? How do we manage side conversations? How can we build consensus? Learn and apply tools to gain collaboration, engagement and decision making with groups. Take away 5 Principles of Engagement and 6 Tools of Facilitation including consensus and discussion models and a guide to handling interruptions and derailments.

Alienate your users, your community AND key stakeholders! Unfortunately, it’s easier than you may think! Learn the fundamentals of publicity and awareness raising—from the inside out; effective ways to cultivate positive word-of-mouth in your community; and how to communicate when and where it matters most—in the library, in writing, and online.

Libraries are only as good as their people. Learn how to identify talent, find the right fit, bring them on board, monitor and manage their development, and even (gasp) invite them out.  This preconference will identify what key behavioral characteristics to be on the lookout for and how to diagnose and support staff to keep them engaged, skilled, and focused on the future.

This workshop walks through the soup to nuts of community needs assessments. The initial portion will focus on collecting data from patrons using different tools including focus groups and the Impact Survey program. The second portion will cover how libraries can use patron-level data for high-level assessments, including the Edge, of their library services. Discussion on why it's important for libraries to receive patrons' feedback on technology services will be addressed throughout.

Your library’s website is likely seeing thousands of visits every month so it’s important to invest some thought and time into making it better. Learn how to improve your library’s website and make your users happier by 1) gaining meaningful insights through usability testing 2) developing a comprehensive content strategy and 3) creating a clear, consistent writing style. We’ll also share other website management tricks and tips from the trenches.

This session will feature publishers of books for children and young adults. Hear about hot new books for young readers from industry experts. Panelists will include Michelle Bayuk (Albert Whitman Co.), Dina Sherman (Disney), and Lisa DiSarro (HoughtonMifflin Harcourt)

UX is the buzz, but what does it mean in practice? And what do public library patrons really want from their libraries? Two public library leaders and a noted UX consultant in conversation with Rebecca Miller, the Editor of the LJ/SLJ Public Library Patron Profiles research series, tackle the topic of how to effectively marshal research data to find out just how patrons experience our libraries and what we can do to make the experience even better.

Many public libraries struggle in demonstrating how their programs and services improve their communities. Meanwhile, other nonprofit organizations are becoming skilled at showing how their services create jobs, raise income levels, and increase graduation rates. Learn how to conduct community scans to better understand the needs of your residents, and practice developing outcome measures to determine whether your library is successful in improving your community.

As libraries seek to redefine themselves in a new information age, libraries must develop strategies for engaging with the community. Traditional programs and services are no longer sufficient. Learn how three diverse library systems met the challenge of engaging with their communities to create dynamic connections and develop meaningful partnerships that added value to the library AND the community.

Moving from the transactional to the transformational, libraries today are looking for outgoing, bright, open, flexible, and innovative staff who can lead library services in programming, outreach, and community building. Join three veteran library administrators sharing hiring tips in an open forum discussion on job posting, interviewing, evaluating candidates, working with HR, orienting new staff, mentoring, and retaining the best library staff serving the 21st century library.

What research and evaluation has been done to determine whether ECRR2 is really supporting our children? What are the research results? How can you use their results to support your work? Learn more about several research projects, including two IMLS-funded projects--"Project Views" and "Bringing Home Literacy: Determining the Impact of Library Programming on Parent Behavior"--and others evaluating ECRR2 use with in-home daycares.

Over five million Americans are already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and this number will increase as Baby Boomers age. Libraries can play an important role in enriching the lives of diagnosed people, using stimulating and engaging materials already in their collections. Library staff with successful programs, including one that was awarded a Carnegie-Whitney grant, as well as professionals in the Alzheimer’s field will suggest ways your library can serve this often forgotten population.

We've all heard the mantra, "don't work harder, work smarter." What does that mean in a library setting? Hear how two libraries, working with an industrial engineer, have employed "Lean" manufacturing techniques and concepts. Employing these techniques has resulted in a decrease in operational costs and an increase in opportunities to provide services to the public in a more timely way.

Are you building (or dreaming of building) a new library and want to see innovative examples of sustainability? Or are you hoping to “greenify” your existing library? A panel of experienced public library facility managers have been there, done that, and are ready to talk. Hear their success stories and lessons learned and discover how similar initiatives can be launched at your library no matter the size or budget.

Intrigued by makerspaces and participatory learning? Interact with easily transportable and scalable boxes that create makerspace experiences at your library. Each box carries themed activities using both high and low tech tools used in makerspaces, including documentation that will allow libraries to incorporate participatory learning experiences without a dedicated space. A best practice and supply list, plus prices are provided.

New Adult (NA) fiction made waves in the New York Times, The Guardian, Publishers Weekly, and more. Does NA demand its own section in the library? Or is it a new name to describe books about twenty-somethings? Join a lively discussion about what NA is, who’s reading it, where we shelve it, and how it fits into readers' advisory. This session was popular at ALA Annual in 2013, and we’ve got even more to share.

You’ve built up your Readers’ Advisory skills--now it’s time to develop your RA portfolio and your career while contributing to the profession on an expanded level. Join librarians and RA enthusiasts to discuss how you can develop workshops, write for blogs and professional publications, and instruct future librarians online and in-person. Let’s learn from each other!

Learn about how the Rainbow Book List and Stonewall Book Awards, offered by ALA, can assist librarians in selecting materials with GLBT content that will appeal to teens. We'll also discuss other classic works of GLBTQ literature that will appeal to teens and will help librarians build a diverse and popular collection.

Attract tech savvy readers using mobile and social technology. This discussion explores ways libraries are successfully using the best social sites of today to provide readers' advisory and connect with new and existing library users.

