Friday, June 26Image
Thinking Money for Kids Librarian Summer Camp [$20 ticketed event]8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: Marriott Marquis, Great Lakes A Ticket Code: PPO1 (Include in your initial conference registration or register later using the unique link in your email confirmation!) In 2024, the ALA Public Programs Office and the FINRA Foundation unveiled the Thinking Money for Kids (TM4K) Program Kit, a collection of custom-made games to teach kids about financial topics – like saving, spending, sharing, and budgeting – through in-person, hands-on library activities. Learn how your public or K-12 library can use these free games to create financial education programming for kids ages 5 - 12 in your community. In this fun, hands-on workshop, you will experience the games firsthand, led by library workers who have played the games in a variety of program settings. You will explore creative ideas for teaching financial skills to kids; learn how to become a money-savvy role model; and receive access to all the downloadable materials you need to recreate these learning experiences at your library. Pokémon Club @ Your Library: Engaging Young Learners Through Play and Community1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 185 D Discover how to bring the excitement of Pokémon into your library! In this session, attendees will explore the new ALA Pokémon Library Clubs initiative, developed in partnership with The Pokémon Company International. Learn what’s included in the official club kit, featuring scaffolded activities, resources, and prizes, and see how to adapt them for different grade levels and community needs. Participants will walk away with practical strategies to launch and sustain a club that sparks curiosity, builds community, and connects young people to literacy, creativity, and play. Libraries as Dementia - Capable Hubs: Advancing Brain Health Through Design, Training, and Community Partnerships2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Location:Marriott Marquis, Architecture Are you responsible for programming, outreach, or community engagement in your library? Libraries are trusted community spaces that bring people together for learning, connection, and support. As communities age and dementia diagnoses rise, libraries are uniquely positioned to serve as leaders in public health by promoting brain health and cognitive wellness. This session will highlight how libraries can empower patrons of all ages with positive, practical approaches to brain health while also supporting individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Participants will learn how to apply dementia-capable practices to create inclusive, welcoming spaces and design programs that build social connection across generations. The session will explore how to integrate evidence-based information on modifiable risk factors-such as physical activity and nutrition-into engaging library programs that inspire healthy behaviors and lifelong learning. Opening General Session featuring Rachel Maddow4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline The ALA 2026 Annual Conference will kick off with welcome remarks and important updates for library supporters followed by opening speaker Rachel Maddow. I Love My Librarian Award Ceremony7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Location: Marriott Marquis, Grand Horizon Ballroom The I Love My Librarian Award recognizes the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians nominated by members of their community. Join us to celebrate the 2026 award recipients immediately followed by food, drinks, and music. The philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York has generously sponsored the I Love My Librarian Award since its inception. The New York Public Library is also a supporter of the award. The award is administered by the American Library Association. |
Saturday, June 27Beyond the Basics: Mastering Service Dog Access in Library Settings9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Location: McCormick Place, W 185 B C Transform uncertainty into confidence with this comprehensive workshop addressing the complex realities of service dog access in libraries. While most staff understand service dogs are "allowed," daily challenges persist: handling disruptive behavior, applying the two-question rule, balancing competing patron needs, and knowing when removal is appropriate. This interactive session moves beyond basic ADA compliance to provide practical mastery through real-world case studies, legal clarity, and proven strategies. Participants will distinguish between service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy animals with precision, while learning to navigate challenging scenarios including aggressive dogs, staff resistance, and patron conflicts. Career Quest: Engaging Teens with their Future Careers9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Location: McCormick Place, W 183 A Looking for innovative ways to engage teens in career exploration? This program shares practical ideas for connecting workforce and financial choices. Promote autonomy with gamified budgeting challenges and role-playing activities that link education and salary to lifestyle goals. Discover how tabletop roleplaying mechanics can bring real-world decision-making to life and leave with adaptable strategies to help teens imagine and prepare for their futures. Learn how to structure sessions for maximum engagement and partner with community professionals to expand career pathways. From Shelves to Safety: Empowering Library Staff with Tools for De-escalation and Crisis Response9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Location: McCormick Place, W 181 A B C Libraries are vibrant community spaces—and with that openness sometimes comes moments of tension, stress, or conflict. Frontline staff are often the first to encounter these situations, yet