2026 MLA|DLA Annual Conference

Representatives of the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project (MLMP) and the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project (PGCLMP) will explore the critical role librarians play as guardians of truth. Discover the work of the MLMP and the PGCLMP in remembering the past, memorializing victims, and connecting this history to today as we strive for racial justice. The stories of the 38 documented racial terror lynching victims in Maryland and the public hearings hosted by the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be shared in an effort to shine light on the lynchings and offer recommendations for repairing the damage and working towards reconciliation.

Discover how Exploration Commons @ 50 East transforms their teaching kitchen and makerspace into inclusive “third places” that bring people together across age, ability, and background. Attendees will learn practical ways to design programs that foster connection, identify and collaborate with community partners, and adapt activities to increase accessibility for all patrons.

Join John Shields for a discussion about his latest book The New Chesapeake Kitchen. With a unique focus on the Chesapeake Bay, Shields will discuss our connections to the local food system that sustains us and supports our community. John will also discuss Our Common Table, an educational, programming, and advocacy non-profit with a message of respect and conservation for the Chesapeake and its bounty.

Digital Maryland serves as the state’s service hub for the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), connecting local and community collections to a national audience. This session explores how partnerships among libraries, archives, and community groups expand accessibility and discoverability of Maryland’s digital heritage. Attendees will learn how DPLA aggregation enhances visibility, fosters collaboration, and supports preservation of diverse voices. Recent collections—from small community archives to large institutional partners—will be highlighted to demonstrate best practices for metadata, rights statements, and inclusive description that ensure materials are both findable and meaningful within a larger digital ecosystem.

Libraries are the pillar of community resources and access; in partnership with the Talbot County Free Library, the Talbot Master Gardener volunteer program started a seed library in 2018 to help provide food resources, genetic preservation, and educational outreach to constituents. By engaging our community in workshops and events, the program emphasizes an educational mission.

Our stories live not only on our shelves, but in the trails we walk together. This session explores how lending park passes expands access to the great outdoors, while supporting community wellness, equity, and storytelling beyond library walls; bringing new customers to the library; and creating awareness of library services through cultivated partnerships. Learn practical tips for starting a program, building partnerships with park agencies, and promoting nature as part of your library’s collection.