Hear from and meet some of the most outstanding authors who are being published for the first time. Authors include: Erika Johansen, author of The Queen of the Tearling (HarperCollins); Jacinda Townsend, author of Saint Monkey (W.W. Norton); Nickolas Butler, author of Shotgun Lovesongs (St. Martin's Press); Natalie Baszile, author of Queen Sugar (Penguin); and Drew Chapman, autho of The Ascendant (Simon & Schuster)

Sometimes the very people who should be fostering staff engagement are its biggest enemy. What if libraries fostered change by truly encouraging innovation from any position? What if front line staff wrote your welcome brochure? What if your social media team included shelvers? What if risk taking was seen as a behavior that ought to be rewarded? This session will share ideas and outcomes from libraries that have removed obstacles and allowed frontline staff to thrive.

Leverage your trusted position in the community to engage people on issues that matter. Try out practical Harwood Institute tools and hear examples of their use. Each of four sessions focuses on an individual tool, creating a powerful framework for convening diverse groups and leading change. The Aspirations tool helps librarians focus on community aspirations, identify next steps for change, and create an aspirations-based story for their community as a starting point for library action.

There are many books that hover below the cutoff for awards and "best of" lists. This panel will highlight titles that flew under the radar that should be on the reading radar; new and upcoming books in the areas of young adult literature, beach reads, science fiction, historical fiction and horror.

Serving teens in 2013 is not the same as in 2003 or even 2010. What’s a library to do? Find the answers in this ConverStation about the results of YALSA’s year-long IMLS project on the future of libraries and teens, http://ala.org/yaforum. Come talk about what teens want and need and how YOU and your library can make sure that they get it.

A panel of staff from Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library, Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library, Seattle (Wash.) Public Library and King County (Wash.) Public Library will talk about how their libraries are working to increase library use and stay relevant via selection tactics, readers' advisory, and programming.

Do you have a growing demand for audiobooks in your library? Would you like to improve your audiobook readers’ advisory services and expand your collection? Our panel of industry experts will provide an insider’s view of publishing and reviewing audiobooks, as well as introduce an innovative audiobook narrative appeal vocabulary created by RA librarians. Come learn field-tested audiobook readers’ advisory techniques and strategies for growing audio circulation in all formats.

Seeking new life for programs in your teen department? Trying to jumpstart teen programs with small staff and little experience? Join this panel of four seasoned teen programming librarians to find out how you and your library can create and maintain successful, dynamic, and cheap teen programs for a wide range of users. It can be done, and this session will help you launch your next generation of programming for teens today!

Book-to-Action is an innovative library program being implemented in libraries throughout California, engaging communities in collectively reading a book and putting newfound knowledge into action through a community service project. Book-to-Action offers libraries a new way to collaborate with organizations doing vital work in local communities and mobilize volunteers in work that enhances civic engagement. A Book-to-Action Toolkit available at http://booktoaction.library.ca.gov provides tips and resources to help organize a successful program at your library.

Foodies unite! Food is hot, hot, hot; witness the proliferation of TV food programs and movies. Let us help you jump on the food bandwagon. Learn about food-related programs that won't leave a mess in your library, such as cookbook discussions and foodie fiction/nonfiction discussions, including Jacksonville's popular "A Book & A Cook" online discussion. Also discuss partnering with local TV, culinary schools, gardening groups, and others to create unique food-related programs.

This panel program highlights the real-world successes of the three libraries with embedded librarianship, a powerful way to tune into the needs of the community and build relationships. We’ll further the conversation on expanding the vision of library services and the changing role of librarians, and demonstrate how embedded librarians strengthen the civic engagement of entire communities at the same time that they transform libraries.

Join our lively discussion and hear from two new Librarians in Residence and their seasoned Fellows as they candidly share their challenges and accomplishments from the first year of this two-year endeavor. Participants will leave with a better understanding of how to make a successful residency program work and a resonant commitment to cultivating the next generation of public library leaders.

 Parents and librarians want to know how to safely integrate apps and e-books into their lives without feeling guilty. Join Cen Campbell and Saroj Ghoting as they share why apps are useful and successful and should be incorporated into early literacy programming; how to model healthy media behavior; and what is the current research on the effects of digital media on children.

With 1.368 billion dollars in sales and 14.3 percent of the U.S. book market in 2011, romance fiction is the most popular of all fiction genres. Yet even today there are still library staff who remain mystified by its appeal. Join a star-studded panel of romance authors who will talk about the romance genre, its appeal for readers, and why when it comes to fiction: romance rules!

While overzealous blocking of Internet content has landed a number of libraries in court, other libraries are facing public pressure to install restrictive filters and adopt policies that go far beyond the blocking of obscene materials. Meanwhile, the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires librarians and trustees to make a difficult choice between upholding core values and accepting funds that enable the library to receive internet access. Join us for a lively discussion about filtering, the law, and the ethical dilemmas faced by librarians developing library filtering policies.  We will also discuss the recent report issued by OITP and OIF, "Fencing Out Knowledge: Impacts of CIPA Ten Years Later."

Does one need to look like his/her diverse community in order to offer programs that excite and draw attendance? Panelists will discuss personal experiences of establishing successful programs using available resources and community volunteers to overcome potential barriers and provide quality programs that resonate with the community. Experiences will vary from Di'a de los Nin~os/Di'a de los Libros (Day of the Child/Day of the Book) to K-pop programs.

As revenues shrink, libraries throughout the country have been facing fiscal challenges in recent years. This panel discussion comprised of public library leaders and moderated by a financial advisor will be a thought-provoking session to demonstrate how best to plan for the fiscal health of the library system and will include such considerations as the library’s significant return on investment in a community.

A day in the life of the public library. Through the use of applied improv techniques, library customer service can be improved and transformed. In this highly interactive session participants will gain practical experience finding the “yes” in any situation and listening with the whole body for effective communication. Attendees will have an opportunity to share their insights with the entire group and will have fun finding new ways to respond to challenging library scenarios.