many feel unprepared to respond with confidence and care. This program introduces practical, library-specific tools for de-escalation and crisis response that help staff maintain safety while preserving the welcoming spirit of the library. Attendees will learn approachable strategies for recognizing early signs of escalation, setting healthy boundaries, and using communication techniques that calm rather than inflame. The session will also explore ways to create supportive staff cultures where team members feel equipped to manage challenges together. Sustaining Your School Library Community Throughout the Summer: A Beginner’s Toolkit9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Location: McCormick Place, W 185 A Library love never stops…so long as you make it to the end of the school year! Follow along as we explore strategies for developing school library summer programming that both engages your students and accommodates your schedule. Main Stage Speaker: Lois Lowry10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Location: McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline Two-time Newbery Medal winner, described as “clearly one of the most important twentieth-century American writers for children,” whose books are a staple of both middle school curricular and banned book lists. Her new 2026 middle grade novel echoes that of her most prominent work, THE GIVER, but with a sobering spin for today’s generation. In BUILDING 92, twins Tessa and Theo live in a world ruled by the tyrannical leader, where there are no dangers and nearly no rebels. In this world, citizens live long lives, and while many hate the tyrannical leader, they are comfortable and safe. So, when Tessa's brother disappears, this anomaly is quickly swept under the rug. Soon after, when Tessa's 135-year-old neighbor, Miriam Osterman, is bound for the retirement community, she sneaks Tessa a key—not only to her brother's disappearance, but to the source of all real magic . . . books. As Tessa and her parents begin their search for Theo, Tessa learns that books not only tell us stories—they open portals and unlock our humanity through our most powerful tool: the imagination. Once that truth has been revealed, Tessa won't be able to rest until she has retrieved her twin and society itself has been transformed. Beyond Diwali: Serving the Growing South Asian Communities11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 185 A The program "Beyond Diwali: Serving the Growing South Asian Communities" addresses a critical need for libraries to move beyond a single, annual cultural event and embrace a comprehensive approach to serving one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in the United States. This session challenges the notion that a single celebration, such as Diwali, is sufficient to meet the diverse needs of communities from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other parts of South Asia. Developing Creative Writing Programs for Library Kids11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 185 B C In a world where children are often denied opportunities to use their voices, libraries can be the best possible space for them to express themselves — and how better to express oneself than through creative writing? In conversation with youth creative writing education nonprofit Cosmic Writers, librarians Joy Hariprasad from the NYPL, Catherine Shook from the Norwalk Easter Public Library, and Emily McClay from the Pickaway County Library will share their best practices for developing writing programming for their young patrons. The panel will guide participants through the process of setting up creative writing programs for their libraries, from determining program structure to designing curriculum. This panel includes representatives from urban, rural, and suburban libraries. Public Library Services for Strong Communities: Results from PLA's 2025 Annual Survey11:00 am - 12:00 pm Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 113 B C Young children and families are deeply impacted by growing attempts to ban and challenge books for young readers, so it’s essential we include them in the Freedom to Read movement. Picture books comprise an increasing percentage of school and library book bans, impacting access to diverse books and even reading outcomes. According to Pen America, most banned and challenged picture books present LGBTQ+ themes, feature characters of color, or discuss racism. We know young children need diverse books to see themselves represented, feel empowered, develop a sense of belonging, and grow their understanding of our diverse world. The books being removed from schools and libraries are arguably the books young children need most. Teaching an Old Library New Tricks: Developing Inclusive and Engaging Library Anniversaries11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: Hyatt Regency McCormick, Burnham AB Learn about the results from the 2025 Public Library Services for Strong Communities Survey, which include key information on the public library programs, services, partnerships, and facilities geared towards meeting needs and fostering resilient communities. The results address questions about the types of age-specific programs offered, whether libraries' services and partnerships are delivered formally or informally, and recent updates to library facilities including new builds and mobile service outlets -- all reported by locale type (city, suburban, or town/rural). The powerful, actionable evidence from the Services Survey supports planning and advocacy at the local, state, and national level. Presenters will share how your library can use the survey report and PLA’s data tools to understand and improve your library’s performance, demonstrate value, and increase impact in your community. Creative Programming With Cartoonists12:30 PM - 1:20 PM Location: Chapter One Stage (Booth #1328) Panelists share