ArLA 2024 Annual Conference

This session offers insights from 31 years of experience in public libraries, addressing the transition from initial perceptions of quiet reading spaces to the complex reality of library work involving paperwork, policies, procedures, and politics.

Participants will learn practical tips and techniques to navigate daily challenges, develop strategies for survival, and gain actionable takeaways to enhance their daily work. The session encourages evaluation of library practices and challenges, aiming to support professional growth and preparedness for the future in library careers.  

This session challenges the misconception that public libraries prioritize children's and teen programming over adults. It addresses budget constraints and the need for strategic planning to offer adult programs at accessible times. Attendees will gain:

• A toolbox of low-to-no-cost programming ideas for adults.
• Strategies for timing and outreach to promote adult programs effectively.
• An open discussion on the importance and breadth of adult programming in libraries. The session aims to empower libraries to cater effectively to adult patrons' need for connection and affordable entertainment.

This session highlights the value of state book awards as a lesser-known yet valuable resource for librarians in collection development and readers' advisory. These awards often recognize a diverse range of titles and authors, including beloved books overlooked by more prestigious awards. The awards are typically chosen by young readers themselves, fostering excitement around reading and engaging young patrons in the voting process.
Attendees will:

• Learn about various state book awards across the country and how they are administered.
• Gain insights into the history, significance, and current status of Arkansas's own book awards.
• Receive recommendations for award-winning titles and strategies to support state book awards in their libraries.

The session aims to equip librarians with knowledge and tools to promote state book awards effectively, enhancing their libraries' collections and fostering a love of reading among young audiences.

In this presentation, Amanda Hayes shares her experience managing the rollout of book lockers at four branches of the Central Arkansas Library System. Starting on the same day she began her role as System Holds Manager, Amanda navigated the challenges of learning new technology, troubleshooting issues, and documenting procedures for both staff and patrons. She discusses her strategies for success in handling large projects while still adjusting to a new position.
Participants will:

• Learn mental approaches for tackling unfamiliar tasks and managing large projects effectively.
• Understand the process of writing comprehensive service manuals from scratch.
• Gain insights into key considerations and questions to ask when evaluating the implementation of book lockers in their library systems.

The presentation also explores the growing popularity and success of CALS's book locker service, offering valuable lessons and practical tips for librarians facing similar project challenges.

In this session, attendees will discover strategies to effectively implement ideas from conferences into their libraries. The presenter addresses common challenges such as feeling overwhelmed or doubting one's abilities after returning from a conference. Participants will learn how to adapt conference ideas to fit their library's needs, including:

• Modifying ideas to suit specific patron bases.
• Asking pertinent questions of presenters to clarify implementation steps.
• Proposing ideas to administrative staff with confidence.
• Evaluating program success and learning from the experience.

The session features multiple examples of successful programs brought back to both public and academic libraries, aiming to inspire and empower attendees to translate conference inspiration into actionable improvements for their libraries.

This session explores how a library transformed into a vital hub for students, particularly during the renovation of their student union which displaced usual meeting spots. This transition led to increased library visits, prompting initiatives to promote learning resources and community activities.

To engage students, the library introduced fun events like karaoke, line dancing, and paint and sip sessions on Fridays, gathering valuable feedback in the process. Emphasizing the importance of student involvement, collaboration was necessary to understand preferences for technological tools and conveniences. Student feedback resulted in additions such as the Glow Forge Machine, a one-button studio, and a TruTouch board, alongside practical improvements like enhanced charging stations and expanded fiction collections.

The presentation highlights the challenges and successes in creating a dynamic, student-focused library. Attendees will gain insights into showcasing library resources creatively for increased user engagement, developing adaptive skills to navigate changes, and implementing effective methods to gather and utilize student feedback. The session aims to equip library professionals with strategies to better serve their communities by responding to evolving needs.

This session will discuss vital information concerning artificial intelligence and its impact on the academic landscape when teaching information literacy skills.  

This session explores the similarities between programming in elementary school, academic, and public libraries, highlighting shared elements despite their different settings. It discusses how programming ideas can be adapted across these library types, offering methods for modification to suit each environment. Attendees will gain practical ideas and strategies to implement engaging programming in their respective libraries, enhancing their ability to plan and execute activities that cater to diverse audiences.

In this session, librarians from several academic institutions will discuss ways academic and school librarians can collaborate for college readiness. 

The discussion will include the overlap in education standards, points of connection to address together, and possible communities of practice to develop in the future.