MLA 2021 Virtual Conference Archives

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Wednesday Afternoon Keynote With Jewell Parker Rhodes - Building Connections and Empowering Youth

Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes advocates for equity, inclusion, and an end to racism and racial bias. She will share her work and discuss how character-driven stories and "empowered voices" rooted in self-love and compassion lay the foundation for a brighter future for our youth. Dr. Rhodes will also discuss the diversity of books as a civil rights frontier and the power of librarians to help children draw connections and unify us all.

Thursday Closing Keynote With Bill Baker - The Power of Storytelling

Of all the communication tools available, storytelling has always been one of the most powerful. Throughout history, leaders have always used storytelling to connect people to ideas, to each other, and to a vision of the future they want to be a part of and make real. In this engaging and enlightening keynote presentation, Strategic Storyteller Bill Baker will explain how we can use storytelling to improve the impact of our communications and, with that, our ability to persuade, influence and inspire key stakeholders. Bill will walk us through the same fundamentals of effective storytelling he teaches to executives and directors of Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations all over the world.

Transitioning and Sustaining Community Connection for Newly Employed Library Workers during COVID

Entering a higher education institution as a new library employee often means identifying your role, allies, and methods to reach the community served. Identifying and reaching out becomes even more challenging when employee attrition results in a large loss of institutional knowledge. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced an academic library to shut down physical services, traditional means of establishing relationships with the community were further complicated. This case study explores this library's successes and failures in reaching out to a community during the high-stress, remote teaching and learning situation.

Taking the Pulse: Strategic Planning During a Pandemic

In the winter of 2020, the Canton Public Library was on the cusp of reevaluating its strategic plan when the COVID pandemic forced a pivot. The library reimagined what planning during uncertain times could be and developed a dynamic, focused approach to explore current specific community needs. Using design thinking, they developed a strategic process, which they titled, “Pulse”, to research, evaluate, prototype and implement short-term projects with an eye toward understanding longer-term needs.

Reconsidering the Seed Library

Gardening has seen a remarkable resurgence in popularity since the beginning of 2020. Libraries are uniquely positioned to help both new and experienced gardeners alike, and Michigan has 96 libraries listed on the Michigan Seed Library Network website, more than any other state. Whether you are considering creating a seed library or are looking to take your existing library to the next level, this session will help you reconsider your seed library as a holistic initiative supported by programming, collection development, publicity, and staff training. You’ll learn about the new One Seed, One State initiative, and how to receive a free kit with seed packets, seeds, and promotional materials.