diverse ways cartoonists can enliven library programming—from art workshops / camps to author visits, digital storytelling sessions and more. How Library Staff Can Better Serve Deaf Patrons1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 185 B C In this presentation, we will explore a range of resources and practical strategies designed to enhance library services for Deaf patrons. Aimed at library professionals, this session will cover effective communication tools, accessibility best practices, and community engagement techniques to ensure an inclusive library environment. Attendees will learn about innovative technologies, useful partnerships, and hands-on approaches to better support Deaf individuals and promote equal access to library resources. Join us to discover how to make your library a welcoming space for everyone. Pawsitive Impact: How Two School Librarians Transformed Crisis Response and Student Wellness with Therapy Dogs1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 183 C Two high school librarians present their groundbreaking therapy dog program that transforms libraries into vital wellness centers. These certified four-legged companions serve as daily support systems and crisis responders, addressing escalating mental health needs among adolescents and stressed educators through an innovative, cost-effective approach. Read Trans Books: Resources for Collection Development, Reader’s Advisory, and More!1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 179 A B 'Read Trans Books' is dedicated to uplifting transgender authors and books while equipping library workers with the tools to confidently acquire, promote, and share these titles. Young Adult literature in particular has seen an increase of trans-inclusive books in the past ten years and the narratives have expanded understandings of genre, identity, and transition experience. This session will introduce participants to resources available to them through 'Read Trans Books'—including training opportunities, newsletters, and evaluative materials—that make navigating the growing landscape of transgender literature easier. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to strengthen collections, enhance reader’s advisory, and ensure these important books reach the readers who need them most. Borrow, Don't Buy: Meet your Needs with a LIbrary of Things - SustainRT Chair's Program1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 192 A Explore how a Library of Things (LoT) is a powerful sustainability tool. Whether you're a specialty library, niche community organization or a large public institution, a library of things can help you meet the needs of your patrons and community. In this presentation, we'll explore the many models of a modern Library of Things and show you how offering tools, equipment, and services can empower your stakeholders and help them obtain their desires. Innovative practitioners across the world have successfully proved that with just a shelf or a closet, providing resources beyond books creates grand impacts. Join us to learn from some of these library workers and envision how to connect your work to the growing sharing economy. Affirming Inclusive Library Services: Equitably Serving Patrons with Significant Disabilities2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 175 A B C This program equips attendees with practical strategies and inspiration to create fully equitable library programs for patrons with significant disabilities. Drawing on ideas developed through professional practice and writing, the session provides attendees with foundational knowledge of working with patrons with disabilities before moving into actionable tools and ideas. Participants will learn how to collaborate with special education professionals and disability specialists, adapt library environments beyond basic ADA compliance, and structure library time to support equity in book selection and self-checkout. The session will also highlight how to design multisensory, engaging lessons and adapt library programs and events to ensure meaningful participation for all students. The ideas shared will be from the presenter’s book, “Supporting Students with Significant Disabilities in School Libraries: A Vision for Radical Inclusion” (Bloomsbury 2026). Ultimately, the session aims to inspire attendees to move beyond basic inclusion and toward fully equitable library programs that celebrate and affirm patrons with significant disabilities. Biblioteca Maravillosa: Engaging Emergent Bilingual Readers through Gamification2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 184 D Library collections rich in diversity and experiences can be daunting and overwhelming to a language learner, but synthesizing grammar activities, writing practice, and genre exploration in a theme-park game format enables Emergent Bilingual students to earn badges as they achieve small, meaningful goals towards both language mastery and reading agency. Get templates for designing library lessons for Reading Intervention or ESL classes as part of a "theme park" with activity badges and rewards to earn along the way. Main Stage Speaker: Min Jin Lee3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline The National Book Award finalist and NYT bestselling author of Pachinko returns with a breathtaking contemporary epic. Once comfortably middle class in Korea, John and Helen Koh, and their three children Bo, DH, and Mido, find their lives upended. Desperately striving to regain their footing, they move first to Sydney and eventually to Southern California—where new vistas of opportunity open up for the children as their parents, strangers in a strange land, adjust to a new life where their experience and education mean nothing and they can only set their sights on whatever it takes to provide for their children’s futures. An unforgettable new novel where the men and women struggle to find