With AI, misinformation, and new software tools at the top of our minds, we are being called upon to reset our assumptions on search techniques and approaches … to evolve and adapt. From Google's frequent algorithm changes to the replacement of search results with an AI-generated “answer,” as well as new expectations from clients and patrons, information professionals need to re-examine all their search practices. Info pros have a unique skill set that gives us the ability to own the search space. But equally important is the ability to challenge our assumptions about search and to adapt and evolve our search skills to address today’s infoscape.

This practical, full-day workshop provides the latest tips, tricks, and techniques for unlocking the “black box” of search. Our search experts reveal what you need to know today to perform better and more effective searches, analyze search results to surface value, teach others good search practices, and remain on top of search innovations.

There's always something new to be learned from these leading-edge info pros. Whether you're a novice or expert searcher, you come away with a new understanding of innovations in search, new resources to share with colleagues, and more search tools for your professional toolkit.

Our experts cover these topics:

• What's New in Web Search: Learn about new developments in search engines and search bots that affect how, why, and where to search to get the best results.

• Savvy Search Strategies: Strategize your research to accommodate new technologies and techniques for increasing sense-making.

• Resourcefully Yours: So many resources, so little time! We introduce a number of new, different, and changed resources to turbocharge your research.

• Talking to Your Chatbot: Effective search prompts can ensure that you are using a generative AI tool before and after your “real” search to gain insights and save time.

• A New SWOT for Search Professionals in 2025: Take a fresh look at where search professionals can make the biggest impact to most effectively leverage your expertise.

This half-day workshop guides participants through the strategies related to retaining or replacing their core resource management systems and discovery services. Migrating to a new system represents a massive undertaking for a library as well as a substantial financial investment. Breeding discusses current issues and trends related to products and vendors, aligning the library's technology systems with strategic priorities and setting reasonable expectations for the benefits of a new system and the efforts involved in migration. There will be plenty of interactive time for workshop attendees to discuss scenarios and topics with Breeding, tapping into his research, expertise, experience, and insights.

This workshop features five tools to change your team’s dynamics. Everyone wants to be a part of a great team that accomplishes its goals with collegiality and, yes, fun. Great teams don’t just happen. Great teams use tools and approaches that align their work toward the same goals, clarify how decisions are made, and establish ways to have important conversations that maximize productivity and communication while minimizing malice and conflict. Spend time learning about RASCI, PROPER for meetings that work, Wise Counsel, After-Action Review, and Change Integration Matrix. Get worksheets and experience using the tools with our library leaders who have used these tools for years to great success!

In this workshop, attendees learn the basics to start your analytics journey. Using a free analytics platform, the workshop provides hands-on exercises exploring the fundamentals of analytics in information organizations and how to properly prepare and clean data for analysis. Once attendees are familiar with the basics, it delves into the world of visualization to demonstrate findings and discoveries to make more effective cases for our advocacy efforts. Finally, we dabble in some machine learning techniques as a means for obtaining deeper understanding into patterns and trends that lie within the data we collect. Attendees need to provide their own laptop and engage in a bit of prework to prepare their machine for the workshop.

Get customer service insights, practical advice, and useful tools to create positive customer interactions and defuse potentially challenging customer situations. Learn effective strategies and tips for creating positive experiences with customers, coworkers, and constituents. Our longtime practitioner, coach, and educator leads this workshop full of practical solutions and real-world library successes that will help you balance supporting your staff while serving your customers.

We all know libraries can make an incredible dent in community problems such as affordable housing or food access, and technology can make a world of difference. How do we turn our helpful efforts from a disjointed scattershot of community conversations, book displays, guest speakers, or makerspace activities into those that truly have a community impact? Sweet shares her ecosystem maps and tech resources to see what it takes to fully address complex community problems using tech and to build more comprehensive services to embed the library as part of the solution. Bring your community issues and challenges and get new insights and strategies for making a bigger impact.

What is prompt engineering? How can it assist libraries? Explore and play with a variety of GenAI tools and prompting techniques. Identify components that can be used to create and refine prompts for maximum effectiveness. Recognize when responses are suboptimal and how to troubleshoot them. Understand the ethical issues and limitations of GenAI and learn to use it as a tool for various use cases. From productivity hacks to data analysis and beyond, make GenAI your new collaborator.

AI is an emerging technology in the education system. In the future, AI may be taught as a subject in the classroom, possibly starting in junior high school. This train-the-trainer workshop, designed for librarians who program events for tweens and teens, is based on a STEM summer program, She Creates (Women’s Technology Empowerment Center, Lagos, Nigeria). Learn how to create intuitive visual presentations and incorporate critical thinking skills about AI into practical exercises designed to engage youth. See the results from previous sessions where teens tackled practical problems in their city using AI to get ideas for your next “Learn AI” program!

Supporting our communities and aligning with the regional, enterprise, or academic campus priorities and challenges can make a big impact and bring in new engagement possibilities. Explore strategies and community actions that have indeed made a big splash! See highlights from real community actions, learn from their successes and mistakes, and get ideas and insights to apply in your community.

Seeing what others are doing always inspires, and if we can’t go to see these examples in person, get ideas and inspiration from all types of libraries who are in this tour. See what interesting things they are doing to engage their communities. Our speaker highlights a range of innovative and creative strategies, activities, and spaces from around the world.

It can be difficult to separate AI hype from reality. Our experienced speaker discusses what it means for libraries, how artificial intelligence is impacting our organizations and communities, what changes lie ahead, and what we can do to prepare. He discusses policy development, staff training, and public programming, as we prepare our organizations for change in this practical session. Libraries have lots of opportunities for AI implementation, so understanding the possibilities, what other libraries and organizations are doing, and planning ahead will help to be AI-ready.

With AI and taxonomies everywhere nowadays what does that mean for the basic cataloging and contributions to collaborative systems? How might future cataloging systems work? What if searching our library platforms was more like Google or OpenAI Search? How would we make that happen? What are the options? Our expert speaker covers the basics of the taxonomy/thesaurus creation, sharing case studies implementing thesaurus terms (post-coordinate indexing) instead of subject headings (pre-coordinate headings) to support the local search of the libraries resources. Discovery and learning are changing, and our collection access needs enhancing too! Get some new insights and ideas about library cataloguing in your library.

This knowledge management (KM) workshop is designed for librarians who want to take a more active role in KM projects within their organizations and libraries. It looks at the range of KM projects being undertaken in all types of organizations, discusses making the business case for KM projects with a defined scope and understanding of the driving forces, delves into KM processes and techniques, looks at connecting and engaging communities in KM projects, and more. This workshop features collaborative and group work, practical exercises, and an extensive resource list for further reading and relevant case studies.

