Libraries stand at a crisis point, contending with sweeping budget cuts, escalating censorship, and intensifying onslaughts of misinformation. Now more than ever, libraries must take control of their stories to counter misleading rhetoric and build support as traditional revenue streams disappear.
This workshop will empower participants to: Master Your Narrative: Develop compelling, data-backed stories to safeguard the library’s role as a community cornerstone, vital for education, democracy, and equity. Persuade with Purpose: Use strategic communication to build stakeholder support and withstand attacks. Optimize Your Work-Life: Learn practical tools for burnout prevention—streamline workflows, prioritize high-impact services, and recover energy in challenging environments.
We’re taking an imaginative deep dive into the future of libraries! In this interactive workshop, you’ll transform everyday objects into visionary “artifacts” from libraries yet to come.
Whatever wild future you imagine for libraries, this hands-on experience will sharpen your design-thinking, ignite your creativity, and connect you with others who are working to shape what’s next for libraries.
Physical accessibility is just the beginning. This session explores how disability etiquette, inclusive communication, and thoughtful service approaches can transform libraries into welcoming spaces for all patrons. Learn practical strategies for respectful interactions, accessible programming, and collection development that honors diverse disability experiences.
Grants & Development Coordinator and EDI Initiatives Coordinator, St. Mary's County Library
AM Dillon is a certified ADA Coordinator and accessibility expert who combines professional expertise with lived experience as a wheelchair user and service dog handler. She serves as Grants and Development Coordinator for St. Mary's County Library and is Vice Chair of the County... Read More →
Get inspired as a panel of library staff to share exciting accomplishments and innovative initiatives from their systems. Then, join the conversation—ask questions, exchange ideas, and showcase new services or projects from your own library. This fun and informal session is all about learning from each other, sparking creativity, and building connections!
Assistant Library Manager, Baltimore County Public Library
Olivia Mirot (she/her) is the Assistant Library Manager at the Catonsville Branch of Baltimore County Public Library. Catonsville Branch, which re-opened to the public after a full interior renovation in August 2024, serves an engaged and active community with two specialized services... Read More →
Learn how to design a community-driven Pride art show that uplifts LGBTQ+ voices and fosters inclusion. This session will share strategies for building strong community and organizational partnerships, creating safe and flexible submission processes, and engaging participants of all ages through art-based programming. Attendees will gain a replicable framework to adapt in their own libraries, transforming their spaces into platforms for creative expression, connection, and celebration.
Libraries frequently encounter contaminated materials—from mold and fluids to bed bugs and other pests—that can pose risks to staff, patrons, and collections. This session equips library staff with the knowledge and tools to safely identify, isolate, and manage contaminated or infested materials while minimizing disruption to services. Participants will learn best practices for containment, cleaning, and communication, using real-world examples from Enoch Pratt Free Library and State Library Resource Center. Attendees will leave prepared to adapt or strengthen their own library’s policies and maintain a safer environment for all.