satisfaction and meaning in a world that seems to grow less forgiving with each passing year. Breaking Barriers, Building Brands: Supporting Beauty Entrepreneurs in Libraries4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 184 D What happens when beauty meets business in the library? Glow & Grow: Beauty Business Essentials was an innovative program designed to empower aspiring beauty entrepreneurs through access to research tools, technology training, and community connections. Structured around three core pillars—Research, Technology, and Community—the program offered workshops on industry research and trend forecasting, hands-on sessions introducing AI and digital platforms, and opportunities to connect with peers and leaders in the beauty space. Tunes-n-Tales: How Partnering with a Local Symphony Brings Inclusiveness to Communities Through the Arts4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Location: Marriott Marquis, Great Lakes ABC Are you responsible for assisting in the growth and education of the children in your community? This session will not only describe how to do this through books, art, and music, but also via a live narrated symphony performance which ties them altogether. Learn about a library that replicated another system’s collaboration with a local symphony and then modernized and expanded upon the process to be inclusive of the entire community by choosing Jason Reynold’s picture book "There Was a Party for Langston", instead of an older book in the public domain. ALA 150: A Celebration For Our Libraries (TICKETED)5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Location: Marriott Marquis, Grand Horizon Ballroom Ticket Code: ALA1 (Include in your initial conference registration or register later using the unique link in your email confirmation!) Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate ALA’s 150 years of library leadership in style! Enjoy a vibrant cocktail-hour experience filled with light bites, beverages, and an electrifying live band guaranteed to get you on the dance floor. Unique experiences will be sprinkled throughout the evening. Mingle and recharge in the laid-back lounge, strike a pose in the 360° photo booth, watch original artwork come to life before your eyes from a renowned children’s book illustrator, and take home a one-of-a-kind poem crafted just for you by a local typewriter poet! This is your chance to celebrate the past—including an exclusive look at rare ALA artifacts—relish in the present, and toast to the future of libraries. Tickets are limited. Secure your spot and be part of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration! Cost: $50 |
Sunday, June 28Elders Deserve Social Justice Too: Challenging Ageism Towards Older Adults Through Libraries, Communities, and ALA9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Location: McCormick Place, W 183 A While libraries and society have changed in innumerous ways since the American Library Association was founded in 1876, few changes have been as profound as societal aging. That year, the number of people aged 65 years and older was estimated at 20 million globally. Today more than 850 million people are 65 and older; this older cohort outnumbers those 5 years and younger for the first time in recorded history. By 2100 the global population of older adults is expected to expand to 2.4 billion. As such, how libraries and ALA engage older adults and their social networks will be a major determiner of our relevance at home and our influence abroad over the next 150 years. And yet, focus on the needs of and challenges experienced by older adults such as ageism—stigma and discrimination towards people 65 and older because of their real or perceived age-related vulnerabilities—remains underrepresented in library practice and research. In response, this multi-generational panel brings together representatives across 3 older adult-focused entities within ALA to teach participants how to combat ageism in their libraries, communities, and professional associations. Mind the Knowledge Gap: Lessons from developing an AI Library ChatBot9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Location: McCormick Place, W 178 A B Interest in AI-powered chatbots within libraries is growing, but many institutions are still exploring what it would take to move from idea to implementation. This session presents a case study of developing, deploying, and sustaining a library-specific AI chatbot designed to enhance research support and user engagement. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of how to plan, test, and scale a chatbot within an academic environment, including both the technical and human considerations that shape success. The program will walk through the full lifecycle of an AI chatbot project: selecting a development platform, preparing knowledge bases, and conducting iterative user testing with clear attention to privacy and ethical safeguards. Deployment strategies will highlight how to balance innovation with institutional expectations, while discussion of long-term support will cover training student workers, building librarian-facing workflows, and sustaining trust through transparency and responsible AI use. Reading with Dignity: Building Dementia-Inclusive Public Library Resources9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Location: McCormick Place, W 180 Dementia-inclusive initiatives are becoming essential in helping libraries support older patrons as they navigate life review and cognitive change. As awareness grows, resources must evolve to meet a wider range of needs and abilities. This presentation highlights how libraries can partner with the dementia care community by adopting best practices in collection development, programming, and collaboration while maintaining focus on dignity, engagement, and accessibility. Libraries are already trusted hosts of memory cafés, caregiver groups, and wellness