Scenario planning builds stories about the future that can be used to inform strategy, set direction, drive innovation, or create thought leadership. The process involves understanding the uncertainties related to a focal question, such as, “What will libraries look like in 2030?” The process then explores a range of ways that question might play out under different social, technological, economic, environmental, and political circumstances. The documentation of those stories becomes the scenario narratives, the possibilities. Join our experienced futurist who has studied and worked with libraries for many years as he shares tips, techniques, and more for planning a vibrant and successful future for your library.

Protecting privacy and security while leveraging technology to accomplish positive change is becoming a serious challenge for individuals, communities, and businesses. This workshop, led by expert leaders and practitioners, covers personal and organizational privacy as well as top security issues for libraries and their communities, especially the implications of AI. If you don’t have a security plan in place, are unsure of where to even start to make sure your library is secure, or have an existing plan in place but want to cross your t’s and dot your i’s, come to this interactive workshop.

Everyone has a favorite story about a failed project, a disappointing outcome, or a catastrophic miscalculation, but are we willing to discuss them? We rarely go public with our misadventures. Yet, these setbacks provide us with invaluable opportunities to reflect on our actions, examine critical errors, and adapt our strategies moving forward. This interactive workshop invites participants to explore how engaging with our misadventures can lead to transformative practices within our organizations. Drawing inspiration from the archetypes of failure outlined by the Institute of Brilliant Failures, our speakers demonstrate how to anticipate failure and implement preventative strategies. Participants are encouraged to bring their own projects—successes, or failures—to enrich the discussion and help us learn from one another. Join our light-hearted conversation as we discover how to transform our misadventures into meaningful lessons. Make friends with failure and pave your path to greater insight, resilience, and personal growth.

This year’s interactive networking event focuses on programs for schools, libraries, and other community venues. It highlights tools, techniques, and lots of ideas for supporting hands-on practices to excite our learning communities. Amanda Sweet, technology innovation librarian, Nebraska Library Commission, joins our leader, Brian Pichman, for a fun evening of bringing play and fun to life and engaging our communities.

In 2007, Weinberger wrote about the internet's connected digitization of knowledge that requires relinquishing control of how we organize pretty much everything; he envisioned an ever-changing array of "useful, powerful and beautiful ways to make sense of our world." He delved into riffs on topics like the history of classification and the Dewey Decimal System, strategies for living or doing business, "the third order of order" and "useful miscellaneousness," embracing complexity and thinking about "the newly miscellanized world." His work during the past 10 years on the meaning and effects of AI has led him to think that AI is completing the transformation of knowledge, providing a new vision of it that values particulars at least as much as general truths, that does not build a structure based on unmovable foundations, that prefers reliable assessments of probability over certainty, and that exists as a highly multidimensional model in which all is connected to all—a taxonomy without boundaries. Weinberger talks about how AI is transforming the way we think about the way knowledge is organized and how the world works with our library tech guru and innovator Chad Mairn. Join this lively conversation for insights, ideas, and stimulating looks at what the future holds for libraries and information professionals!

Check back soon for details.

Don’t miss one of our most popular sessions! Our knowledgeable speaker is always reinventing and transforming the world of search and delighting customers. Bates is a super searcher, an annual favorite whom attendees flock to hear as she continues to surprise and impress with new strategies, techniques, tips for getting the most out of web research, and making an impact in whatever information community you are affiliated with. The host of Searchers Academy (where she and her colleagues share even more secrets), Bates provides an up-to-the-minute and jam-packed-with-valuable-tools-and-tips talk that’s always a hit! Bates tells us she takes days to research this session, so take advantage of her knowledge, and gather tips and tools to share with others.

Are you the intelligence officer for your organization, academic campus, or community? If not, find out how to do this job from our popular and knowledgeable speaker. Each day, Price curates thousands of news items and reports to publish online briefs that thousands of people depend upon for reliable, usable information. He shares how to build an open web resources database that suits your clients. He elaborates on the latest tools and techniques he uses to build a timely collection and gives you a road map to build your own! In addition, he shares cool tools you will want to try, no matter where you practice your info pro skills!

When GenAI sucked all the oxygen out of the room with the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022, the reaction from searchers was, "What does this mean for search?" The answer is still not entirely clear. Transforming searchers into prompt engineers is one approach. In the online searching realm, GenAI is proving useful for brainstorming search strategies, discovering alternative terminology, deciphering search intent, controlling the output formats, and crafting prompts. These developments have excited librarians and shifted their mindsets about the search process. At the same time, while incorporating new skillsets, older ones are not discarded. We still use and teach web searching. Our subscription databases still require Boolean search aptitude. Ojala provides guidance for how to evolve in tandem with new search technologies, best practices for GenAI searching, and when one search approach over another is preferable.

The quest by researchers to access relevant content is always a challenge. A recent OpenAthens’ report found that 31% of researchers don’t have access to all the content they need. In today’s digital age, how can we ensure researchers seamlessly discover the relevant resources at the right time and in the right place? This session explores how library technology (specifically, resource access and workflow services tools) work together to make sure researchers have seamless access to the library’s collections and relevant resources, even when they begin their research outside of the library. Attendees learn how academic libraries can ensure a smooth research journey for students and researchers, how to maximize usage of library collections, and how to bring the library discovery service into patron workflows, no matter where the user starts, ultimately, increasing student engagement and research outcomes.

Does using taxonomy tags help search? Using the McGraw-Hill Access Engineering implementation of search Hlava illustrates how weighted taxonomy tags applied to individual pieces of content, the information objects, improves search. She outlines the process of taxonomy tagging and the search parameters to achieve amazingly high accuracy and consistency.

Join us as we celebrate the opening of the Computers in Libraries 2025 exhibition with tasty bites, drinks, and live music. Featuring leading-edge companies, the exhibits offer visitors a choice of products in all aspects of library technology, including web-based products and services, integrated library and information systems, online services, document delivery services, and more.

Info Pros & Special Library Celebration
Join our reunion and celebration at the reception with enterprise, corporate, legal, medical, government, and library folks hosted by SL friends Richard Huffine, Doris Helfer, Richard Hulser, Barbie Keiser, Juanita Richardson, Cindy Hill, Rebecca Jones, and others. Watch for lots of sessions for this group in the program!

Jennifer Laski, Reference Librarian, TUX Chair, & Abigail Gardner, Special Collections Library Technician, Technology User Experience Group, National Defense University Libraries In an effort to improve the accessibility of their website, our speakers created a rubric based on existing literature to evaluate and improve their digital accessibility. Done within the confines of being a government website with no additional budget and within the LibGuides environment, hear about their adventures as they share findings from a comprehensive accessibility audit, highlighting the website's strengths and areas for improvement; discover how the team used no-cost tools and techniques to identify barriers and develop actionable recommendations; and learn how they applied these approaches, processes, and tips to apply to your library website, making it more accessible in the digital realm.