Douglas County (Colo.) Libraries DCL) lost two consecutive funding elections, and it seemed certain the county wouldn't get the new libraries needed to meet patron demand. Learn how the Castle Pines community opened a library despite the odds and achieved phenomenal fundraising goals by engaging a league of fundraisers and advocates. Discover how DCL is building new community-driven libraries without raising taxes, and how to activate a library support movement in your own community.

From "chocolate in the stacks" tastings to 5K runs to off-site literary dinner parties, small libraries are getting creative in offering signature events that raise funds and create friends. This session will be a "show and tell" of library fundraisers, with quick tips on how to get started in your community.

Leverage your trusted position in the community to engage people on issues that matter. Try out practical Harwood Institute tools and hear examples of their use. Each of four sessions focuses on an individual tool, creating a powerful framework for convening diverse groups and leading change. Librarians may use the Turn Quiz tool to assess the focus of their efforts in the community as they  shift their orientation from internal to external.

This session will give participants ideas on how to form relationships with nonlibrary organizations that have the same goals as a library. The two facilitators have experience forming relationships with organizations such as Rotary, a local theatre, literacy volunteers, churches, the YMCA, the school system, the Department of Labor, the local college, the Society for Creative Anachronism, and others to build programming and advocate for the library.

Tweens (approximately ages 9-12) aren't children, but they're not quite teens yet. Where do tweens fit in at your library? This session will explore the hottest titles for tweens, what to recommend when they're all checked out, and how to develop programs around the books that tweens are reading. Participants will come away with many book lists, resources for readers' advisory, and ideas for developing a stellar tween collection.

What can connecting your community and working with community partners do for your community and your library? What partnerships and projects are most successful? Hear from winners of the inaugural LibraryAware Community Award what they do. Have a lively discussion of successes, overcoming obstacles, impact, and future plans for working with community partners. You too can be an award winning-library!

How can we best serve our rapidly changing communities? Let's share ideas about new programs for immigrants, developing translation aids, working with local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agencies, and celebrating the immigrant experience.

Having a competent staff is a must for library relevancy. In this session, hear how one library created a competency training program and learn how to build your own from the ground up, including selling the idea to your stakeholders, developing competencies, creating an environment of transliteracy, and more! You'll leave this session with the tools to provide excellent service to your patrons.

How are you increasing the size of your cardholdership? The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio, has used several innovative methods of bringing in new users: increasing the variety of card types, partnering with local sports teams, and developing customer cluster groups to identify the behavior of current customers.

As educators work to engage emerging readers and build language and literacy skills, they are faced with the challenge of selecting quality informational text for young children. In this session you will learn why it is important to share informational text with our youngest learners, how to select good titles, and ways to incorporate these books into many different learning opportunities.

King County (Wash.) Library System has a successful entry level program that has increased staff diversity at many levels. Take away strategies and tools on how to recruit, hire, educate, and retain a workforce that better reflects and directly connects with the communities you serve. Learn how to develop recruitment efforts to identify external and internal populations; interview effectively, and mentor, coach, supervise, support, and retain staff.

Learning by doing is firmly taking hold in education, and this hands-on approach is increasingly part of a vibrant library. Maker spaces, DIY labs, artists-in-residence, self-publishing – these interactive learning opportunities draw customers and redefine the library to maintain relevance and integration in its community. A library designer and librarian will illustrate and discuss ways of incorporating active learning and repurposing space once used for materials storage for user-centric spaces.

The Geek the Library community awareness campaign has helped public libraries across the country create awareness, generate engagement, and encourage action. The campaign is designed to highlight the vital role of public libraries and raise awareness about the critical funding issues many face. Geek the Library provides tools to help library leadership and staff actively engage with the community and start local conversations — improving critical communication and advocacy skills. Visit get.geekthelibrary.org for more information.

This presentation will explore emerging models of connected, open learning—offered for free— with great potential for staff and the public. Can we support students of all kinds in Massive Open Online Courses? What’s the potential for professional development and lifelong learning when courses can gather the best of the best in a field and offer experiences and exploration anywhere? This session will explore new ideas and thinking about learning at the library.

We're bringing recess back. Participants will dance, take part in a California snowball fight, and work together as part of a high energy Instant Recess session led by a public health advocate, PE specialist, and public librarian. At the end of the session, attendees will have exercised for thirty minutes (more physical activity than most adults get in a week) and will be ready to lead ten minute Instant Recess breaks at their libraries.

Are you interested in early learning partnerships? Can makerspaces support STEM learning and community engagement? How can we make content conveniently accessible? How can we make sure our communities are digitally connected? Come learn the current priorities and grant opportunities available to libraries through IMLS. Learn how to make the most of federal grants and the information and research IMLS has to offer.

Make your collection count! This session talks about the overall quality of a library collection, including the benefits and methods of taking a physical inventory, analyzing collection procedures and workflows, and the life cycle of a collection. Most importantly, learn how to measure a collection’s quality. Our holistic approach to collection management will help all types and sizes of libraries to keep pace with the demands and expectations of their communities.

The Latino community you serve is diverse, complex, and dynamic. Not only are Latinos likely to come from any of 21 Spanish-speaking countries, but they are also a mix of first-, second-, third-, and more generations, each with its own characteristics, needs, and awareness of libraries. This session will help you explore the similarities and differences between the Latino generations and their impact on how and what kind of library services you deliver.

How can you meet the needs of your own library with scarce resources? Partnering with school librarians can save you both time and money. Tap into the expertise of the “librarian network” to discuss how you can foster community partnerships, reach young adult audiences, promote the public library, and become indispensible to your school communities. Dazzle your director with success stories of your collaborations that inspire teachers, impress administrators, and help students to reach standards.

