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MLA 2026 ANNUAL CONFERENCE BREAKOUT SESSIONS

*Schedule is subject to change

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

2:00 – 3:00 PM  |  3:30 – 4:30 PM

Thursday, October 29, 2026

10:45 – 11:45 AM  |  1:30 – 2:30 PM

Friday, October 30, 2026

9:00 – 10:00 AM  |  10:15 – 11:15 AM

Wednesday, October 28 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Beyond Burnout: Operationalizing Trauma-Informed Well-Being in Library Practice

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Library staff increasingly support patrons experiencing crisis, trauma, and systemic inequities. This interactive session moves beyond "trauma-informed" as a buzzword to explore practical strategies that strengthen staff well-being, organizational culture, and patron engagement. Participants will examine secondary traumatic stress, apply trauma-informed principles to library settings, and leave with actionable tools to support equitable, sustainable service delivery.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to identify signs of secondary traumatic stress and burnout among library staff.
• Be able to apply trauma-informed principles to common patron interactions and service environments.
• Be able to develop at least two actionable strategies to integrate trauma-informed practices into their workplace.

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Community First Response Workforce Initiative

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More information about this session is coming soon!

From Access to Belonging: How Inclusive Programming Transformed Library Services

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This session explores how Friends Adventure Club, a sensory-friendly social program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the Canton Public Library, inspired broader adaptive and intentionally welcoming library services. Attendees will learn practical strategies for inclusive programming, accessible communication, adaptive activities, and creating “for everyone” programs that foster belonging for patrons with a wide range of needs and interests.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Identify practical strategies for creating inclusive and adaptive library programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Apply lessons from disability-centered programming to broader public library events and services.
• Recognize how sensory, communication, and environmental considerations can improve participation for a wide range of patrons.
• Develop approaches for fostering belonging and meaningful community connection through participant-centered programming.

Speakers

Libraries + Extension: Preserving MI Harvest to Build Healthier Communities

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Supporting patrons in enhancing their food supply by preserving food at home creates healthier communities. MSU Extension's Preserving MI Harvest program teaches safe, research-based home food preservation. Libraries, as trusted community partners, expand local access. This session shares how libraries and MSU Extension collaborate to host programs connecting patrons to reliable resources, improve food access, and highlights why safe preservation is vital for safe and sustainable food systems.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Identify key components and educational strategies of MSU Extension's Preserving MI Harvest multifaceted program.
• Apply effective collaboration practices to implement home food preservation education programs in local communities.
• Explain the importance of using research-based home food preservation methods and recipes.

Speakers

Reading Readiness Book Club: Early Literacy in Action!

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Participants will get a deep dive on the tools, tips, and tricks one librarian is using to run a reading readiness based book club for 3-6 year olds while building a MLA-exclusive resource guide! This session will give participants an opportunity to learn how a reading readiness program can fit into the larger push to de-mystify the road to literacy for caregivers of young children while simultaneously building and strengthening relationships between families and their local library.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to identify at least three outside resources to support pre-readers, early readers, and their families.
• Be able to recreate a passive book display that highlights components of Scarborough's Reading Rope.
• Be able to design three sessions of an early literacy book club program for their library.

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The Enduring Good of Internships: Creating Opportunity for New Professionals

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Internships are an opportunity for interns and institutions alike, helping both new and experienced professionals and their institutions create connections that can last well beyond the internship experience. Internships are a crucial part of learning and building a network for new professionals. For institutions, thoughtfully engaging with interns can advance long-running projects and bear fruit long after the internship is complete. Join our panel to learn the good an internship can do.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be aware of best practices for an institution to use in communicating and working with interns and internship coordinators in order to ensure a good fit for the institution and the intern.
• Be equipped with best practices for new professionals to use when serving as an intern and in the job application process in order to help them understand how to benefit from internships and use them when seeking employment and beginning a new position.
• Understand how prior internship work can impact the hiring process in order to prepare those seeking employment and those engaged in hiring and onboarding.