Santiago shares the vision behind Edmonton Public Library’s digital wall as an immersive tool for digital literacy, storytelling, and community learning. He explores the technology and operations that power the wall and explains how AI and emerging technologies are shaping the future of content creation for digital exhibits. He highlights how EPL’s digital wall fosters discovery, creativity, and innovation in library spaces and shares examples of exhibits and the process for collaborating with external partners.

Explore how AI is being used to empower search, web presence, and marketing for libraries. This isn’t a discussion of ChatGPT, but various tools and techniques that are powered by AI.

Over the years, a lack of centralized, organized, and updated documentation had become an increasing problem at the University of Oregon Libraries. With major employee turnover and hiring, many staff were unhappy about swift cultural changes, not being able to find information, and a perceived lack of transparency in internal communication. Ultimately, SharePoint was chosen to replace Drupal as the library’s intranet platform. To address management and support of these changes, staff realized there needed to be a lot of care in the migration’s development and surrounding communication, as well as robust training and organizational planning. As co-leads in the intranet migration project, the speakers share details of the scope of the project, collaborations and opportunities they embraced as they helped staff to process the changes and learn the new technology, and workflows to make their intranet become a functional cultural hub and documentation center.

Hear how one public library whose technology team worked with city IT to create a new model to make process improvements like technology dashboards and revamping their technology office to build out a test environment, staging, and better storage. Hear about why this change was implemented and lessons learned to enhance library technology services at VBPL.

Join us as we celebrate the opening of the Computers in Libraries 2025 exhibition with tasty bites, drinks, and live music. Featuring leading-edge companies, the exhibits offer visitors a choice of products in all aspects of library technology, including web-based products and services, integrated library and information systems, online services, document delivery services, and more.

Info Pros & Special Library Celebration
Join our reunion and celebration at the reception with enterprise, corporate, legal, medical, government, and library folks hosted by SL friends Richard Huffine, Doris Helfer, Richard Hulser, Barbie Keiser, Juanita Richardson, Cindy Hill, Rebecca Jones, and others. Watch for lots of sessions for this group in the program!

Gates delves into the critical importance of computer literacy and its profound impact on underserved communities. She explores how bridging the digital divide is essential for ensuring equitable access to information and opportunities. Computer literacy plays a pivotal role in enhancing lives by facilitating everyday tasks such as paying bills, searching for employment, and managing personal finances. For individuals without computers, the barriers are significant: They face challenges in accessing essential services, educational resources, and job opportunities, which can perpetuate cycles of disadvantage. She also discusses strategies for helping individuals with reading challenges navigate computers, emphasizing the use of assistive technologies and simplified interfaces to make digital literacy more accessible. Teaching people to navigate computers is not just about basic usage but also about empowering them to interact with sophisticated platforms for healthcare, government benefits, and other critical services. Gates highlights her innovative program initiatives designed to address these needs, including targeted workshops and training sessions at the DPL to enhance digital literacy among community members, providing practical skills and resources to help them thrive in a digital world.

The library profession has increased its focus on outreach, but simply hosting an event is not enough. More and more, libraries are asked to serve communities outside of their physical space and even outside of their geographic location. This can be scary, especially when trying new ideas. Learn how the FDIC experimented with different library outreach efforts that were not just vendor trainings, but rather outreach efforts that were intended to raise awareness and inform the FDIC community about the issues associated with research and learning in the information age. While these outreach efforts have led to an increase in work, it has also resulted in a significant rise in attendance at library events and an increase in utilization of library resources, as well as a rise in its visibility at the FDIC. Speakers share what went well, what went wrong with the different outreach efforts, and tips for adapting and applying concepts and techniques in your libraries.

Our speakers showcase the benefits of hybrid programming in libraries. Hybrid programming has become a permanent fixture at Bexley Public Library, giving patrons the flexibility to engage with programs at their convenience, increasing the community impact of library programs, and expanding the reach outside of the library. Learn about scalable hybrid setups, from simple smartphone streams to sophisticated three-camera broadcasts and explore budget-friendly options for libraries of all sizes. They also share practical knowledge on what makes a successful hybrid program, how to adapt to evolving technology, and strategies for creating an enduring archive of library events. Whatever its size or budget, get tools to harness the power of hybrid programming for your library's success.

BYOB (Be Your Own Boss), developed as an extension of the popular From Maker to Market entrepreneurship initiative at the Center for Innovation at Fayetteville Public Library, empowers teens by utilizing makerspace tools and technologies to design and manufacture their own products. Over the course of 8 weeks during the summer, participants gain hands-on experience with tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, soldering equipment, vinyl printers, heat presses, and photo studio equipment while also learning essential design software such as Adobe Illustrator and TinkerCAD. This program integrates technical skill development with business education, guiding teens through the entire product development process—from ideation and prototyping to production and marketing. Taylor highlights success stories and outcomes from the BYOB program and provides a blueprint for creating the initiative, including details on the tools used, sessions offered, and the strategies used to keep teens engaged all summer. Discover how BYOB not only equips teens with the skills to succeed in the modern economy, but also positions libraries as key players in supporting young entrepreneurs and driving local economic growth.

Can migrating to a new library management system transform other library services? Yes, it can! In 2019, Equinox Open Library Initiative established the Equinox Open Source Grant. Over the next 2 years, it awarded the grant to five libraries that support diverse and underserved communities in Puerto Rico; Spokane, Washington; New York; Vermont; and Brooklyn. Each library received consulting and migration services to implement Koha ILS along with 3 years of hosting and support through the grant, eligible for renewal beyond the initial term. The impact of the grant for these libraries was far greater than “just a new ILS.” Grantees adjusted their service models, launched other technology projects, expanded collections, committed to new community outreach programs, and creatively addressed local needs and fostered deeper connections with their patrons. Get tips and insights from the projects and services launched and learn how adaptability and resourcefulness can lead to transformative community engagement and service innovation.

Join us as we celebrate the opening of the Computers in Libraries 2025 exhibition with tasty bites, drinks, and live music. Featuring leading-edge companies, the exhibits offer visitors a choice of products in all aspects of library technology, including web-based products and services, integrated library and information systems, online services, document delivery services, and more.

Info Pros & Special Library Celebration
Join our reunion and celebration at the reception with enterprise, corporate, legal, medical, government, and library folks hosted by SL friends Richard Huffine, Doris Helfer, Richard Hulser, Barbie Keiser, Juanita Richardson, Cindy Hill, Rebecca Jones, and others. Watch for lots of sessions for this group in the program!

The internet may have been the "information superhighway," but AI is intergalactic travel! Where should libraries go with AI now, and where will our journey take us next month and next year? Mairn and Affelt continue the conversation they had at Internet Librarian Connect, sharing a panoramic overview of the path ahead. You'll leave with a better understanding of the “big picture” on the windshield, and a road map of tips and advice for useful applications of AI that you can implement immediately.