If you are a writer, or just a fan of them, and want to cultivate writing within your community this session is for you! As libraries continue to become generators of content, writing programs in communities grow ever more relevant. This high-energy session will get you thinking about how to start writing programs in your own library with the time, budget, and resources you have right now. Implementation and barriers to writing programs will also be discussed to help you feel confident as you head home to promote writing in your community. While the conversation will be driven by audience discusssion, you will also have the opportunity to hear about writing programs Mid-Continent Public Library has implemented in the past year with NaNoWriMo and programs coordinated under its storytelling mission. Come to learn about writing in libraries, stay for the ideation, and leave feeling inspired to kick-start your own writing programs.

These fast-moving sessions feature five-minute presentations on the latest and greatest ideas from your public library colleagues. Come be surprised, inspired, and energized!

Come talk about voluntary certification through the Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program. Offered by the ALA, this certification will redefine how you think about yourself by expanding your perspective and skill sets beyond your immediate place in your library. The LSSC program will address your professional development needs and the service needs of your employers and communities by preparing you to better understand and participate in the broader issues  affecting your work.

This session features findings from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, focusing on the role of digital content and tools in public libraries, what new technology services patrons want, and how patrons use their library’s digital services. This discussion will focus on the latest report that analyzes characteristics and motivations of different types of library users and how to use the data to advocate and inform internal planning.

Community engagement isn’t just patrons and partners! We’ll discuss progress and lessons learned in year two of an IMLS grant to create an engagement model. We’ve blogged our journey, created a rich toolkit, and tackled the elusive metrics and measurement piece. We'll share the capacity building and cultural shift necessary to get headed in the right direction. Omaha is a better place and Omaha (Neb.) Public Library is well on the road to becoming an essential community service.

Facing severe funding cuts, the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD), Colorado Springs, Colo., launched a process to fundamentally rethink its services and facilities. PPLD developed a sustainable plan using interconnected facility-based, virtual, and alternative delivery channels. A panel will discuss how to develop sustainable library service delivery, service design, materials flow, and management. Participants will learn how to establish a strategic framework for evolving services that increase public access and impact quality of life with fewer resources.

Only two of the nine "Race to the Top" early learning grants include public libraries. This program will introduce successful tactics for getting libraries "at the table" in early learning public policy and planning in their state. In addition to learning specific tactics, you'll hear how Maryland libraries became a funded element of the grant and how library directors in Washington created an active advocacy organization in support of early learning.

As libraries move into the 21st century so is technical services. From stepping away from OCLC to relying on vendor services, the face of tech services is changing at warp speed. Four technical services managers will share how they are moving into this future by transitioning to SkyRiver, partnering with vendors to utilize shelf-ready materials, changing their collections to meet new library visions, and utilizing their staff in alternative or nontraditional ways.

Dynamic community service hubs offer an array of innovative services including digital resources and multi-generational, multi-lingual programs provided by a team of librarians, educators, and social-work professionals. Learn how you can create this community-based service model in any size library.

Policies can either be a lifeline for library staff if written well or cement boots if they are non-existent or poorly written. Using real life experiences and role playing, the panel will discuss the need for good policies that meet your library's mission. Policies discussed may include disruptive patrons, arrested employees, unattended children, and conflict of interest.

Eighty million potential library users were born between 1982–1995. These Echo Boomers constitute more research, social media use, and digital navigation than the previous three generations combined (as well as 20% of the current electorate). Sadly, many are forgotten library users between their teenage years and the onset of parenthood. Come discuss services and outreach specifically geared to this group and hear new ideas for a firm foundation in advocacy for Echoes.

Hear about the New Jersey State Library's "It's time...to rediscover your library!" campaign and learn ways to make your library discoverable. This session will provide an overview of various innovative program ideas, tips, and tricks, and will offer real world case study examples. Attendees will also learn new ways to expand their reach into their local communities through strategic outreach and partnerships.

Learn from some of the top library innovators as they discuss creating and running makerspaces and participatory learning experiences in their libraries. This session will offer program ideas; tips and tools to get started; and ways to tap into and empower your local community creativity. The Maker spirit is more than just hype—it is a powerful creative, entrepreneurial force with transformative potential rivaling that of social media. Come find out why!

Tours, publications, and free collaborative websites are all great ways to get local history information to the public. Learn how to research, digitize, and team with community partners for project implementation. See examples of successful projects from Halloween ghost walks to self-guided tours using smartphone technology.

Does your elevator speech sound more like elevator music? Learn how to add meaning and value to it by brainstorming and sharing examples of how to combine statistics with stories to craft a powerful advocacy message for various stakeholders. You are encouraged to bring data from your annual Public Library Survey results (http://1.usa.gov/14JWMqj) and/or any other statistics you collect about your library for use in drafting your own elevator speech.

Meet and hear from the latest authors whose works will give you clues to the hottest mystery books this season. Authors joining us include Peter Swanson, author of The Girl With A Clock For A Heart (HarperCollins); Mikoma W Ngugi, author of Black Star Nairobi (Melville House); M.L. Longworth, author of Death In the Vines (Penguin); Jeff Abbott, author of Inside Man (Grand Central Publishing; Laura McHugh, author of The Weight of Blood (Random House) and Sophie Hannah, author of The Orphan Choir (Picador).

Lego Mindstorm robotics programs are a fun way to get children and their parents excited about science and technology. The program focuses on learning about gears, motion, and software programming at level that children can understand and provides an inventive outlet for learning about robots based off the Mindstorm brain. The children are able to build their unique creation and then use simple programming to control movements and actions. Robots will be on site for demonstrations of LEGO Mindstorms and LEGO WeDo robotics.

Representatives from library systems big and small will share best practices in meeting the needs of linguistically and culturally diverse communities. Learn about outreach liaisons who work with targeted communities; technology to communicate with and reach out to nonEnglish speakers; collection development; world language story times; and community partnerships to provide English language, computer, and citizenship classes.