Speakers

When Values Align: Community Writing Centers and Libraries

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A values-aligned partnership between MSU and the East Lansing Public Library established a community writing center (CWC) for the public. We share the history of our CWC and how we have co-developed responsive writing programming. We suggest how other public libraries can create literacy and writing opportunities across a variety of library services, even without an existing writing center nearby, providing a sustainable way to encourage and support all types of writing within your community.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Understand what community writing centers are and how their values align with libraries' values,
• Learn strategies for building sustainable partnerships between existing writing centers and libraries,
• Feel confident in connecting their patrons to writing-related resources and implementing writing-related programming ideas shared in this session.

Speakers

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Wednesday, October 28 | 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Embolden and Connect Your Community with a Joiner Fair

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In 2025, the Grosse Pointe Public Library partnered with a dozen community organizations to host an inaugural Joiner Fair. We were inspired by the documentary film "Join or Die." The event included a keynote address by one of the filmmakers,Rebecca Davis, followed by the Joiner Fair in which over 70 clubs and organizations hosted displays for people to learn about their groups and join them. Over 500 people attended the event, demonstrating the hunger to get involved and build community.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be inspired to host a joiner fair in their communities.
• Implement a structured framework to host a joiner fair in their communities.
• Learn how the library can create an infrastructure for belonging to all members of their communities.

Speakers

Law of AI for Libraries: Navigating the Buzz Without Getting Stung

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Libraries have always been proponents of technology. Many people had their first introduction to computers, e-mail and the Internet through the public library. Artificial Intelligence, or AI is the subject of enormous "buzz" in communities and people are looking to their public library to help them understand and use it. This session will introduce participants to the developing legal landscape involving AI so libraries can better use and introduce this newest technology.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to identify the significant legal issues involving the use of AI.
• Be able to discover reliable resources to develop best practices for the responsible use of AI by library staff and patrons.
• Be able to identify possible risks for legal issues in current policies and AI practices.

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Libraries Advancing through Partnerships, Innovation, and Shared Services

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Libraries often face growing demands with limited resources, but collaboration can create new opportunities. This session explores how small and rural libraries in Mid-Michigan are sharing staff expertise, technology support, programming, and services to expand access while remaining fiscally responsible. Attendees will learn practical strategies for building partnerships that reduce redundancies, strengthen services, and help libraries turn ambitious ideas into reality together.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Identify ways to connect and collaborate.
• Recognize opportunities to reduce redundancies and improve sustainability through shared resources including staffing, programming, and technology support.
• Develop practical strategies for building partnerships that allow small and rural libraries to accomplish projects that may not be possible independently.

Speakers

Maslow Before Bloom: Developmentally Informed Youth Library Programs

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This session explores how youth library staff can create programs that prioritize belonging, flexibility, emotional safety, and developmentally informed expectations before focusing on traditional learning outcomes. Participants will examine practical strategies related to caregiver communication, behavior expectations, sensory considerations, movement, accessibility, and flexible participation. The session encourages libraries to move beyond rigid participation and support meaningful engagement

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to identify how developmental expectations impact participation and engagement in youth library programs.
• Be able to apply practical strategies that support flexibility, emotional regulation, accessibility, and belonging in youth programming.
• Be able to evaluate youth program structures, activities, and behavior expectations through a more developmentally informed and relationship-centered lens.

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Roots, Shoots, Fruits: ELPL's and MSU-Libraries' Sustainable Library Certification Experiences

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East Lansing Public Library and Michigan State University Libraries have been working toward becoming certified by the Sustainable Libraries Initiative. In this session, we will share highlights from our ongoing efforts, including building the groundwork for sustainable library practices, roadblocks and successes experienced along the journey, and how this process has already benefited our library communities.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Recognize the value that focusing on sustainable practices, no matter how large or small, offers to the library, its staff, and its community.
• Gain a better understanding of the sustainability certification process through SLI as experienced by ELPL.
• Feel confident in taking specific actions at their home libraries to make their processes more sustainable.