Given the rapid rise of AI, it is easy for one to feel lost in a sea of technological change. Discover how libraries will illuminate the path forward, and safely guide our communities through the age of AI, mitigating the technology's disruptive effects.

GenAI has seen incredible interest in the last 2 years. This technology has become a key concern in education and research, with institutions at all levels struggling to adapt policies and practices. Following a phase of interest and experimentation, products and features have recently been introduced which tap into the capabilities of GenAI. Do these current offerings fit well within library expectations for presenting objective results without bias? Many of these deployments are based on retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) frameworks. What is the potential for these newer methodologies to harness the negative qualities of these technologies and address library concerns? How can they assist with the work of libraries? Our industry watcher shares his take on GenAI and libraries.

Explore how AI-powered storytelling can support personalized learning experiences and nurture children’s social-emotional development. This session delves into innovative ways libraries and educators can use AI to craft unique, emotionally resonant narratives that adapt to individual learning styles. Learn how AI tools can foster empathy, creativity, and connection while addressing diverse educational and emotional needs. Discover practical strategies and ethical considerations for integrating these technologies into programming for young learners.

NotebookLM was first introduced in July 2023 as an experimental offering from Google Labs. When you upload documents, NotebookLM instantly becomes an expert in the information and is able to generate FAQs, study guides, briefing docs, timelines, and suggested questions based on the material. You can also have a chat-style conversation with the material, and everything is grounded in your sources. NotebookLM responds with citations, showing you the most relevant original quotes from your sources. Is this the new librarian?? Our panel discusses the astonishing rise in popularity of GenAI in the form of ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, and others in the context of constructing good prompts and how to teach others about prompting. To cement our reputation as experts in search technology and research ability, it’s necessary to stay up-to-date with AI-powered tools.

Join us as we celebrate the opening of the Computers in Libraries 2025 exhibition with tasty bites, drinks, and live music. Featuring leading-edge companies, the exhibits offer visitors a choice of products in all aspects of library technology, including web-based products and services, integrated library and information systems, online services, document delivery services, and more.

Info Pros & Special Library Celebration
Join our reunion and celebration at the reception with enterprise, corporate, legal, medical, government, and library folks hosted by SL friends Richard Huffine, Doris Helfer, Richard Hulser, Barbie Keiser, Juanita Richardson, Cindy Hill, Rebecca Jones, and others. Watch for lots of sessions for this group in the program!

Innovation is a polarizing concept. At its best, innovation describes a creative problem-solving process that leads to breakthrough solutions. At its worst, innovation is a buzzword wrapped around old ideas. What if we moved from innovating to inventing? Our talented entrepreneur and innovator, explores how individuals can leverage the British Design Council’s Innovation Framework on a personal level to enhance their inventive thinking, enrich their problem-solving skills, and engage their creativity. By breaking down the framework into actionable steps, participants learn how to cultivate a mindset of innovation in their daily lives, emphasizing the importance of personal agency and inventive leadership in driving their own development.

Beginning in 2023, the U.S. GPO redeveloped its Federal Depository Library Program Resource Guides to meet evolving user needs. Our speakers discuss each phase of the project: review legacy guides, create prototypes for public comment, analyze qualitative and quantitative feedback from users, roll out the new structure and aesthetics of the guides, and develop staff workflow and training. To achieve success, GPO continues to engage with stakeholders, follow a development plan, and optimize staff workflow to maintain and update the guides. Get practical tips and ideas from their experience.

Outdated information systems, lack of qualified information professionals, a lack of access to relevant information to support decision making in the Dutch government, an inability to provide timely responses to Dutch civilians. These were some of the conclusions of a report on the state of information management within the Dutch government. In response to these findings, a 5-year program was launched with a significant budget dedicated to enhancing the skills and roles of information professionals. Get the highlights of “Future Lab: Information Services in 2030,” which profiles nine personas for information professionals in 2030, including the Digital Minimalist, Data Protector, Data Prototyper, Story Hunter, and Swarm Facilitator. By exploring evolving roles, skills, and competencies necessary for information professionals to thrive in a data driven era, be inspired and get ideas to prepare for the future of information services within government organizations or your community, see new pathways for career development, and join the conversation on shaping new roles for information professionals, services, and libraries.

This talk focuses on the experience of creating a procedure manual for the library system for knowledge continuity and clarity. The document serves as the foundation for developing a staff-centric knowledgebase for the library system, utilizing the existing Microsoft 365 infrastructure. Kleinpeter explores how Teams, OneNote, and SharePoint Pages can be used to address common KM issues such as knowledge sharing, retention, and reuse. Get tips on using OneNute to share knowledge, preventing critical information from being buried, building an internal knowledgebase using SharePoint and your existing Microsoft 365 Infrastructure, and moving toward an enterprise KM system.

Learn an ancient key to tap into all-out creativity and living fully alive. Our speaker and author, with years of leading culture efforts at Google, Inc., studying the psychology of feeling alive, and consistently taking bold leaps in all areas of life, shares her biggest lesson: You don't need to quit your job to find meaning and purpose—you’re missing opportunities to save lives exactly where you are. If you or your teams have struggled with creative blocks, decision paralysis, or need to drive serious innovation, this is your talk. Take away a life-changing perspective on the one way we can profoundly impact the world every single day.

Join us as we celebrate the opening of the Computers in Libraries 2025 exhibition with tasty bites, drinks, and live music. Featuring leading-edge companies, the exhibits offer visitors a choice of products in all aspects of library technology, including web-based products and services, integrated library and information systems, online services, document delivery services, and more.

Info Pros & Special Library Celebration
Join our reunion and celebration at the reception with enterprise, corporate, legal, medical, government, and library folks hosted by SL friends Richard Huffine, Doris Helfer, Richard Hulser, Barbie Keiser, Juanita Richardson, Cindy Hill, Rebecca Jones, and others. Watch for lots of sessions for this group in the program!

Library spaces and collections are evolving to provide new and exciting engagement opportunities, and technology is enhancing the possibilities. Bringing visibility to library collections and programs beyond physical books is critical for today’s library audiences. They are expecting interactive experiences designed to inspire exploration, discovery, and serendipity. So how do we enable collaboration, interaction, and contribution with our communities, helping them to make new connections within the realm of their studies, research, and learning? How do we visualize and activate both our physical and digital collections? Join our speaker for insights and ideas!

Check back soon for details.

Guidelines concerning retracted research are adopted at different rates by publishers, database producers, and aggregators whose products are made available via our libraries. OA repositories and citation managers are also implementing measures to alert users when research is questionable. Librarians and scholars need to know how to recognize retracted scholarship to assure academics (and the public) don’t use misinformation in their next research effort. This presentation, based on a survey of information providers, is designed to help attendees understand the how (and how fast) retracted research is flagged by each entity.