Make your library a destination where kids and teens come to explore and create. Learn practical tips about how to run programs involving digital media design and production, animation, electronics, and more. Discover how to maximize your skills and resources and share technology programming experiences with other local librarians.

Floundering at the desk when asked for a book you might not be familiar with? What if it's nonfiction? Get a "go-to" list for books/authors of popular nonfiction for leisure readers. RA experts will showcase five top nonfiction areas for readers (science/nature, self-help, food/home, memoirs, & pop culture) and what every librarian should know about them: the top five books, up-and-comers, and trends.

Looking for cost-effective ways to keep staff on top of the latest trends in service and technology? We'll discuss affordable methods for staff development: peer-led training sessions, independent learning, staff "experts," core competencies, and library-wide customer service training.

Leverage your trusted position in the community to engage people on issues that matter. Try out practical Harwood Institute tools and hear examples of their use. Each of four sessions focuses on an individual tool, creating a powerful framework for convening diverse groups and leading change. Librarians may use the Intentionality tool to test the external orientation and mindfulness of their community engagement choices and decisions.

How does your library get from here (mission) to there (results)? How do your facilities, programming, promotions, outreach, and virtual services support your strategic direction? Join us for an engaging discussion with a director who has “walked the talk,” successfully launching an innovative library branch in his community. Attendees will be asked to share their own successes, struggles, and innovative ideas.

Think you can’t provide low-budget musical programming because you don’t play an instrument? Think again! Learn how to include music in programming with and without musical talent. The benefits of musical programming are many: it’s all-inclusive, can be adapted to any age, can be used for children with special needs, and is multigenerational.

Our hot topic discussion will focus on innovative ways libraries can work to better understand needs, challenges, and best practices for empowering immigrant parents as early literacy champions. Join us to share techniques, challenges, and multi-media tools for building strong connections with immigrant families in order to improve children's literacy in our communities.

Presenters from two public library systems will show how they empower youth to create their own stories using clay animation, hand-drawn animation, and paper cut-out animation. Library staff will explain how they created an Animation Makerspace, developed internship programs for the Makerspace, and collaborated with community partners to offset costs, enhance instruction, and strengthen partnerships. Engaging animations will be screened, including a peek inside a candy factory that only a teenager could invent.

Do your patrons see your library as a place to discuss important community issues? By partnering with local organizations, your library can play a leadership role in civic engagement. Learn how to find partner organizations, identify hot topics, identify subject experts for your panel, market through social media and maintain civil discourse. You will change the expectations of non-users and supporters alike through this process.

Presenters will share three different models of school/public library collaboration and their strategies for building partnerships. Learn about the benefits for all stakeholders: schools, libraries, educators, librarians, students and taxpayers! All three models have found ways to leverage scarce resources while increasing educator and student access to library materials. In particular, each example increased the use of resources that support the implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS) and found ways to maximize purchasing power.

Readers' advisory librarians and Sisters in Crime authors take a lively look at current trends in publishing, what's hot in crime fiction, contributions to the genre by women during its golden age, and the ways women continue to influence this popular genre.

Is your photocopier plugged into an orange extension cord? Do you stockpile storytime puppets in a little room with gray wall boxes marked High Voltage? Do your restrooms flood whenever two toilets flush at the same time? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this program will help demystify the inner workings of your building and give you practical advice on how to fix or avoid common facility problems.

In an era where self-published books account for nearly a third of the top 100 books on Amazon,(for the full year 2013, according to The Wall Street Journal), librarians cannot ignore self-publishing.  With self-publishing, the rise of ebooks and the decline of chain bookstores, readers have more trouble than ever sorting through the over 700,000 books published or self-published in 2013.

This session will help make sense of self-publishing and argue for the growing importance of reader's advisory in the modern public library.  It will also discuss the use of merchandising techniques in libraries to help readers discover books past the bestsellers and increase the demand for the library as a center for book discovery.

With more than 64% of new all jobs in the U.S. being created by small businesses, communities that support their entrepreneurs help drive economic growth. Libraries play a big part in economic recovery by providing the support, information, and planning tools needed by local businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. Come learn about innovative ways your library can connect with your business community. All types/size of libraries are invited to bring success stories and promotion examples.

Resources for assisting businesses, entrepreneurs, and job and career seekers are more diverse and available than ever before. Learn resources to assist patrons research companies, compile targeted business lists, create business and marketing plans, build brands and social media, and locate technology and job resources. Tools will include databases, websites, government, and nonprofit assistance. Information on library business outreach including community partnerships will also be discussed.

Providing training for hard (task oriented, functional) skills is a given. How about softer skills, those less tangible, personal growth competencies? That's less clear. Come develop a soft skill in this session. You'll question the mental model that they aren’t learnable. Let’s discuss how to build capacity in your organization by investing in skills like imagination, experimentation, and risk-taking, then watch great customer service, creativity, and innovation happen. It’s not as fuzzy as it seems!

PlaySpaces encourage the development of literacy skills through active and experiential learning. Learn the connections between learning and play and the rationale for incorporating PlaySpaces into libraries. Speakers will share ideas sure to inspire whether you are planning a large renovation, carving out a small play area, or incorporating play into a branch library system.

Your website is optimized, but what’s the next step to increase your library’s visibility online? New partnership programs use the power of cooperation at scale to help libraries become more visible on popular sites like Yelp, GoodReads, Google, DOGOBooks, Wikipedia, EasyBib and others. Come hear results from the Westerville, Ohio Public Library, who has used the OCLC Library Spotlight program to increase awareness of its activities, new services and connect with new patrons.

If you've never had a staff day and want to start, or if you've had many and are looking for a new perspective, this panel of staff day organizers from large suburban, small and rural, and medium ex-urban libraries, with widely varying budgets, is guaranteed to give you new ideas!