programs, yet collections and resources tailored to this community remain too limited and often overlook the broad spectrum of cognitive abilities. Attendees will learn how age-appropriate, affirming, and inclusive resources can transform the library into a protective, welcoming space through thoughtful collection curation, community partnerships, and accessible design. By championing dementia-inclusive services, libraries can reduce stigma, amplify elder voices, and create communities where every patron feels seen, valued, and connected. From Idea to Zine: Supporting Comics Creation in Library Makerspaces10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Location: McCormick Place, W 475 b Libraries are increasingly becoming spaces not just for reading comics, but for making them. This panel explores how libraries of all types are supporting comics creation through makerspaces, programs, and publishing opportunities for patrons of all ages. Panelists will share practical strategies for teaching the basics of comics creation, including storytelling, visual literacy, and layout; integrating tools such as zine-making supplies, art materials, and digital platforms; and guiding patrons through informal and formal publishing pathways. The discussion will highlight scalable programs that work in a variety of library settings, from small public and school libraries to larger academic or community makerspaces. Connecting Culture and Knowledge: Indigenous Librarians Narratives of Researching Ancestral Histories11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 176 A B C Many Indigenous people feel disconnected from their cultural heritage as a result of a combination of the US government’s history of colonization, dispossession, and the modern reality that economic opportunities are often in urban centers. When indigenous people want to learn more about their specific indigenous ancestors, libraries can be one of the first places they visit to look for information. 78% of American Indians and Native Alaskans lived outside of their tribal resource areas in 2020, which means that indigenous people are often visiting academic and public libraries to begin their research. When only 1.3% of all librarians identify as American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, this distinct community of researchers is seeking help from non-Indigenous librarians who can often be dismissive or feel ill-equipped to help. This presentation will feature indigenous librarians sharing their experiences of researching their histories within libraries and cultural heritage institutions so that attendees can better understand the research support needs of indigenous researchers and better meet those needs. Stitched Stories: Children’s Literature, Quilting, and Cultural Heritage11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 185 B C This interactive session explores the power of quilting as both an artistic practice and a storytelling tradition, integrating children’s literature, STEM concepts, and cultural heritage. Participants will learn how Zuri Quilting—a collective of Black women quilters—partners with educators and a librarian to engage elementary students in identity-affirming, interdisciplinary learning experiences. Using selected children’s books, students design and sew quilt squares that reflect their lives, culminating in a collaborative community quilt. The program highlights how libraries and schools can foster equity, creativity, and cultural understanding through art-based literacy initiatives. Attendees will leave with strategies, booklists, and program models for adapting quilting and literature-based projects in their own libraries and communities. Food Culture Remix: Food literacy programming for Children, Teens, and Families12:30 PM - 1:20 PM Location: What's Cooking @ ALA Stage (Booth #1320) How do you run high-impact food programs with no kitchen, just a sink? Discover how food culture literacy programs bring multigenerational families, teens, and digital-only users into the library through tasting, storytelling, and easy food-making. From Summer Lunch activations to Flavor Remix pop-ups, this session includes Awesome Sauce demo, guided tasting, and take-away zine activity. Moderated by award-winning children’s author, food ethnographer, and TED speaker June Jo Lee.. Building Teen Advocates at Small and Rural Libraries: How we did it!1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 184 A B C To help facilitate the development of young leaders, we leveraged our expertise to provide support to small and rural libraries to launch programming for teens focused on skills and tools of advocacy. We worked with 12 libraries to develop their ideas programs, and internships that would support the goal of building a network of teens to become the next generation of library advocates and champions for the freedom to read. Hear from the program organizers on how the idea for this initiative began, from the libraries that received funding and support, and directly from the teens themselves on how this opportunity has supported their growth as teen intellectual freedom leaders The Library is for Everyone: The D.C. Public Library's Accessibility Expansion Program1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 179 A B After a decade of modernizing many of DC Public Library’s (DCPL) 26 locations, including the central Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, expanding accessibility features for customers remained a high priority. The Center for Accessibility at DCPL, a department focused on providing equal access to library services to customers with disabilities, has historically met these needs on their own, but has a relatively small staff (10, including a manager) who cannot be at all locations on a regular basis. In response to the need for a more comprehensive accessibility plan outside of the Center itself, staff conducted