Surveying member libraries, MOBIUS (a Missouri statewide consortia of libraries) determined there was desire for statewide academic libraries to develop their digital archives through access to a consortia level digital asset management (DAM) platform, but they needed funding and staffing. MOBIUS Digitization committee, in connection with the Missouri State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, launched a grant-funded, consortia-wide DAM in summer 2024. Hear about their journey, learn from their mistakes, celebrate in their successes, and see what can be applied in your state or region. Aimed at librarians or archivists passionate about digital archives in need of a platform for their organization’s digital artifacts, attendees gain insights about the issues of limited economic and staff-power resources found in the nonprofit sector; learn practical steps for getting a consortia, network, or regional DAM platform up and running; and find out how to pool resources and strengthen their library’s community through collaboration and partnerships.

Head to the exhibit hall on Wednesday and Thursday to grab a lunch, and then take a seat at the table! Each day we’ll offer lunch table topics that align with conference themes. This is a perfect way to keep the discussions going or just meet new people! (Note: Lunch concessions will be available for purchase. Offerings include freshly made salads, sandwiches, side items, and cold drinks. Cash or credit accepted.)

Created in 1995 by two biology professors to provide free digital images for teaching biology, BIODIDAC is a rich collection of more than 6,000 diagrams and photographs related to organismal biology and histology in the form of specimens, dissections, and microscopic images. The images and numerous references to the collection are still found around the web, a testament to the significance of this database in biology education. In 2014, BIODIDAC had close to 8,300 registered users from 150 countries. Each year, almost 25 million students worldwide benefited from the material. In 2019, BIODIDAC went offline for security reasons and lived on a local server, forgotten and in dire need of server migration and technological upgrades. Thanks to the University of Ottawa Library, in partnership with the Department of Biology, BIODIDAC’s legacy is being preserved, but not without challenges. The new version uses JSTOR Forum to catalogue and publish images to its own Omeka site (omeka.uottawa.ca/biodidac) and JSTOR Images to bring back BIODIDAC for a new generation of biology educators and students, K–12 and beyond, who stand to benefit from this wealth of free and open images. New features include updated descriptive metadata and classifications, tags, and glossaries, all in English and French. Hear about best practices in creating open educational resources (OER), managing data, leveraging library expertise and tools, partnering with subject matter experts, reviving legacy digital collections, and implementing lasting digital curation procedures.

“What, no archivist? What’s happened to [name]? I need information on/a photo of/my students need to research/etc.” Hauck shares how she facilitated mass digitization of the essential publications of her 135-year-old institution, thus enabling researchers to do their own research and find the information they expect to receive from the archives. Utilizing existing library structures and programs, as well as those on campus, to facilitate a growing list of digitization projects, they used grants, donations, mentorships, internships, cross-training, and a robust institutional repository. Since 85% of all requests could be answered by consulting university yearbooks, catalogs, and/or student newspapers, these were digitized first. Another 10% of archival requests still require librarian intervention, with most answerable through a search of SPU’s photograph collection. Hear about grant-supported activities of a large digitization project, including the lessons learned and mistakes made along the way.

During the summer of 2023, the UCF Libraries began a rigorous deaccessioning initiative to eliminate a minimum of 100,000 print volumes in preparation for a space renovation. The volumes had to be withdrawn by April 2024, and the renovation would lead to fewer shelves for print collections. The collection had to be downsized while still meeting the university's needs. To achieve these ambitious goals, the acquisitions librarian collaborated with GOBI to create a custom demand-driven acquisitions (DDA) plan. The DDA collection was based on the library's print titles acquired before 2014 and resulted in loading 32,000 titles into the catalog. The project demonstrated a flexible and efficient approach for handling large-scale deaccessioning within a tight timeframe and limited budget. In addition, it created an exceptional opportunity to compare usage patterns for the online and print versions of the same book. Speakers share UCF’s process of creating the DDA collection, analysis methods, and more.

From free Wi-Fi to printing, public computers, and access to substantive online resources, libraries provide their patrons with access to the critical infrastructure necessary to thrive in today's digital world. While this access is beneficial, it also affords malicious actors a prime opportunity to compromise both library and patron accounts, data, and resources. Speakers provide a comprehensive overview of the current cybersecurity landscape and offer practical advice for libraries of all sizes. They discuss common vulnerabilities and threats that libraries may encounter, including malware and ransomware, rogue agents, and social engineering attacks; and explore best practices for safeguarding library systems and networks, including strong password policies, regular security updates, data encryption, staff training, and device and network hardening. Whether you're a small community library or a large academic institution, get knowledge and tools to protect your library from cyberthreats and ensure the safety and privacy of your staff and patrons.

On June 8th, 2023, Fayetteville faced a harrowing ordeal when it fell victim to a malware attack, taking critical systems offline for 18 days. The library, having separate computer and network resources from the city’s infrastructure, was able to offer critical computing resources to the city in its time of need. Following that experience, a deep dive was taken into the libraries’ security systems and a more robust security posture was developed. Join our speakers as they delve into the lessons learned from the city’s experience and the resources and tools used to enhance their library’s own security. From fortifying digital defenses to serving as a resource hub for Fayetteville, their experience offers a compelling blueprint for libraries seeking to bolster cybersecurity resilience and foster community resilience. Get lots of tips and insights for navigating a crisis, libraries as emergency response centers, strengthening cybersecurity, and more to better protect our communities.

Head to the exhibit hall on Wednesday and Thursday to grab a lunch, and then take a seat at the table! Each day we’ll offer lunch table topics that align with conference themes. This is a perfect way to keep the discussions going or just meet new people! (Note: Lunch concessions will be available for purchase. Offerings include freshly made salads, sandwiches, side items, and cold drinks. Cash or credit accepted.)

Data is more than just numbers, but how can public libraries leverage this wealth of information to drive meaningful change to affect the future of your library? Hear how one public library harnessed its own data from Google Analytics into actionable insights used by its marketing team. From evaluating what makes a successful library website and homepage to debating the merits of developing "good" content that resonates with their audiences, hear how LVCCLD successfully integrated evaluating data into its decision-making processes, all while pivoting into its new brand and campaign, Free to Be. Get insights into analyzing data, missteps to avoid, and other lessons learned to help you think about how your library data can be mined to create an impactful digital presence.

There are a lot of considerations when it comes to hosting your library’s website. Between regulations, security concerns, and the cost of hardware, it can be hard to decide the best infrastructure options. Our speakers look at the pros and cons of server management and maintenance AWS and how cloud hosting can help you have a safer and more reliable website. Get advice from the experts about configuration and learn which server tools are best for public libraries. Hear about library outreach projects such as GoLibrary.ca, which utilizes AWS tools to help First Nation residents find their local library and sign up for a library card online with instant text and email confirmation. Get a better understanding of what it takes to set up and maintain a cloud server, but also how to make the AWS services customized to fit needs and budgets.