How was the world's first atomic bomb developed? The public libraries of America's three Secret Cities, Los Alamos, N.M., Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Richland, Wash., are partnering to preserve the history of the Manhattan Project. Hear how they are creating a single virtual archive--"One Stop Shopping" access to a wealth of information, priceless photographs, and oral histories of the Manhattan project and the people involved.

Leverage your trusted position in the community to engage people on issues that matter. Try out practical Harwood Institute tools and hear examples of their use. Each of four sessions focuses on an individual tool, creating a powerful framework for convening diverse groups and leading change. Sustaining Yourself helps librarians to personally map the components that feed their motivation and commitment for community work.

Librarians, are you frustrated when trying to communicate with IT folks? You're not alone. With a few simple tips you can bridge the cultural and communications gaps and even have fun in the process! Bring your toughest examples to discuss and walk away with solutions!

What do hip-hop beats, microbrews, and bouncy castles all have in common? In this session, we’ll talk about how a strong brand and vibrant culture can transform an organization – and how the two influence each other. We’ll explore language, storytelling, and core values that build culture and help shape an organization’s personality. This is an interactive session, so be ready to participate and have some fun.

One of the most difficult functions of a library staff member is confronting patrons who aren't behaving appropriately in the library. This session will provide practical tips and examples of how to best insure patron compliance while keeping safety a top priority.

Three YA authors (all from Indiana) explore the power of story to convey truths--especially difficult ones--to teens Using their own novels as examples, they will discuss how their characters, writing styles, and approaches present tough situations and encourage teen readers to be thoughtful and creative in understanding the characters' AND their own rough waters. In keeping with our "local theme," we will serve some Indiana snacks for you to enjoy.

EveryLibrary is the Nation's first and only Political Action Committee for Libraries that works to win elections for libraries. At this session we want to share what we learned while working on the battleground of library ballot compaigns. We want to encourage a public dialog between librarians about the importance of politics in our daily routine and to encourage each other to get involved in the fight for library funding at the ballot box.  We will also be sharing many of the tips and tricks that national SuperPACs use to build advocacy and coalitions and communities of supporters.

What insights into the mind of the patron can website usability testing provide? To explore this question, Hennepin County (Minn.) Library (HCL) partnered with the University of Minnesota to test the HCL website. HCL Project coordinator Amy Luedtke will share the findings and explore how the results may apply to other public library websites. Amy will give an introduction to the basics of website user testing and share testing tips and tricks.

Thinking about starting a book discussion at your library? Want new ideas for your current program? Have trouble finding questions? Come talk with book discussion leaders about ways to start a book group and how to select titles or find discussion questions. Learn about other successful programs and trade ideas for ways to change up or expand into other types of discussion groups.

Concerned about the future of your library? Pondering how to stay relevant? Need to transform your spaces and your services, but don’t know where to start? Learn about our innovation journey--about how replacing Dewey with customer-centered classification provided a platform for broader library transformation influencing branch design, service models, and the customer experience. We learned a lot about library innovation along the way.

Libraries are offering more science programming each year, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) literacy and 21st century skills such as critical thinking and innovation. The National Library of Medicine is committed to supporting K-12 science education by providing FREE reliable resources designed to help introduce, reinforce, and supplement science curricula. Whether working alone or in partnership with a local museum and/or science center, these resources will support and enhance your library’s programs.

In an era of budget cuts and service reductions, it has never been more important to articulate the value of your library’s services to stakeholders, including funders. One of the best ways to do this is to share outcomes--aka how the library is making a difference in the lives of your customers. Learn seven basic steps to measuring outcomes, from identifying the need to presenting the results in order to successfully tell your story.

While many librarians serve gay, lesbian, transgender or otherwise queer families with programs and materials, many of us also offer programs and readers' advisory service mired in gendered and heterosexist expectations about what is and isn't appropriate for boys and girls. For many LGBTQ parents and children, these are offensive and even damaging. This presentation presents a radical solution: queer library services to everybody, not just library services to queer people.

Libraries striving for innovation can struggle to be everything to all people, especially in the world of ever changing technology. Interactive whiteboards, 3D printers, video games and consoles, e-book readers, apps and tablets, and customer and programming support…these are only some of the variables in the public facing technology selection equation. Learn about one library system’s plan, discover strategies, and get hands on practice developing your own.

During this session, participants will discuss the dos and don’ts of facilitating a successful sensory friendly storytime, including how to handle difficult situations that may arise during the story time. Come discuss the importance of forming partnerships with local agencies and organizations serving children and families with special needs. Participants will come away with lists of suggested books, manipulatives, and supplies to utilize during a sensory friendly storytime.

Whether large or small, rural or urban, all public library communities serve patrons with special needs. Developing an awareness and sensitivity to patrons with disabilities is crucial for providing top-notch library service. Come participate and articulate as we “conversate” about your library’s special needs services.

These fast-moving sessions feature five-minute presentations on the latest and greatest ideas from your public library colleagues. Come be surprised, inspired, and energized!

Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, comprise one-third of the U.S. population. They are the largest, most educated, affluent, and healthiest generation to reach 67. Boomers want to keep learning, share their time and talents, and be involved. This IMLS-funded program explores a successful series of programs, interviews, and activities, developed and presented by local Boomers. Community involvement is a focus along with new technologies like video archiving and live interactive webcasts.

Many outsiders question the viability of today's libraries in light of rapid technological advances. While change is inevitable, what may need to change the most is how you think and talk about what your library is and why it exists. The attitude you have about the existing situation will help you see opportunities to move your library forward and secure operating funds.

Ever wanted an team of experts to come to your library and give you free advice on how to make it look and function better? The New Jersey SWAT Team of Library Transformers, sponsored by the N.J. State Library, does just that! Hear what the team found in libraries they've worked with over the past several years and learn how their creative and cost-effective solutions can be applied at your library.