Speakers

The Right Words to Defend the Right to Know

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Let's move beyond familiar words and phrases used to describe libraries and their workers and identify language that more fully conveys the library as an imperative civil institution and a safeguard of intellectual and personal freedom. Libraries support and shield the public "right to know" and using concise language to advocate for these inalienable rights will deepen the public's understanding of libraries and library workers as essential in a functioning democracy.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to identify commonly used words and phrases often associated with libraries and library professionals and examine how that language has been used to promote, explain and advocate for library services.
• Know how the 'right to know' exists into today's cultural landscape and be able to identify ways to advocate for it beyond the measurable output of circulation numbers, computer use statistics and daily attendance counts.
• Have a roster of new ideas compiled from participant input that identifies ways to help people best understand what makes libraries an enduring good and library workers champions of intellectual and personal freedom.

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Your Neighborhood Video Store Is Back (at Your Local Library)

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Attendees will learn how a small town librarian's passion for film, television, nostalgia, and saving her patrons money (paired with the support of her local Friends of the Library) led to the creation of BerkBuster--a one-of-a-kind "free video store" located inside Berkley Public Library. Presenter Lisabeth Posthuma will describe this project from concept to dedication, in hopes of inspiring other small libraries on a budget to provide alternatives to streaming services for their patrons.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Have had illustrated to them one possible path for securing funding for dream projects that are outside of their traditional budgets.
• Feel inspired to brainstorm out-of-the-box ways to use the space, collections, and resources at their libraries to target a specific community need.
• Know multiple strategies for acquiring physical media items at a discount to grow their library collections.

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Thursday, October 29 | 10:45 - 11:45 AM

"Too Many Decisions!" Choosing Well, Reducing Fatigue, and Increasing Impact

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Research says we make an average of 70 choices per day. In a world of "decision fatigue" many of us struggle and second-guess our own abilities. Some get stuck over-analyzing even small choices while others swear by intuition and have no data to back up decisions. We'll look at practical tips and tools to enhance your confidence and skill at making and implementing tough decisions, increasing your value to your library's success, and improving your own well-being along the way!

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Recognize and know how to avoid the most common traps that complicate tough decisions,
• Better understand how to make a decision effectively, recognizing key steps to take before, during, and after the decision-making process.
• Have identified some common decision traps in their own life and begin to make a plan for being more effective at work.

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Adopt-a-Book, Forgive-a-Fine: Public Library Programs That Invite Giving

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Learn how to launch two community-driven programs that expand access and build goodwill: an Adopt-a-Book partnership with a local bookstore and a pay-it-forward model that lets patrons sponsor materials for others. This session covers setup, partnerships, workflows, and impact, with practical tips to engage donors, support patrons in need, and strengthen your library's role as a hub of generosity.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to identify strategies to adapt an Adopt-a-Book donation program to the scale of their library.
• Develop ideas for implementing a pay-it-forward program to forgive lost materials.
• Explore an approach for building partnerships with local independent bookstores.

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An Examination of Library Social Work Partnerships in Michigan

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Libraries across the country have partnered with social workers who provide a variety of services assisting patrons and library staff (Paauw, 2023). In Michigan, several libraries have started these partnerships and have seen initial success. This panel presentation highlights library social work partnerships at Ypsilanti District Library, Monroe County Library System, and Plymouth District Library, and explores the ways in which they have been addressing patron and staff needs.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Gain insight into the various ways social workers can assist library staff and patrons.
• Learn about the ways in which library social work partnerships can be successfully implemented in Michigan.
• Identify the ways in which these partnerships could assist in addressing the needs of their library.

Speakers

Resilience Infrastructure: Aggressive Advocacy Strategy for Rural Libraries

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Rural and small libraries help tight-knit communities stay supported amidst everyday strain and disruptions, but being essential does not mean being limitless. This session reframes rural libraries as resilience infrastructure, focusing on evidence, boundaries, partnerships, and sustainable decision-making. Participants will learn to use resilience mapping to identify what their libraries make possible, what support is needed, and what can be communicated more clearly (and confidently!).