Marshall Breeding, renowned library technology expert, discusses essential strategies for securing library platforms in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Drawing on his extensive experience and research, he explores best practices for safeguarding data, mitigating cyberthreats, and ensuring robust platform resilience. This session provides valuable insights for libraries of all sizes to strengthen their technological infrastructure and protect their communities.

This session features three libraries sharing their unique experiences utilizing StackMap to enhance their library services. One long-time StackMap user at an academic library discusses the process of expanding the current implementation by adding new services and mapping additional library spaces to improve wayfinding capabilities, ultimately increasing access for students. Our public library speakers reflect on the collaborative nature of StackMap's setup, emphasizing how different teams within the library came together to successfully implement the service. Each team contributed distinct expertise, showcasing the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in achieving a seamless rollout. The last speaker from a law library shares how StackMap has transformed daily operations, highlighting how the technology simplifies resource discovery, reduces the workload for librarians, and offers new opportunities to promote collections and services to a diverse userbase. See how innovation and efficiency has increased in these libraries.

Building and sustaining innovation spaces in libraries can be a powerful way to engage and inspire communities, but it requires careful planning and execution. Our speakers share their combined expertise in launching and managing cutting-edge library innovation spaces. They discuss critical aspects, including safety protocols, policies, staffing strategies, programming development, and budgeting for maintenance and upgrades. Gain actionable insights into creating sustainable innovation spaces, overcoming common challenges, and delivering impactful programming tailored to the communities' needs. Whether you're in the planning stages or looking to enhance an existing space, get the tools and guidance you need to succeed.

Head to the exhibit hall on Wednesday and Thursday to grab a lunch, and then take a seat at the table! Each day we’ll offer lunch table topics that align with conference themes. This is a perfect way to keep the discussions going or just meet new people! (Note: Lunch concessions will be available for purchase. Offerings include freshly made salads, sandwiches, side items, and cold drinks. Cash or credit accepted.)

Our speaker explores how to design and implement engaging programming in a library’s makerspace that strengthens community ties and enhances the use of library resources. Get strategies for creating collaborative projects, leveraging technology and tools available in the makerspace, and fostering partnerships with local businesses and organizations. DiVincenzo discusses examples of successful programs that took place at MCPL, explores ways to cater to diverse age groups and your community’s demographics, and shows how to promote library services through hands-on learning experiences that inspire creativity and innovation within the community.

Most college students today have no idea why they should contact a librarian or how we can help them move their research to the next level. Welber has employed clever marketing and outreach techniques at Princeton University to grab the attention of students as well as university faculty and administrators. Several of her events and programs have exceeded expectations and generated word-of-mouth buzz on campus. She pulls back the curtain on several winning outreach efforts and programs, detailing both successes and pitfalls. Get lots of ideas from her experiences.

Our resident XR/VR/AR/AI and other acronyms expert explores how we can leverage these technologies to engage our communities, provide greater educational opportunities, and connect people together from places to a larger world.

Our futurist in residence and Computers in Libraries magazine contributor Rasmus explores how to reconcile short-term needs with long-term considerations. He shares insights on strategic planning from his public sector and commercial experiences. Learn how to foster strategic dialogue that continuously validates and renews an organization's strategic position, eliminating the need for meaningless strategic plan expiration dates. Hear about scenario planning, a technique that informs the planning horizon by embracing uncertainty and challenging underlying assumptions about the future that can reduce risk, unleash innovation, and help avoid surprises. Rasmus also discusses the practical role AI can play in strategy development and the central role it will play in every library's strategy as it potentially disrupts how we connect with our communities, curate and retrieve content, learn, and how best to interact with each other.

AI and machine learning are often conceptualized as universal technologies with ubiquitous applicability, leading to pressure across industries, including libraries, to integrate them with a motto of, “Any situation that could use AI, should.” Clemens looks at the prevailing belief that AI provides seamless solutions to all problems. Drawing from the experience of a recent M.L.I.S. graduate, he explores the challenges faced in performing semantic analysis on a dataset of law library journal titles using Python, sentence transformers, and various clustering methods. Despite numerous adjustments, AI and machine learning struggled to effectively group the titles, demonstrating that these technologies are far from infallible. He argues that AI is not a magical solution but a complex tool that requires careful consideration and expertise. The goal is to dispel the notion that AI’s usability is omnipresent and imperative, advocating for a more measured and realistic approach to its adoption instead.

Head to the exhibit hall on Wednesday and Thursday to grab a lunch, and then take a seat at the table! Each day we’ll offer lunch table topics that align with conference themes. This is a perfect way to keep the discussions going or just meet new people! (Note: Lunch concessions will be available for purchase. Offerings include freshly made salads, sandwiches, side items, and cold drinks. Cash or credit accepted.)

AI seems to be everywhere, and it can be a bit confusing. King explains what AI is and shares how you might already be using it. He then discusses some AI tools and apps that you might be using in the next couple of years, exploring some library-focused AI tools. Finally, he talks about policies and guidelines around using AI tools in libraries.

This session looks at how GenAI is revolutionizing library services at UNC–Chapel Hill University Libraries. It showcases the innovative efforts led by Hargrove, the first recipient of a technology and discovery fellowship in integrating GenAI tools to enhance both public-facing and internal library operations. Discover how the creation of a student guide to GenAI, a series of GenAI workshops, and a public service model are empowering students and staff. Learn about the internal initiatives, including a GenAI knowledge and skills poll, a prompt library, and a new libraries GenAI fund, aimed at fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. Explore the collaborative efforts across various departments, such as the use of AI for transcribing handwritten documents, the development of a chatbot for public services, and the implementation of CatalogerGPT in technical services. Understand how the libraries are engaging with the campus community through partnerships, AI-related committees, and the AI Studio initiative. Get insights and ideas for your library and be inspired by all the opportunities for libraries!

GenAI has the power to transform industries, from content creation to education, but its responsible use is essential. Ethical considerations such as data privacy, intellectual property, and the potential for misinformation must be carefully managed. Responsible use involves ensuring transparency in AI processes, reducing bias in generated outputs, and understanding the societal impacts of AI technologies. By promoting ethical guidelines and fostering AI literacy, organizations and the library can harness the benefits of GenAI while mitigating risks and safeguarding public trust. Noone explores how libraries can guide users in navigating the opportunities and challenges of AI technologies. She discusses understanding intellectual property concerns, combating misinformation, promoting data privacy, and ensuring equitable access to AI resources. Get practical guidelines to promoting AI, including how to address ethical concerns misinformation and copyright.