The social media universe is expanding and users are eagerly combing it to discover their next good read. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Four Square, Tumblr, and Goodreads can all be used in different ways to help library users find their next good book. Learn how readers use these platforms and how to harness their strengths to push out reading.

Are droves of reluctant readers signing up for your Summer Reading Program? Are you seeing double-digit increases in your statistics from year to year? Find out how a community came together in 2012 to achieve a 97% increase in the Summer Reading completion rate and what data it produced on reading scores in the school population. Community and library representatives will help you to identify steps you can take to replicate this success locally.

"My library has public access computers. Now what?" This session will lay out low-to-no-cost solutions to digital divides in your community and share exciting ways to attract new patrons around technology. Facilitators will organize discussion around case studies of urban, suburban, and rural libraries with innovative programs, partnerships, and services designed to address community technology needs--everything from job searching to genealogy. Join us to shape your own programs, partnerships, and initiatives!

If you pass a store with an unkempt exterior, do you walk in? If you enter a store and see piles of things in disarray, do you stay? Merchandising matters, and not only for retail. It's more than making displays, yet it's not difficult. It requires staff time, but it's fun. Having inviting signage and displays increases usage. Learn tactics, hear success stories, and see colorful photos of good examples from around the world.

Learn about the partnership formed between the San Francisco (Calif.) Public Library and Learning Games Network, a non-profit learning game studio from Cambridge, Massachusetts, that resulted in Spanish speakers coast-to-coast gaining computer skills and English-language acquisition through social gaming. We will also discuss how lessons learned in this partnership helped us plan and execute programs for the Spanish-speaking community and form new partnerships with local organizations.

Learn how YALSA's Evaluation Tool can help you get teen services out from under the radar, show off the good things you're doing, and advocate for change, as part of a larger strategic look at the whole library. The presenters will discuss the basics of using the evaluation tool in different library settings and share some of the lessons learned from Multnomah County Library's experience of using the tool.

What do you do when a parent answers their cell phone in storytime? Join us as we tackle this problem and more at Guerrilla Storytime! We will introduce the training and advocacy potential of Guerrilla Storytime before sharing storytime tips and tricks, then we'll open the floor with some great challenges for you to try. Whether you have questions, or just want to meet to meet storytime colleagues and learn new techniques, all are welcome!

As community anchor institutions, many libraries serve as trusted resources for patrons seeking information regarding the Affordable Care Act. OCLC’s WebJunction has worked through their libraries and eHealth project to identify the successes, challenges, and opportunities experienced by libraries during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Join us to hear what we’re learning and share your story!

Libraries play a pivotal role in helping Americans make informed choices about their lives, work, and health. Users increasingly need not only good, up-to-date information but also the skills to navigate digital resources in order to make the best choices. IMLS has consistently worked with other federal agencies in partnership to help make civic literacy information and training readily available to librarians in topics including financial literacy, education, health, pathways to citizenship, digital literacy, and economic and workforce development. Learn about IMLS's digital and civic literacy activities and its partnerships with federal agency partners USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).

Communities thrive through effective and strategic partnerships, and the public library is uniquely positioned to foster collaborative efforts that have positive impacts on people. Collaboration is a process, with the relationship often going through many revisions as environments and goals change. Learn how to take traditional partnership approaches to the next level; be informed by innovative services developed through collaboration; equip yourself with practical steps to create, negotiate, and nurture your next library partnership.

Millennials, our adult patrons thirty-years-old and younger, are not acting like traditional adults, especially when it comes to movies and television. The New Adult category is developing in the widening gap between Young Adults and Adults, and selection needs to adapt. We'll offer suggestions for your collection that let you start a dialog and tap into the word-of-mouth discussion about just-discovered favorite movies among your New Adult patrons.

Do you want to give new employees a consistent message when hired? Staff of the Rochester (MN) Public Library will discuss their success using online orientation software to give new hires the information they need to start succeeding on their first day of employment. Bring your ideas!

Play is more than just fun! Through play, children develop a foundation for lifelong learning, stretch their imagination, and learn important social skills. This session will cover the research and rationale behind play-based learning and the role it can have in a public library. Participants will leave this energetic presentation armed with specific ideas to revamp their traditional storytime programs to include play-based activities on any budget.

By re-imagining the entire customer experience, the Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library is transforming public library service in the 21st century. Collaboration in three key areas: transforming physical spaces; increasing convenience through technology; and communicating "who we are/what we do" through branding ensures that they are leading organizational change. The presenters will discuss how to work together with all levels of your organization to sell change and provide examples of successful strategies.

Looking for ways to market the collection? ‘Six Degrees of Reading’ is a fun, creative way to promote reading and improve staff readers’ advisory skills. Using the technique can assist staff in learning about appeal factors, promote cooperation with co-workers, generate ideas for displays and booklists, and be useful in highlighting backlist titles in the library’s collection. Examples will be provided for discussion and an exercise presented to practice the technique.

In today’s’ economy, providing programs that help young adults develop job-related experience is critical. Teen Fashion Apprentice, one of YALSA’s top five programs for excellence in 2013, is a remarkable example of such a program. Teens interested in a fashion career were given the chance to learn the business, from inspiration to creation and beyond. Speakers will share tips about developing content and outcome measures, as well as marketing/media relations techniques.

Are your shelvers adding maximum value? We’ve got an app for that! Learn how a former teacher turned “SUPER(vising)-Librarian” broke a morale-draining shelving logjam through reorganized workspace and workflow, and shaped a culture where pages have dramatically increased productivity with an increasingly complex range of duties. The smartphone has become indispensable in training, assessment, and feedback, Pages now meet high expectations and drive them still higher. Smartphone optional. Smart supervisor required.

RDA implementation loomed for so many years, that many libraries postponed even thinking about it. Very quickly, the March 30, 2013, implementation date arrived and left many public libraries wondering where to begin. Learn how various libraries implemented RDA, trained staff, and even trained several other libraries in the process. We'll also discuss the results of implementation and provide suggestions on how other libraries can implement RDA.

