2026 MLA|DLA Annual Conference

Libraries give patrons a sense of safety, refuge, and peace that is difficult to find in many communities. Nowhere is this more true than in psychiatric hospitals, where libraries can be a beacon of stability in the mental turmoil that comes with psychiatric hospitalization.

Tyson & Joe will share stories from their institutional shelves to guide participants through strategies for making their physical spaces more welcoming and highlight opportunities to make personal growth more accessible to patrons. The result is a more inclusive community for all patrons regardless of neurotype or mental health status.

Public library staff are on the front lines of serving patrons experiencing homelessness, yet many feel underprepared to respond with confidence, empathy, and equity. This session provides a practical framework grounded in ALA policy, trauma-informed service, and advocacy strategies to support unhoused patrons while maintaining professional boundaries. Participants will explore barriers faced by unhoused community members, practice tools for reducing conflict and stigma, and discover resources to strengthen both individual service and institutional culture. Attendees will leave equipped to serve unhoused patrons with greater skill, compassion, and effectiveness - inside the library and beyond its walls.