With technology and new tools, the role of info pros in the corporate, government, medical, legal worlds has changed immensely. Although they still do research and facilitate content access, they do it in many different ways. Hear their stories!

Not only do the staff of academic libraries provide physical facilities for students, but also teaching in many places, including faculty support in the classroom.

Head to the exhibit hall on Wednesday and Thursday to grab a lunch, and then take a seat at the table! Each day we’ll offer lunch table topics that align with conference themes. This is a perfect way to keep the discussions going or just meet new people! (Note: Lunch concessions will be available for purchase. Offerings include freshly made salads, sandwiches, side items, and cold drinks. Cash or credit accepted.)

Public library staff have always supported their communities, from early learning children’s programs, teen groups, and specialized activities, discussion forums, and more. Today, they are also an integral part of city or regional programs to help with community economic development, upskilling the workforce, supporting health and wellness, and providing access to new technology and tools. Hear what our panel has been doing and what they plan for the future.

As centers of technological innovation, libraries’ digital literacy and programming skills have grown exponentially. Stroud discusses the necessary high-level programming languages, such as Python and JavaScript. From library and information science education to continuing education, this session looks at how programs are adapting to meet the demands of the digital age. It also focuses on how AI data analysis, and web development are reshaping the roles in libraries. Get practical strategies for integrating programming languages into professional development to enhance service delivery, support community engagement, and foster sustainable growth in the information profession.

Our speaker was appointed to a newly created position of library strategist in 2023 and at CIL 2024, Lasda presented insights about initiatives launched in her first year, including establishing new library programs and services, increasing staff engagement and strengthening campus partnerships. Find out how UAlbany Libraries' strategy and change management endeavors have evolved. She covers the various assessment approaches leveraged to measure effectiveness against stated goals and desired outcomes, and discusses successes, challenges, and continued change both in the library and the strategist role. Get new perspectives about the key skills needed to be an effective strategist, as well as best practices for assessing and evaluating benefits and ROI of strategic change management.

This discussion and exchange with top leaders in our field focuses on the digitally invisible, both people and collections.

In 2006, CIL alum Helene Blowers created a world-wide learning program, 23 Things, for libraries to engage all staff in adopting and using Web 2.0 and new technologies, giving them time and a step-by-step program to do so. Edson and Boekesteijn have created a 23 Climate Change Things. Is it time to do the same for AI? What do library folks need to learn about AI? How can they play with different tools? Bring your thoughts and ideas to this interactive discussion which hopefully will lead to some action!

What XR tools are our experts within librarianship using for their day to day operations, workflow, communications, patron engagement, and more.

Dive into the latest tools and techniques for uncovering actionable insights from data. This session covers how libraries and information professionals can use data discovery tools to enhance decision making, streamline workflows, and better understand user needs. Cervone shares examples and case studies, leaving you equipped to implement data discovery strategies in your organizations.

Head to the exhibit hall on Wednesday and Thursday to grab a lunch, and then take a seat at the table! Each day we’ll offer lunch table topics that align with conference themes. This is a perfect way to keep the discussions going or just meet new people! (Note: Lunch concessions will be available for purchase. Offerings include freshly made salads, sandwiches, side items, and cold drinks. Cash or credit accepted.)

In an era of rapid AI advancements, libraries play a crucial role in fostering AI literacy. This session provides a road map for equipping library staff and users with the knowledge to engage with AI technologies critically. Explore practical steps for implementing AI literacy programs, training opportunities, and resources to help libraries serve as community leaders in navigating the AI revolution.

Learn what AI tools are our experts within librarianship using for their day-to-day operations, workflow, communications, patron engagement, and more.

Alongside a live instruction session, the online learning librarian developed two asynchronous AI literacy course modules for two online learning platforms hosted by the two universities the library serves. Hear about the planning and creation process of both the course modules and the overall AI literacy program, as well as the successes and challenges met and the initial presentations of the classes. Then hear how library and information science students' views on AI have evolved over 3 years. Findings from a comparative study focusing on how their attitudes toward AI in the library differed across cohorts draws on data collected from 2021 to 2024: 48% of the respondents felt that current students are more optimistic about AI's role in the library, while 36% believed they were more skeptical, and 16% thought attitudes had remained the same. While much of the discourse around AI in libraries is dominated by the perspectives of established professionals and thought leaders, this study shifts the focus to how future librarians perceive AI’s role.

Fire up your creativity in this fast-paced session. Discover how to incorporate creative thinking with Adobe Express and become proficient in this powerful tool. This session equips you with the necessary skills to make a substantial impact on learning. Leave with lots of ideas, resources, and access to premade templates.

Head to the exhibit hall on Wednesday and Thursday to grab a lunch, and then take a seat at the table! Each day we’ll offer lunch table topics that align with conference themes. This is a perfect way to keep the discussions going or just meet new people! (Note: Lunch concessions will be available for purchase. Offerings include freshly made salads, sandwiches, side items, and cold drinks. Cash or credit accepted.)

Data is a powerful tool for driving decisions and influencing stakeholders. Libraries hold vast amounts of valuable data on engagement, technology use, and program effectiveness. However, many libraries struggle to translate this data into compelling narratives that can effectively advocate for library programs, resources, and funding. As budget cuts continue to affect education and programs, we must adapt to this evolving landscape to secure ongoing inclusion in the annual budget. Huntington explores strategies for using library data to advocate for the essential role libraries play in providing equitable access to resources. Learn how to collect, interpret, and present data using infographics and LookerStudio that will resonate with decision makers, including administrators and district leaders. By combining the right data with a powerful narrative, libraries can increase their visibility and influence within their educational setting. Get practical tips to analyze and visualize data using AI to create impactful infographic reports and presentations that align with school and district goals and learn to create data dashboards using LookerStudio. Hear real-world examples of systems that have effectively used data to secure funding, support new initiatives, and demonstrate the library’s role in student outcomes.

Are you responsible for the look and feel of LibGuides at your library? Speakers provide valuable insights into developing a design system—a comprehensive set of web standards for managing layout templates, content creation, and reusable components—that empowers library staff to produce high-quality, consistent content on LibGuides. Hear about their step-by-step process, which includes conducting a content audit focused on usability and accessibility, developing custom layouts and components aligned with institutional branding, and finally creating a Design System LibGuide. Help staff understand web design principles and learn how to effectively utilize web elements such as buttons and accordions. By offering clear guidance on layouts, HTML examples, and content creation rules, library staff are equipped with the tools and structure needed to enhance user experience and streamline content management. Whether you use LibGuides for research guides only or to power your entire library website, this session shares ideas about how to develop your own system for creating and managing engaging web content.