an assessment of community needs and current accessibility features throughout the city’s diverse locations. Analyzing this data allowed for the implementation of new assistive technology, best practices for serving customers with disabilities across the library system, and creating an Accessibility Ambassador program for branch staff to enact accessibility features more thoroughly at their locations. Through this multi-year process, our libraries have expanded and enhanced library services to patrons with various disabilities and access needs, utilizing a combination of high end equipment, software, low to no cost solutions, and staff training Shelby Singleton, Assistive Technology Coordinator of the Center for Accessibility, will present on planning and implementing her Accessibility Expansion Program, a three part strategy to expand accessibility and create a more socially inclusive environment, and how other library systems might tailor this work to suit their community’s needs. Feeding Hope: Empowering Communities through Compassionate Meal Prep in Our Library Kitchen2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 183 C Food connects people and at our library, it’s become a powerful way to give back. In 2021, we opened a commercial kitchen at our Makerplace. Since then, two staff members from Programs and Community Engagement have partnered with a local homeless shelter and nearby churches to lead a seasonal meal-making program. Volunteers gather in the library kitchen to prepare meals that are served to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. In this session, you’ll learn how we transformed a library space into a hub of compassion, built sustainable community partnerships, and empowered staff, volunteers, and neighbors to fight hunger together. Whether or not your library has a kitchen, we’ll share practical tips for building local collaborations and show how our initiative has successfully grown over the past three years. Teen Services in Bumpy Terrain: A Roadmap2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 179 A B Are you prepared for current and upcoming changes to teen services? YALSA and ALSC are reunifying in September 2026, and providing services to teens has never been more important than in recent times. The current civic landscape is challenging for both school and public librarians serving teens due to legislation/orders, funding, book bans, human rights, etc., which is without a doubt bumpy terrain - as if being a teen isn't bumpy enough! This session will address the roadblocks librarians serving teens are facing, and provide resources and advocacy "detours" to navigate them. Our presenters will be communicating with YALSA and ALSC as we are approaching reunification to ensure voices for teen services are heard and included during this transition. We will provide tips for approaching legislation/orders, helping LGBTQ+, BIPOC, immigrant, neurodivergent, and disabled teens feel safe and seen via collections, programming, advocacy, and mental health resources. *We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice. ALA Awards and President's Program4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline More information forthcoming! |
Monday, June 29Libraries Disrupting the School to Prison Pipeline9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Location: McCormick Place, W 178 A B The US incarcerates more children and teens than any other country in the world, some as young as five years old. These kids end up detained because of who they are, where they live, the help they can't get, being pushed out of school, and many other factors, often beyond their control. Learn more about who is detained and how we can help them develop the skills they need to avoid incarceration. Find out how to reach detained youth and develop fun and supporting programs. Explore poetry writing, GED prep, art workshops, and more programs that work inside juvenile facilities. Continue your journey with them as they leave facilities and rejoin their peers on the outside, including helping them get IDs, navigate parole systems, and reenter school and work. Most importantly, see how library staff around the country are listening to their voices and co-developing awesome programs and services. The Library Services to Underserved Children and Their Caregivers (LSUCTC) will also unveil a brand new toolkit for library workers to support young people and their caregivers impacted by carceral systems in the U.S. This toolkit will include recommended reading lists for children and youth and resources including books, articles, and organizations, for librarians and caregivers. Design for All: How Universal Access Enhances Every Library User's Experience11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 175 A B C When libraries design for their most challenged users, everyone benefits. This interactive workshop introduces participants to universal design principles that create welcoming, accessible spaces and services for all community members. Through hands-on activities and real-world case studies, attendees will discover how the "curb-cut effect"—improvements made for people with disabilities that benefit everyone—applies powerfully to library environments. Relationship-Centered Teen Outreach That Makes a Difference: Period Products, Juvenile Detention, and School Partnerships11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 184 A B C This session explores innovative approaches to serving teens through meaningful partnerships and the removal of barriers. Learn how to design outreach programs that meet teens where they are, focusing on underserved populations. The presentation will showcase successful models for addressing teens' immediate needs—from providing essential period products to creating welcoming library spaces for justice-involved youth. Discover practical strategies for implementing school library card enrollment