Today’s autism rates are 20 times higher than in the 1980s. This increase has profoundly changed who we serve in libraries. Library staff aren’t always aware of those on the autism spectrum which can make serving this population a challenge. This session will provide library staff with specifics on understanding autism; tips on providing the best customer service; specific programming examples, and will also introduce emerging technologies.

Dreaming of ditching Dewey? Wondering why anyone would ever want to? Either way, join San Mateo County Library staff as they share their experiences with the implementation of their word-based classification system for nonfiction, FindIt! Engage in riveting discussions about managing change, the pros and cons of Dewey, and developing and implementing word-based classification systems.

Be a champ by advocating for youth and youth services at your library! Learn how to advocate internally within your organization and with your local elected officials, as well as how to influence stakeholders and legislators at the regional, state, and national level. You’ll also discover how to relay your message through your social network sites, blogs, and newsletters.

When faced with the threat of bed bugs, Kalamazoo (Mich.) Public Library assembled a team to eradicate the insects. Discover how a team of managers immersed themselves in the world of bed bugs with the single-minded goal to control and defend against the villainous varmints. Attain facts about bed bugs. Learn how to develop a plan to respond, manage, and mitigate the pests. Hear how to minimize staff and public panic by keeping everyone informed.

Are you short on programming funds? Does your staff struggle to find time to program? Would you like to showcase collections and services or promote community initiatives? If so, then it’s time to add passive programming to your repertoire! Discover what passive programming is and how to do it well. Return to work with ideas that will allow you to design activities suitable for all ages, from kids to seniors, and even intergenerational audiences. Discussion will be led by the author of the Librarian's Guide to Passive Programming: Easy and Affordable Activities for All Ages (Libraries Unlimited, 2012).

After two years in development, the Edge Initiative recently launched in January. Join us to celebrate this momentous occasion and learn from your colleagues who have participated in the Edge Initiative and are already seeing benefits. During this session, Edge library leaders will share best practices and lessons learned from completing the Edge assessment, utilizing the tools and resources, and engaging with local and community leaders, stakeholders and staff to achieve community priorities. In addition, you will hear how you can participate in this national initiative to assess your current public technology services and outline actionable steps to make improvements and connect more closely with your community priorities.

In 2013 the DC By the Book project combined open digital mapping tools, crowdsourcing, local history partnerships, and an LSTA grant, to launch a website (www.dcbythebook.org) where the public and the public library can collaborate to build a map of Washington, D.C., as it has been represented in fiction. Learn about the elements and lifecycle of a successful geohumanities project and discuss opportunities that move public libraries into the realm of content creation and digital instruction.

The “learner at the center” has become a core strategy for staff training. Strategies like MOOCs or peer collaborations are all part of a trend toward very personalized learning. As the trends and tools move toward learning environments that are learner-initiated, activated, and constructed, what are we doing to prepare individuals to own their own learning? Presenters will share their discoveries about the future of learning and strategies for supporting and empowering the learner.

During the past five years the Plano (Tex.) Public Library System has transformed its service model to deliver a higher level of service to patrons. By repurposing the roles of the librarians, clerks, and pages, the library has been able to provide increased high quality person-to-person service while increasing circulation by +900,000 (30.0%). Program attendance also increased by 29764 (+39.5%). This was all accomplished while the library system reduced staffing by 28 FTE positions.

Your library can develop strong consumer health programming with partners and resources already available in your community, at little to no cost. Staff from the Ann Arbor District (Mich.) Library and the University of Michigan will share lessons learned from years of programming and work through joint NIH Partners in Research grants which engaged the public, researchers, and other experts. Patrons want access to interesting programs and professionals. Your library can be the trusted place where this happens.

For the past two summers, the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) has piloted Questyinz©, an online learning game, to K-5 children in southwestern Pennsylvania. Questyinz© invites kids to engage in learning quests through a combination of books, educational websites, and real-world experiences. It is among the first summer learning programs nationally to blend the need for summer reading opportunities with a more holistic and modern understanding of literacy and learning. Questyinz© was featured in two IMLS publications in 2013.

This session delves into the sources of technical services delays and barriers to efficient workflow. Learn about the ways two libraries changed entrenched technical services workflows to make their processes more efficient and effective with the help of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, cross functional workteams and the help of a consultant. Solutions include applying best practices from a manufacturing environment to library materials selection, acquisitions, cataloging, and processing.

This session will describe the development of an ongoing Sensory Storytime program, from inception to establishment and growth. Participants will receive detailed descriptions of the who's, what's, when's, where's, and why's for this important program, including--who from their community to contact for information, what resources they will need, when to offer their storytime, how to market their storytime, and why it supports the ALA's Core Values of Librarianship.

Play matters. With ever-mounting stress placed on achievement and standardized testing in schools, opportunities for creative play, which allows kids to explore and learn at their own pace, are becoming increasingly rare. As a community learning institution, the public library holds a unique position to lead patrons in playful learning. Through hands-on activities and discussion, panelists will share practical strategies for librarians who would like to integrate play into youth programming and spaces.

Genealogists love public libraries as treasure troves of local history, especially as many libraries are digitizing their special collections. But all too often genealogical researchers aren’t finding the gems in library collections. Why not? And what else can librarians offer them? Come hear what genealogists really want from libraries--from a certified genealogist. And find out what a township library system and a national research collection have done to meet genealogists’ needs.

Learn about a simple strategy that will make your library indispensable using strategic vocabulary that conveys what libraries are: a timeless, economic imperative that merits maximized funding. Applying the easy-to-visualize "Three Pillars” positions your library as a major component of your region’s education system—along with public schools, colleges and universities. Aligning with education establishes a distinctive sense of purpose, instilling pride in ourselves, our work, and our profession.