Libraries are uniquely positioned to engage communities through diverse mediums. This session explores innovative ways to amplify library programs and services using audio, video, art, and technology. Discover strategies for leveraging creative outlets to enhance engagement and drive impact, from podcasts to public art installations. Hear from practitioners about how they are engaging their communities.

Effective data presentation can transform the way stakeholders perceive and support library initiatives. This panel discussion brings together leading experts to share best practices for turning complex data into compelling narratives. Learn techniques for visualization, storytelling, and leveraging data to advocate for funding, resources, and community engagement.

Head to the exhibit hall on Wednesday and Thursday to grab a lunch, and then take a seat at the table! Each day we’ll offer lunch table topics that align with conference themes. This is a perfect way to keep the discussions going or just meet new people! (Note: Lunch concessions will be available for purchase. Offerings include freshly made salads, sandwiches, side items, and cold drinks. Cash or credit accepted.)

Explore the power of storytelling in this engaging session featuring two unique perspectives. One speaker shares how memory care programs use storytelling to spark connections and enrich the lives of individuals with cognitive challenges. Another highlights the transformative journey of a library becoming a music recording label, empowering local artists and preserving community stories through sound.

Olsen discusses how to utilize APIs for two services—Occuspace and LibCal—to create a library map that displays library space availability in real time. The study spaces library map allows users to see what bookable and non-bookable study space is available in real time. The bookable study space is managed through the LibCal application. The non-bookable or open study space is monitored by the Occuspace system, which uses sensors to estimate the number of people in designated areas. Students at Mines used these APIs to create a map that displays this information on the library website. The map is also displayed on two kiosks in high-traffic areas within the library. Hear how the map was made, how the APIs are used, the challenges faced while creating the map, and the success the map has had since its launch in December 2023.

Speakers demonstrate the benefits of integrating Quizizz, an AI and gamification tool, with various educational apps to enhance student engagement, facilitate personalized learning, and app smash. By leveraging the strengths of multiple tech tools, educators can create an interactive learning environment that caters to diverse learning styles and needs.

Harborth showcases how one library successfully managed an equipment checkout program, offering laptops, iPads, cameras, projectors, A/V systems, and various other types of equipment. This initiative began with 20 laptops in 2017 and has now expanded to more than 1,500 items available for checkout. This service is free for students, allowing them to borrow equipment for up to 2 weeks at a time, and provides access to essential technology that might otherwise be unaffordable; this is a crucial resource for students whose personal devices are temporarily unavailable. Over the years, our speakers have gained valuable insights from running the tech lending programs and share wins and learning on their tech lending journeys.

Head to the exhibit hall on Wednesday and Thursday to grab a lunch, and then take a seat at the table! Each day we’ll offer lunch table topics that align with conference themes. This is a perfect way to keep the discussions going or just meet new people! (Note: Lunch concessions will be available for purchase. Offerings include freshly made salads, sandwiches, side items, and cold drinks. Cash or credit accepted.)

On the afternoon of April 8, 2024, Syracuse, N.Y., and its surrounding environs were enveloped in the moon’s shadow as the moon eclipsed the disk of the sun. Waiting to monitor and record data about the eclipse were patrons of the Onondaga Free Library. Equipped with Arduino Eclipse Monitors—specialized computing devices they themselves learned to design, build, and deploy as part of a free, seven-session class presented by Onondaga Free’s digital services and technology librarian—these intrepid patrons gathered data on the eclipse’s duration, intensity, and progress. They then retrieved this data for later examination and analysis. Teens and adults who participated in the program were introduced to the basics of circuit design, microcontrollers, computer programming, and data visualization, all while applying this knowledge in a real-world scenario. Such skills are invaluable in our computer-mediated society and are in high demand within our community. Every day, patrons of all ages come to the library curious about their electronic devices: how they work, how they are configured, how they are developed, and how they can be customized to meet individual needs or further community goals. Lipkowitz provides insights into how public libraries can use microcontrollers, such as the Arduino Uno, to develop and support substantive computing literacy courses and inspire patrons to further their understanding of computing and its application in daily life. The Arduino Eclipse Monitor Program was made possible through the generous support of the Central Libraries Resource Council (CLRC).

Leffler explores an innovative approach to electronic resource troubleshooting by using Microsoft Power Automate to create a free, automated ticketing system. This solution connects Microsoft Outlook and Excel for the web, offering a no-cost way to streamline the troubleshooting process for access issues. Get practical, step-by-step guidance on how to implement this system using existing tools, driving efficiency and innovation in electronic resource management without additional budgetary impact.

Head to the exhibit hall on Wednesday and Thursday to grab a lunch, and then take a seat at the table! Each day we’ll offer lunch table topics that align with conference themes. This is a perfect way to keep the discussions going or just meet new people! (Note: Lunch concessions will be available for purchase. Offerings include freshly made salads, sandwiches, side items, and cold drinks. Cash or credit accepted.)

As censorship tactics evolve and become increasingly aggressive, libraries face unprecedented challenges in protecting access to diverse materials. Our speakers explore effective strategies, toolkits, and grassroots initiatives that have been successful in combating censorship efforts across the country. They delve into the importance of building coalitions, fostering community connections, and harnessing the power of technology to raise awareness and advocate for intellectual freedom. They discuss the emerging role of AI in legal document analysis and its potential to enhance our ability to communicate the value of libraries to diverse audiences.

GenAI has raised a number of ethical questions for the library world. An extreme reaction states that the technology should never be used in libraries in any capacity whatsoever. Viewing it as an enormous time saver and information disseminator devoid of ethical concerns is at the other end of the spectrum. Issues about theft of intellectual property, violation of privacy rights, plagiarism, misinformation from hallucinations, cheating, transparency, and systemic bias are critical to our profession. What attempts are in the works to create a code of ethical AI conduct for the library profession? This panel examines the questions surrounding ethical AI. When we confront the ethical issues of AI, we don't want to be seen as Luddites, fighting a rear guard action against all aspects of the technology. We do want to be in the forefront of the discussion, advocating for a sustainable approach to this emerging technology.

Library folks are often great at communicating to each other, but how can they improve getting their message heard by decision makers, funders, and community influencers who can provide support to libraries? How do we reach out and win the hearts and minds of those who can really help us make a positive impact in our communities? How do we build the political power and influence that we need to push a pro-library agenda forward? This session discusses best practices for messaging, getting your message heard, and ensuring that you have the tools and resources to persuade individuals in positions of power and influence.

Talking to and understanding IT people can be daunting. And they think the same about dealing with library staff! Join our favorite nerds to talk about all your IT questions. Bring your questions and hear what they hear most commonly. Clarification and understanding are everything when libraries want to succeed.

Our library leaders share their priorities, new ideas, and strategies for evolving libraries and communities to make a positive impact. They focus on what’s important and doing things differently, using multiple channels and mediums to do so.