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Identify specific ways that rural and small libraries function as community resilience infrastructure through non-immediately obvious public services.
• Apply a resilience-mapping framework to sort library services and community expectations into assessment-ready categories that reflect immediacy, need, and value.
• Develop clear, evidence-based language for communicating their own library's resilience role, service boundaries, and partnership needs to entities like boards, local officials, funders, patrons, or other community organizations.

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Serving Up Success: A Menu of Public Library Services for Schools

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Public libraries offer incredible resources for local schools, but overworked school staff often lack the time or don't have the awareness. In this session you will learn how the Kent District Library worked to create a menu of outreach services which allows community schools to choose from a clear, curated list of library offerings. Get ideas for how you can streamline your communication with partners, train staff, collect feedback and scale this concept to create your own partnership menu.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Have ideas for creating a visually appealing partnership menu that clearly categorizes public library offerings for local educators.
• Learn how to manage school outreach requests without overextending library staff capacity.
• Understand ways to make stronger connections with school staff with communication tools and resources.

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Teen Issues at Your Library? Don't Get Cooked, We Can Help!

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Do you have issues with teens in your library after school but still really want them to be there? In this presentation you can learn about how ELPL took control of our after-school library environment. From communication strategies to teen related behavior guidelines, we shifted our library culture, and you can too! After hearing our story, (and learning from our missteps!) you can take home pragmatic ways to have a multifaceted approach to a lively, but welcoming library after school for all.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Have learned from a case study of how one library learned to embrace their teenage patrons and be able to enact what they think will work for their library and staff.
• Have a road map for how we successfully changed our internal culture, and empowered staff to take control and be a part of the solution.
• Have documented guidelines to enact with all staff surrounding communication expectations and methods, a visual chart of common teen behavioral issues and their respective responses that can be tailored to your library's policies, and a customizable positive behavior reinforcement system to make your own.

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Understanding Community Needs to Deliver on the Public Good

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Strong community partnerships begin with deep awareness of community desires, needs, and aspirations. Based on our experience with dozens of communities' surveys and needs assessments, you'll learn how you can gather information about your community that substantiates your instincts, uncovers biases, and helps you match needs to potential partnerships. We'll share sample questions and techniques, as well as how to analyze results using traditional and AI-assisted methods.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Recognize the importance of community surveys, conversations, and/or needs analyses to inform potential community partnerships.
• Understand sources of community information.
• Balance information gathering methods with available time for analysis.

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Thursday, October 29 | 1:30 - 2:30 PM

3D Printing in the Wild: Bringing Maker Space Technology to Seniors

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With an ongoing focus on serving patrons outside of our walls, CMPL outreach librarians take machines to the people! This session will highlight how to use maker machines to support library outreach programs for senior citizens. You will hear about our experiences bringing a 3D printer to senior residences to provide an overview of 3D printing technology, demonstrate the printer, and print things on demand for residents, with an emphasis on accessibility tools for those with lower mobility.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to identify programming opportunities for seniors using "maker" machines.
• Have a list of sources to turn to for 3D printed accessibility tools.
• Broaden their concept of what outreach to seniors can be.

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Adding American Sign Language to Children's Storytime Programs

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This session explores how libraries can incorporate simple American Sign Language (ASL) into children's storytime and early literacy programs. Participants will learn practical strategies for introducing basic signs during storytime, supporting early communication development, and creating inclusive programming that introduces children to Deaf culture. The session includes demonstrations, program ideas, and resources librarians can implement immediately.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to identify and demonstrate several beginner American Sign Language (ASL) signs that can be incorporated into children's storytime programs to support communication and engagement with young audiences.
• Be able to explain how incorporating simple ASL into early literacy programming supports language development, communication skills, and inclusive learning environments for children with diverse communication needs.
• Be able to design a basic children's library program or storytime activity that integrates American Sign Language, including selecting appropriate signs, modeling them for children, and encouraging interactive participation during storytelling.