drives that expand access. Participants will explore how to leverage school district-wide professional development opportunities, teacher training sessions, and school staff meetings to build sustainable partnerships with educators. The AI Playground: How to Offer a Hands-On Workshop for Your Community11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 181 A B C The AI Playground is a fun, easy, and flexible 90-minute program designed to spark curiosity, reduce fear, and give participants hands-on experience with AI tools. Participants will leave with a ready-to-use workshop model that positions the library as a safe, engaging place for discovering the future of storytelling and technology. Main Stage Speaker: Billy Porter1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline From Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winner Billy Porter, rising star Chris Clarkson, and award-winning illustrator Charly Palmer comes SONGBIRD IN THE LIGHT, a beautiful and empowering picture book about learning to love yourself. Mama says her little boy is a songbird with a voice bigger than his whole body. But at school, his classmates make fun of the way he walks and the way he talks—which makes him feel like a songbird too shy to sing. With the encouragement of his choir teacher, he embraces his talent, realizing that his voice is unique and distinct. When it's time for the school showcase, he's finally ready to embrace his joyful talent and share it with the world. As Billy Porter says in his powerful author's note: "I created this book to remind children of their own joy. Their own love…. A kind of love that the world can't take away." Making Room on the Rug: Research Driven, Doable in Real Life1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 176 A B C Sensory storytime is an all-inclusive literacy-based program designed to accommodate and entertain all children through sensory learning and interaction. It’s an evidence-informed service model that centers neurodivergent children and their families through predictable structure, sensory regulation supports, caregiver partnership, and staff preparedness. We have piloted and refined a practical approach that any library, large system, or single branch can implement within existing budgets. Second Chance (Public Library) Local High School Diploma1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 183 B In 2023, Finkelstein Library partnered with Penn Foster to provide a High School Diploma program to residents of our library district. We started with a grant from the Ramapo Catskill Library System to enroll five adults lacking a High School Diploma or GED. This presentation will cover the process of setting up, enrolling students, paying for the program, and our successes and mistakes. We will discuss the future of the program and how to incorporate it at your library. We will conclude with the results of the first series, and lessons learned. Teen Science Cafes: Exploring the importance of Youth Led Youth Programming1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 184 A B C Teen leadership in out-of-school STEM and STEAM programs is steadily growing and represents an evolution in cultivating the next generation of science innovators and leaders —and libraries are at the forefront of this movement. One of the most prolific examples of this growth is seen in the NSF-funded Teen Science Cafés (TSCs) organized under the Teen Science Café Network, a program of the STEM Next Opportunity Fund. With over 60 sites across the country—including many hosted by public and school libraries—TSCs empower teens to design and lead events that connect their peers with STEM professionals in engaging, youth-centered ways. Join us for an interactive session co-presented by librarians and TSC adult mentors who have supported thriving teen-led STEM programs in their communities. Through collaborative discussion and live polls, we’ll share strategies for building inclusive, sustainable teen leadership in STEM—showing how librarians can be powerful allies in this transformative work. Walk away confident to pilot a café next month—or scale a system-wide series next year—while deepening community trust and delivering joyful, teen-owned learning. Public Libraries React to Transphobia2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 183 A Over the last several years transphobia has increasingly challenged libraries, library workers, and library users, but public libraries and library workers have responded in a number of ways to protect their staff, their users, and their communities. Across the United States, transphobia has been used to attack libraries and library funding, and at the same time, pundits and politicians have weaponized library funding in service of a blatantly transphobic and anti-library agenda. Transgender library workers are often exposed to violence, harassment, and dehumanization. In many places, libraries are subjected to pressure to ensure that their collections and services do not represent the library needs of the full community and instead isolate and marginalize transgender people to bully them out of public life. This is all very bleak, but librarians have found ingenious ways to self-advocate, support their staff, and serve their communities. This session will discuss many of the circumstances challenging transgender people and public libraries, how librarians and libraries have responded, as well as some potential resistance strategies for libraries and library workers. Closing General Session featuring Wayne Brady4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Location: McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline Emmy winning, Grammy nominated actor/singer/writer Wayne Brady makes his sci-fi debut with award-winning author Maurice Broaddus: a time-travel thriller about a father searching for his son, who has been sent to a prison located outside of time. |