![]() MLA 2022 ANNUAL CONFERENCE HOME | REGISTRATION RATES | SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE | FEATURED SPEAKERS | BREAKOUT SESSIONS | VENDOR AND SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES | MLA ANNUAL CONFERENCE HISTORY | CALL FOR PANELISTS MLA 2022 AnnUAL CONFERENCE BREAKOUT SESSIONS*Schedule is subject to change Wednesday, October 19, 2022Thursday, October 20, 20229:45 – 10:45 AM | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 1:15 – 2:15 PM | 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Friday, October 21, 20229:00 – 10:00 AM | 10:15 – 11:15 AM
Wednesday | 3:15 – 4:15 PM
Yo quiero leer: Impacting Migrant Families Through LiteracyArmed with a grant, enthusiasm and a vision on how to provide a literacy outreach program to migrant farmworkers and their families, Fennville District Library set out on a new journey. Learn how the library identified, engaged and developed relationships in their local migrant community. Recognize library programs, services and activities that impact migrant communities. Explore the challenges and opportunities staff utilized to create a replicable model of outreach services to a traditionally underserved community. Outcomes:
Speaker: Teresa Kline, Fennville District Library Track: Reimagine Tags: Great for small and rural libraries Digital Collection Developments in the MittenThis session consists of 3 presentations about the current digital collection development activities in the state of Michigan. The 1st presentation is a case study of the issues involved in documenting and photographing more than 100 murals in the Eastern Market area of Detroit for an online exhibition titled Detroit Mural Map. Next is a research study examining digital collection development policies in academic libraries at institutions of higher education in Michigan. A surprising sketch of these policies emerged & their essential components are identified. The final presentation explores the selection criteria used for digital collection development, and how representative these collections are of their local communities. In each presentation there is an underlying interest in exploring digital collections as conduits (or barriers) for the exchange of information across multiple constituencies. Outcomes:
Speakers: Joan Beaudoin, Meg Bruce, and Cameron Socha, Wayne State University Track: Connect Tags: Great for academics
Building a Culture of Wellbeing At Your LibraryA supportive work environment leads to employees who are more engaged and happier at work. But what does that look like in practice? This workshop will help you begin to build a culture of wellbeing at your library by making small shifts in your thinking and practices. Participants will experiment with practical ways to bridge the divide between management and staff by helping staff get engaged; avoiding triggering stress responses in staff; promoting a sense of belonging and psychological safety; using team members’ unique strengths; and respecting staff as whole people. Outcomes:
Speakers: Jenny Kobiela-Mondor and Lissa Krull, Midwest Collaborative for Library Services Track: Lead Tags: Great for trustees
Outreach on Wheels: Book Bikes for BeginnersAren’t book bikes the coolest? In Summer 2021, Spring Lake District Library started biking around town on our custom book bike, talking to people about the library, checking out books, and hosting outdoor storytimes. In this program, you’ll learn about the process we went through to make our book bike go from dream to reality. First, we’ll tell you how much the bike cost and where we found the funds (and the plans) to build it. Next, we’ll talk about the actual construction of the book bike. Then, we’ll talk about where we take the book bike, what we do once we’re out in our community with it, and our future bike-riding plans. Throughout, we’ll give you an opportunity to ask questions and we’ll share some lessons we learned along the way. Let’s just say, we know what works, but we also know what really doesn’t work. Outcomes:
Speakers: Maggie McKeithan and Alison Taylor, Spring Lake District Library Track: Create Tags: Great for small and rural libraries
Personalizing Your Presence: Social Media That's FUNctionalBurned out by the grind of daily social media posting across several platforms, the social media team at PDL decided to use the results of their library's new strategic plan as an opportunity to start fresh and make social media fun again. With an eye on intentional posting and inclusivity, they created a new social media system with the goal to reduce stress and burnout, make posting across platforms fun and functional, and that ultimately better reflects and engages with the community. Outcomes:
Speakers: Sarah Vargas and Jessica Keeler, Plymouth District Library Track: Reimagine Tags:
Wednesday | 4:30 – 5:30 PMMichigan Humanities' Programs and Grants for Your LibraryMichigan Humanities (MH) will highlight the following programs:
The presentation will include an overview of each program and grant opportunity, details on how to apply or register, and Q&A. Outcomes:
Speakers: Estee Schlenner and Ashley Ross, Michigan Humanities Track: Connect Tags: Great for small and rural libraries, Great for students
Making Tough Topics as Easy as 1-2-3During this time of political turmoil, pandemic fatigue, and community divisiveness, library workers are struggling to help their communities navigate tough topics. In order to address this growing and ongoing need, Clinton-Macomb Public Library has developed an annual initiative, the 1-2-3 Program, designed to provide a forum for community members to learn, discuss, and connect. Each year, our library spends four months tackling a timely topic through intentional reading and programming in order to foster learning for everyone and understanding in our community. Outcomes:
Speakers: Amy Young, Celia Mulder, and Lisa Mulvenna, Clinton-Macomb Public Library Track: Connect Tags: Great for trustees
It Takes A Village: Anchor Institutions and Public HealthThe well-being of a community can be measured in many ways. However, new research supports the notion that the most important factor in longevity and health is interpersonal relationships. More precisely, it’s impacted by two fundamental types of relationships: close friends and frequent acquaintances. As the demographics of many areas change over the coming decades, anchor institutions such as libraries will play an increasingly important role in the social determinants of health within the communities they serve. It’s a role libraries should understand and embrace. Outcomes:
Speakers: Zachary Benedict, MKM architecture + design Track: Lead Tags: Great for Trustees
Charting the Path to a Digital Local History RoomLocal history rooms connect libraries’ communities to their past. How do we reach a wider audience while still protecting these often fragile or difficult to access collections? Digitization can increase and improve access to our history, but projects need to reach beyond digitization and include plans for access and long-term preservation. Meet three statewide experts who can help plan for and execute digitization, digital access, and digital preservation projects to help protect their valuable collections and share them with a broader audience. Outcomes:
Speakers: Biz Gallo, Library of Michigan; Chelsea Denault, Midwest Collaborative for Library Services; Richard Adler, Michigan Service Hub Track: Create Tags: Great for academics, Great for trustees
So You're Thinking About Forming a Union?Organizing with your coworkers has clear advantages. You’ll win greater job security, create conditions for more equitable pay, have a voice in decision-making, and increase library worker visibility in your community. There is immense potential in organizing a union, yet many don’t know the first steps or find themselves skeptical about or even hostile to the idea. Without strong unions, what happens to the future of libraries? Outcomes:
Speakers: Angelo Moreno, UAW Local 2256; Meredith Kahn, University of Michigan; Katie Dover-Taylor, William P. Faust Public Library of Westland Track: Lead Tags: Great for trustees, Great for students Thursday | 9:45 – 10:45 AM
Creating Inclusive and Diverse Youth Toy KitsAre you wanting to add circulating toys to your children’s collection but aren’t sure where to start? Hear about Ypsilanti District Library’s experience with creating play, STEM, sensory, and reading kits. Learn tips about selecting diverse and inclusive materials. processing and maintaining toys, procedure development, and cross departmental staff involvement. Get an exclusive peek inside YDL’s kits and participate in an interactive brainstorming session. Outcomes:
Speakers: Liz Pitcher and Psyche Jetton, Ypsilanti District Library Track: Reimagine Tags:
Library Staff Onboarding and Development with MeLBuild core competencies in your library team and provide robust access to your community through MeL. Learn how to use resources through the Michigan eLibrary to onboard new staff members, provide professional development opportunities for seasoned staff, and translate that knowledge to the community. This session will provide everything you need to optimize your organization's staff development strategy. Outcomes:
Speaker: Heather Wood-Gramza, Library of Michigan Track: Connect Tags: Financing Library Construction and Improvement Projects with BondsThis session will detail the financing options for a Michigan library. We will go into detail of the types of projects that can be funded with bonds, the various types of bond structures and the Michigan laws that must be met when bonding for a capital project. In addition, we will walk through the timeline and steps of a Michigan library financing and what items to think about when undertaking a bond issuance which will include the funding resource to repay the bond’s debt service. Outcomes:
Speakers: Nate Watson, PFM Financial Advisors LLC Track: Create Tags:
Library Marketing: The Gap Between Awareness & UsageThey don't teach you marketing in library school. So how do you do it and reach your diverse community? Learn how to connect your collections, events and services to your diverse community members by telling your library story using strategic methods. We will discuss: Content creation, how to tell your library story, social media strategy, email marketing dos and don’ts; and making your case to administration. Examples of marketing plans, social media policies, content marketing strategy, editorial calendars & more will be provided. Outcomes:
Speaker: Katie Rothley, Northville District Library Track: Create Tags: Great for students
Owning Our Roles: Bridging the Humility Gap Part 1Whether you’re a manager or staff member, you bring your whole, best self to work. Sometimes, others won’t meet your expectations, or even your minimum requirements of their role. Yet we must all assume noble intent. We will share helpful mindsets such as practicing self-compassion, extending grace to others, reframing, and having a realistic sense of control over our choices. In this session, we will offer you a roadmap to develop personal resiliency skills in the office. Outcomes:
Speakers: Elissa Zimmer, Van Buren District Library; Liz Breed, Jackson District Library; Sonya Schryer Norris, Plum Librarian Consulting Track: Lead Tags: Great for trustees
Thursday | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
From the Inside Out: Transforming the Flint Public LibraryIn the face of incredible adversity, the Flint Public Library transformed itself into a modern and flexible beacon for learning in the community. With a vision centered on creating a facility that is just, confident, and aspirational, the library remade itself from the inside out. This session will describe how transformation begins, provide the tools and lessons learned in the process, and share the result. By bridging community and action, this future forward process proves that transformation can happen at any scale. Outcomes:
Speakers: Toby Olsen, OPN Architects; Kay Schwartz, Flint Public Library Track: Reimagine Tags: Great for trustees
Owning Our Roles: Bridging the Humility Gap Part 2Whether you’re a manager or staff member, you bring your whole, best self to work. Sometimes, others won’t meet your expectations, or even your minimum requirements of their role. Yet we must all assume noble intent. We will share helpful mindsets such as practicing self-compassion, extending grace to others, reframing, and having a realistic sense of control over our choices. In this session, we will offer you a roadmap to develop personal resiliency skills in the office. Outcomes:
Speakers: Elissa Zimmer, Van Buren District Library; Liz Breed, Jackson District Library; Sonya Schryer Norris, Plum Librarian Consulting Track: Lead Tags: Great for trustees Inclusive Communication Tools for Non-Verbal Library UsersAugmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Core Vocabulary Boards are a common tool for those who are non-verbal. Northville District Library partnered with Speech-Language Pathologists to create library-focused, low-tech core vocabulary boards for library patrons. We will provide a brief overview of AAC, share the importance of these tools, present our creation process, discuss training for this service, and offer guidance about how other libraries might also implement core boards. Outcomes:
Speakers: Cathrine Trautman, Lia Gargaro, and Susan Oleson, Northville District Library Track: Create Tags:
I can do THAT with MeL?!The MeL eResources provide content that can be used by a variety of audiences. Knowing tips and tricks to make the most of each product can help you leverage them to save budget dollars and supercharge your programming. Yes, you can do THAT with MeL! Outcomes:
Speaker: Laura Warren-Gross, Midwest Collaborative for Library Services Track: Create Tags: Great for students Resources for Veterans and Becoming a MI Veteran ConnectorThis presentation will cover the free and confidential services offered to MI veterans and their families via Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and the Veterans Health Administration. Programs to be highlighted include the Michigan Veterans Affairs Resource Service Center (1-800-MICH-VET), Buddy to Buddy Veteran Peer Mentorship, and emergency financial assistance via Michigan Veterans Trust Fund. The presentation will also cover aspects of MVAA‚Äôs role within the SAMHSA Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families to our communities across Michigan. This includes information on the MI Veteran Connector and our collaboration to create free outreach and educational training with the VA. With this collaboration, the Saginaw VA Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator will highlight their new role within the VA along with the VA‚Äôs public health approach to suicide prevention. Outcomes:
Speakers: Julie Cortright, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency; Andrea Norton, Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Care Facility Track: Connect Tags: Great for small and rural libraries
Thursday | 1:15 – 2:15 PMBut What About The Children? Law & Children in the LibraryPublic libraries have a cherished image in the American cultural psyche as welcoming, safe and idyllic places for children. However, the realities of modern public libraries including controversies over choices of reading material, photography, exposure to online content, films, video games and the library of things have prompted the question, "What is a public library's responsibility towards the safety and oversight of children in the library?" This program will discuss the ways laws address a public library's duty towards children, how those expectations are often at odds with patron and library staff inclinations and suggest tips and resources for libraries to create and revise policies to better reflect the realities of public libraries and children while maintaining a warm, welcoming, and engaging environment. Outcomes:
Speaker: Clare Membiela, Library of Michigan Track: Reimagine Tags: Great for trustees Michigan Arts and Culture Council Grants for LibrariesCOMING SOON Outcomes: COMING SOON Speaker: Jeff Garrett, Michigan Arts and Cultural Council Track: Connect Tags: Leadership in Difficult Times: Directors Helping DirectorsBeing a director is difficult enough without the added challenges of a pandemic, First Amendment Audits, the increasing number of challenges to materials, and trying to fill open positions during the Great Resignation. A panel of directors at different stages in their careers, from the recently appointed to the veterans, will discuss how they handle adversity, go-to resources, and professional networks to tap into for fellow directors, directors-in-training, or anyone in a leadership role at their library. Outcomes:
Speakers: Chase McMunn, Orion Township Public Library; James Pugh, Orion Township Public Library; Cathy Russ, West Bloomfield Township Public Library; Alyson Lobert, Commerce Township Community Library; Wesleyann Johnson, Center Line Public Library Track: Lead Tags: Great for students
The Post-Pandemic Library According to Directors & DesignersThe pandemic shut many public amenities down, and disadvantaged residents suffered at a disproportionate rate. Creative opportunities like loanable hotspots, mobile libraries, and cutting-edge content distribution allowed libraries to continue to connect patrons to essential resources. In this session, two library directors, a design architect, and an interior designer will discuss how these new opportunities can be leveraged and maximized for ongoing service to patrons in different contexts. Outcomes:
Speakers: Dennis Jensen and Hannah Snyder, C2AE; Ryan Wieber, Kalamazoo Public Library; Kristin Shelley, East Lansing Public Library Track: Create Tags: Students' Positions on Library BoardsGovernment for Tomorrow (GFT) is a nonprofit with the mission to help cities and schools create student positions on local government boards. The organization, started by a northern Michigan high schooler just over a year ago, has helped thousands of students be represented by peers since its creation. GFT helps develop the student position, go into classrooms to present the opportunity, and select and train the student to be the most effective board member possible. The nonprofit has had success with Library Boards in the past and would like to expand collaborations across the state. Outcomes:
Speaker: Liam Dreyer, Government for Tomorrow Track: Reimagine Tags: Great for trustees Thursday | 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Want to Host a Social Work Field Student? Here's How!Public library budgets often prevent administration from hiring social workers. A cost-effective solution to this problem is to enlist a social work field student to join library staff. Using the presenter's research and current literature on the topic, this session will discuss the "how-to's" of public libraries collaborating with a college or university to host a social work field student. Areas of discussion include: (1) how to start the process; (2) tasks that students can assume in their role as field student; (3) supervision arrangements; (4) how to get buy-in from library staff; (5) communication with the college/university; and (6) potential barriers and solutions to those barriers. Zettervall and Nienow (2019) contend that social work field students placed in libraries can provide a wealth of benefits. Besides being a cost-effective measure to serve the increasing demands of consumers, it is a way for public libraries to test out the need for a full-time social worker on staff. Outcomes:
Speaker: Mark Giesler, Saginaw Valley State University Track: Reimagine Tags: Great for academics
SEL Using Makerspaces and Passion Projects in LibrariesSocial-Emotional Learning Using Makerspaces and Passion Projects in Schools and Libraries will demonstrate successful step-by-step projects that can be used in library programming for students in grades 3-6. Each project is connected to the CASEL's SEL framework. Learn how to connect your programs to help kids develop the SEl skills they need for success. Based on Julie Darling's book Social-Emotional Learning Using Makerspaces and Passion Projects. Outcomes:
Speaker: Julie Darling, Ann Arbor Public Schools Track: Lead Tags:
Beyond Books; Bringing Innovative Items to Your LibraryCan you imagine being able to check out a telescope from your library? What about a cake pan shaped like Wonder Woman or Nintendo Switch or sewing machine? Well it's happening all over the country as libraries are adding their own versions of ‘library of things’ to their collections. This session will dive into the culture of libraries of things and follow one library's journey in setting up their first ‘Innovative Items Collection’. We would follow the Rochester Hills Public Library's journey of starting from scratch writing their new collection development and lending policy for this new collection, researching new reservation software, ordering and processing items beyond books, assessing collection needs and patron reactions. Journey with us as we explore our ups and downs, mistakes and high notes in bringing items beyond books to our library. Outcomes:
Speaker: Tierney Czartoski, Rochester Hills Public Library Track: Create Tags:
Strategic Planning for Community ImpactDoes your library need a new strategic plan? This session is for you! Learn how to guide your library through a strategic planning process that will result in a clear, focused plan to serve as your roadmap for increased community engagement and impact. We’ll talk about each phase of the process, how to involve the community, and the role of Board and staff members. Plus, you'll get tips for implementing your strategic plan so it doesn't end up on a shelf. Outcomes:
Speaker: Amanda Standerfer, Fast Forward Libraries Track: Connect Tags: Great for trustees
Bridge and Conquer: Promotion Change in LIS EducationThis panel presentation by faculty of the School of Information Sciences (SIS) at Wayne State University explores ways in which they bridge divides between information professionals, faculty, students, institutions, and very diverse populations. A highlight of the session will be the work of SIS students who have creatively addressed information-related problems that create bridges to varied communities. The session will be visual and interactive, with a special invitation for input from attendees regarding the state of higher education in our field. Outcomes:
Speakers: Tom Walker, Hermina Anghelescu, Timothy Bowman, and Bin Li, Wayne State University, School of Information Sciences Track: Lead Tags: Great for students, Great for academics Friday | 9:00 – 10:00 AMThe First Amendment: A Library PuzzlePublic libraries have a special relationship with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. However, it is not always clear or easy to understand exactly how this relationship can affect library operations and policy. This presentation uses a fictional library and an interactive format to identify and discuss common library policies and occurrences which could trigger First Amendment problems. Participants are encouraged- but not required-to play along. Outcomes:
Speakers: Clare Membiela, Library of Michigan Track: Reimagine Tags: Great for trustees, Great for small and rural libraries #LibraryTikTok: Use TikTok to Create Magical ConnectionsTikTok is more than a popular social media platform. It is a playground to promote library services, programs, books, and everything libraries while connecting with a wider audience and demographic. Learn from the Fowlerville Library TikTok account, which has gone viral multiple times. They are known for their successful "One Star Review Guess Who" series, inclusive recommendations, & quirky library life. Through visual screenshots, videos, and demonstrations, they will discuss different aspects of video creation, share behind the scenes set-up, amazing impacts and connections they've had with patrons, arguments that support libraries using TikTok and more! TikTok brings libraries into the modern era of communication and social media, but it's also an opportunity to debunk the Hollywood stereotype of library life and show the world just how awesome libraries are! Outcomes:
Speakers: Storm Kopitsch and Zoe Guettler, Fowlerville District Library Track: Connect Tags: Staff Challenge: Interactive Onboarding Using BeanstackOnboarding is an essential part of new employee success and it allows organizations to purposefully build a team-centered culture where everyone has an understanding structure, mission and vision. Yet, many organizations struggle to make their employee onboarding experience more than just about processes and paperwork. This presentation will describe how to use Beanstack, software many libraries already have to host reading challenges for patrons, as an innovative onboarding tool. Learn how library managers can create structured training processes with opportunities to highlight expectations about organizational values like teamwork, service, inclusion and more. New staff can enjoy a self-paced experience that gives them needed information in an organized way and that allows them to refer back over time. Outcomes:
Speakers: Keegan Sulecki, Troy Public Library Track: Lead Tags: Taking on Literacy...Literally!Bellaire Public Library is taking on the important task of helping families improve their literacy skills in reading and information. Three programs at BPL - "Just Read!" for school-age children, "Prescription to Read" for teens and adults, and "A Family Literacy Program" - each address specific literacy needs in our community. Session participants will learn about each of these programs, how they are organized, promoted, and funded. Suggestions on how to implement similar programs for all class sizes of libraries will be discussed. Participants will also leave with a kit of materials to help them create similar literacy programs at their own libraries. Outcomes:
Speaker: Cindi Place, Bellaire Public Library Track: Create Tags: Great for small and rural libraries Winter Reading-Flamingos in the Snow!Flamingos in the Upper Peninsula? Must be the Peter White Public Library's Winter Reading program! In fall and winter of 2021, the PWPL was still operating under COVID-19 restrictions, working hard to connect with the youth of the community and encourage them to keep reading. The PWPL Youth Services Librarian saw a post on social media from a different library that was using yard flamingos during their summer reading program and thought " Flamingos in the Snow" for a winter reading program! After a successful 2021 program that saw more 400 yard flamingos around town, PWPL has expanded the winter reading program and gone miniature-with more than 4,500 hours of reading logged as kids read to earn new miniature items for their habitats. PWPL also added a Teen Winter Reading program, teens reading to the chance to win a gift card in 2022. An easy, fun, and highly motivating program, and an amazing way to engage kids with reading during the long winter months. Outcomes:
Speaker: COMING SOON Track: Connect Tags: Dramatic Play in Your LibraryA Dramatic Play center can be of great value to your library's families! Dramatic Play centers are an easy thing to create, with huge benefit for children and caregivers for comparatively small effort and time required by staff. Construed of free play with a set theme, children show their adults how to play and how to interact with them. A Dramatic Play center is also fantastic for children playing with each other-learning how to cooperatively play, set rules for play and more. Outcomes:
Speaker: COMING SOON Track: Connect Tags: Friday | 10:15 – 11:15 AMThe National Labor Relations Board – Protecting Employee RightsCOMING SOON Outcomes: COMING SOON Speaker: Elizabeth Kerwin, National Labor Relations Board Track: Reimagine Tags: Great for students
Sensory Accessibility and Inclusion: KultureCitySensory inclusion has become one of the most important and most often overlooked aspects of public service. Whether the individual has Autism, PTSD, Dementia or Down Syndrome, they deserve to be welcomed and accommodated at public libraries in particular. And while the Clarkston Independence District Library has been an Autism-friendly environment for years with special programs as well as volunteer opportunities, it was time to take things to the next level with KultureCity. Outcomes:
Speakers: Stacia Serafin and Chris Nadeau, Clarkston Independence District Library Track: Connect Tags: Intellectual Freedom PanelCOMING SOON Outcomes: COMING SOON Speakers: COMING SOON Track: Create Tags: Great for trustees
Library Law Q & A with Anne and ClareA Q&A session centering on legal questions concerning the library community. Anne Seurynck, an attorney with Foster, Swift Collins and Smith, and Clare Membiela, Library of Michigan library Law Consultant will field questions from session attendees on a variety of library law topics. Any legal information will be solely for informational and discussion purposes and is not to be considered legal advice. Outcomes:
Speakers: Clare Membiela, Library of Michigan and Anne Seurynck, Foster, Swift Collins and Smith Track: Lead Tags: Great for trustees, Great for small and rural libraries |