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Courageous Conversations: Handling Interpersonal Conflict at Work

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Regardless of how great our workplace is, it's natural that interpersonal conflict arises between individuals. Maybe someone said something that hurt your feelings, or they left you hanging on a work project. Rather than shy away from saying anything or waiting until you blow up in anger, we'll give you tools to consider your next steps.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to recognize workplace conflict and better handle conflict when it arises.
• Use new tools and criteria to determine whether or not to Go Direct with a Courageous Conversation.
• Feel more confident engaging effectively in a Courageous Conversation.

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From Community Libraries to Critical Literacy: Supporting LGBTQ+ Students

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This presentation outlines a university librarian's collaboration with their institution's Office of LGBTQ+ Student Services to create a welcoming university library environment for LGBTQ+ students and foster critical literacy. It highlights how organizing a 200-item LGBTQ+ community library and archives and using gamified instruction (library bingo and a virtual escape room) increased engagement and encouraged exploration of classification and subject heading differences.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Articulate best practices for fostering initial library engagement with marginalized user groups.
• Explain how integrating community libraries into instruction promotes critical information literacy.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of gamification in creating welcoming library environments for marginalized student populations.

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Get Your Alt Together: Practical Tips for Accessible Library Websites

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This session introduces practical, achievable steps for strengthening website accessibility in Michigan libraries. Participants explore essential standards, common barriers, and simple improvements that help library staff be successful with maintaining accessible websites.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Identify major accessibility barriers commonly found on library websites.
• Apply at least three concrete strategies to improve website accessibility.
• Evaluate their library's website for alignment with core accessibility standards.

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Rooting for eBook Reform: A Multi-State Approach

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Publishers dictate eBook terms, charging libraries 4x consumer prices for expiring content. But some states are pushing back. Following Connecticut's 2025 law, Illinois and Minnesota are advancing similar bills. This session joins advocates from Illinois (HB 5236) and Minnesota (HF3698/SF3685) to discuss what state-level reform takes: building coalitions, navigating legal battles, and fighting publisher opposition. Learn what worked, what didn't, and how Michigan can build on this momentum.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to formulate a strategic advocacy plan for eBook licensing reform in Michigan by applying lessons and frameworks from successful state-level campaigns.
• Be able to counter common publisher opposition arguments and disinformation using legal and economic data grounded in state contract law.
• Be able to identify key stakeholders, coalition partners, and legislative allies necessary to build a robust advocacy network within their own state.

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Skip the Jargon, What It Really Means to Serve as a Library Trustee

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Let's dive into the exciting and challenging world of being a Library Board member.  We will discuss ways we can perform as productive, interested, informed, inquisitive, patient, compassionate, and engaged contributors to one of the best volunteer roles available in your communities! We will discuss Board dynamics, common challenges and solutions to becoming the most effective Board possible. Feel free to bring examples of your own and leave with sage advice and techniques for your own Board.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Learn how to evaluate their performance as Board members and identify two or three goals for improvement. 
• Discuss common barriers to effective Board performance and leave with strategies to overcome them.
• Review steps to stay one step ahead of the inevitable issues through Policy, Prevention, Planning ahead.

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Friday, October 30 | 9:00 - 10:00 AM

AI as a Tool: Local Models & Real Library Workflows

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Rochester Hills Public Library has built a wide-ranging AI portfolio supporting staff workflows and patron services, with more in development. The approach starts with an institutional AI policy, then a mix of cloud and locally-hosted AI tools chosen by the sensitivity of the work. No tool is forced on staff; each is introduced by showing real benefits, letting adoption grow naturally. The session covers production deployments, the framework guiding them, and what's next.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to articulate why an institutional AI policy should precede AI tool deployment, and identify the key elements such a policy must address.
• Be able to evaluate when to use cloud AI versus locally-hosted AI in their library, weighing the trade-offs of privacy, cost, and control based on the sensitivity of the work.
• Be able to identify at least three practical AI use cases applicable to their own staff workflows or patron services, and apply a staff-centered adoption approach that builds buy-in through demonstrated value rather than directive.

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Boundary Building with Patrons

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"In small and rural libraries, users aren't just patrons; they are your neighbors. The line between personal and professional can blur fast. Customer service gets misconstrued and boundaries that start out clear erode over time, leading to discomfort, overreach, or burnout. This session looks at how and why boundaries get crossed, and how to protect your privacy while still providing exceptional service."

