What happens when a former preschool teacher leads story time? In this interactive session, we'll explore how early childhood education principles can transform library programs into engaging, developmentally rich experiences.
We'll examine how young children learn through child development theory, classroom rhythms, and intentional transitions—applying these ideas to story time practices that feel natural and playful. You'll try strategies supporting attention, movement, and engagement while we share ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and celebrate successes.
Whether you're new to story time or a seasoned veteran seeking fresh inspiration, this session helps you view programs through a preschool teacher's lens.
Libraries are on the frontlines of national immigration changes. How are Maryland’s library workers responding to new demands and the ever-evolving immigration policy landscape? In this interactive session, attendees will learn about three resources—a self-paced course, an interest group, and a toolkit—designed to improve Maryland library workers’ capacities to partner with immigrant groups. Library workers will test their knowledge of Maryland immigration history and trends while learning the value of evidence-based, contextualized immigrant engagement. This initiative is made possible through the Libraries, Integration, and New Americans (LINA) Project at the University of Maryland iSchool’s i3r (Immigration and International Information Research) Alliance.