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to employ at least 3 phrases to stop prying patrons in conversation.
• Be able to identify at least 3 types of boundary crossing behaviors and cultivate an understanding behind why boundaries get crossed.
• Be able to reflect on their own practices and comfort levels to develop their own boundary practices to suit their needs and population.

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Education for the Public Good: Growing Libraries and Library Careers

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Representatives from Michigan's three library education schools will share about the value and feasibility of completing an online associate's degree, a technology-rich bachelor's degree, and residential or online master's degrees in information or library science. They will also share about the benefits to individual libraries and the library community that come from hosting students completing library practicums or internships.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Recognize the distinctions between Michigan's three college programs for future librarians and library support staff.
• Understand that there are education paths that can begin with community college and end with a master's degree from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Be able to describe potential benefits to their library of hosting a practicum or internship student and explain the value of library practicums and internships to the growth and thriving of the library community.

Speakers

Mix, Mingle, and Make: Multigenerational Programming Made Fun

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Learn practical strategies for creating engaging multigenerational library programs while maintaining successful age-specific offerings. Presented by youth, teen, and adult programmers, this interactive session explores cross-department collaboration, inclusive planning, marketing tips, community partnerships, and adaptable program ideas that connect all ages. Leave with ready-to-use concepts, real-world examples, and tools to strengthen community engagement.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Identify common barriers to multigenerational programs and come up with program concepts that reflect the interests, needs, and abilities of different age groups.
• Evaluate collaborative planning approaches, including cross-department teamwork and community partnerships, to strengthen inclusive programming outcomes.
• Demonstrate strategies for adapting existing programs, through marketing language, structure, and design, to effectively engage multiple generations.

Speakers

Our Library Started a Newspaper and Good Things Happened

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Public libraries have long helped communities access information, but what happens when libraries help create it, too? This session explores the development of a community-run newspaper right here in Michigan. Attendees will learn how the project was structured, staffed, funded, and sustained, along with lessons learned about editorial independence, community trust, partnerships, and navigating the blurry line between journalism and public service.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Identify/evaluate key components needed to launch a library-led community newspaper including staffing models, distribution strategies, and production workflows.
• Examine how libraries can address gaps in local news, media literacy, and civic information.
• Explore partnership opportunities with schools, journalists, nonprofits, and local government to deepen community engagement through participatory storytelling.

Speakers

Stronger Together: Cross-District Book Battles That Maximize Impact

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Join Kalamazoo and Grand Haven as we share how collaborative Book Battles stretch time, budgets, and staff power across districts. Discover practical tools, shared resources, and creative strategies that make statewide reading competitions more joyful, efficient, and accessible and learn how your library can join the fun.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Identify at least three collaborative strategies used by Kalamazoo and Grand Haven to run efficient, cross-district Book Battles.
• Evaluate which shared tools, workflows, or budgeting approaches can be adapted for your library's capacity and resources.
• Apply a shared resource or workflow model from Kalamazoo and Grand Haven to outline how your library could participate in a collaborative Book Battle.

Speakers

The Psychology of Library Marketing: Encouraging Action, Not Just Awareness

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Libraries raise awareness, but awareness alone rarely drives action. This session shows how to use psychology, scarcity, social proof, framing, to make marketing more motivating. Through hands-on exercises, attendees craft messages, analyze examples, and gain practical tools to boost program participation, resource use, and community engagement.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Identify key psychology principles‚ scarcity, social proof, framing‚ that influence user behavior.
• Apply these principles to craft library marketing messages that inspire action rather than just awareness.
• Evaluate their own communication strategies and adapt them to increase program participation, resource usage, and community engagement.
• Develop simple, hands-on templates for future campaigns using these behavioral insights.

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Friday, October 30 | 10:15 - 11:15 AM

Ask a Lawyer

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More information about this session is coming soon!

Speaker

Better Futures: Highlighting Impactful Library Partnerships with MiLEAP

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Libraries connect daily with people of all ages and skill levels, shaping learning and opportunity across our communities. But how can we deepen that impact for the future? Join us to explore innovative partnership opportunities with the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). This session will highlight successful collaborations between libraries and MiLEAP, spanning early childhood through postsecondary education.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Identify at least two partnership opportunities between libraries and MiLEAP programs.
• Describe successful examples of library collaborations supporting learners from early childhood through postsecondary education.
• Develop one actionable idea to strengthen library programs or services through MiLEAP partnerships.

Speaker

Escape Velocity: How One Rural Library System Became a National Leader in Digital Access

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Van Buren District Library established a rural mobile Internet hotspot lending program which rapidly grew into Mobile Beacon's highest data-usage library network in the nation. This session explores how VBDL scaled a sustainable mobile Internet lending program through partnerships, policy development, and operational discipline. Attendees will learn practical strategies for expanding digital equity services while balancing funding realities, staff workload, and long-term sustainability.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Be able to identify operational practices that improve sustainability and circulation compliance in mobile hotspot lending programs.
• Be able to evaluate funding, staffing, and policy considerations involved in scaling digital equity initiatives.
• Be able to apply practical strategies for expanding broadband access in rural and underserved communities.

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Michigan Library Leaders: Case Studies in Conversations Worth Having

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This session introduces the broader Michigan library community to the innovative ways library staff are using the “Conversations Worth Having” framework in their libraries. Whether coaching staff, facilitating discussions, or responding to patrons, positive reframing and generative questions, invite healthy interactions and strengthen relationships. Through real examples and interactive reflection, attendees explore how appreciative inquiry techniques could build trust, enhance services, and cultivate a positive organizational culture in their libraries.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Understand how appreciative inquiry can support healthy conversations in the library, whether with staff or patrons.
• Identify ways in which CWH practices have been successfully applied in Michigan libraries.
• Explore practical strategies for integrating CWH practices into their libraries.
• Practice asking generative questions that can support more meaningful and productive conversations.

Speakers

Senior Living: Creating Inter- and Intragenerational Community for Seniors

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As the population ages, reaching out to seniors who are isolated is a fundamental role of public libraries. During this session you will learn about some options for building both inter- and intragenerational community. Topics will include: Project Pen Pal, our letter exchange between kids and homebound patrons; Story Share Cafe, where seniors share their memories; Neighborhood Walk, bringing seniors and families together; and crafting/gaming meetups that build community around shared interests.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Identify trends in demographics.
• Be able to implement new low-cost programs at their library.
• Have insight into the challenges and accommodations required to work with seniors.

Speakers

So You Have a Strategic Plan - Now What?

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A strategic plan only has value if it leads to action. This session explores how to move your plan off the shelf and into everyday practice through three key elements: activity planning, evaluation, and reporting. Learn how these components work together to keep your organization focused, accountable, and aligned with its goals. You'll hear how one library developed a practical implementation system that keeps its strategic plan top of mind and relevant.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Learn how to develop an activity plan based on decision-making best practices that lead to priorities that will help you make progress on strategic plan goals.
• Learn how to develop an evaluation framework based on developmental evaluation techniques that support continuous improvement.
• Learn how to incorporate their strategic plan into reports for community stakeholders and the Board Understand how to create a system to effectively implement their strategic plan and manage the implementation process.

Speakers

The Elusive Patrons: Using Community Data to Engage Younger Adults

Room TBA

The younger adults (20s-30s) can be a tough crowd for libraries to engage. In this session, we will explore how to gather data on who is in our community and how they would like to engage with the library. Then how to turn that data into strategic planning, outreach, and targeted programming aimed at engaging younger adults, including how we used a popular, recurring Speed Friending program to meet our changing needs. We invite participants to bring their own examples and ideas to share.

Outcomes

At the end of the session participants will:

• Have a deeper understanding of the younger adult age group and how they interact with libraries.
• Be able to conduct their own survey of younger adult patrons.
• Have numerous practical, replicable ideas for programs aimed at younger adults.

Speakers

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