ArLA 2024 Annual Conference

In this session, we emphasize the importance of keeping libraries at the forefront in education and government, highlighting their essential role in community success. Participants will learn to:

1. Identify similarities and differences among various libraries.
2. Recognize the roles libraries play in all communities.
3. Discover ways to continue making a difference and fostering collaboration.

The session will provide strategies for building connections within the library community and beyond. This program aligns with the conference theme by offering a sense of individual value, renewal, and growth for all library professionals, regardless of their library type or position.

This presentation uses stories of programming and service experiences to challenge librarians to consider the needs, interests, and place of teen patrons in library spaces.
Key points include:

• Teens need and deserve a sense of community, which is difficult to quantify.
• COVID-19 lockdowns, a lack of third places, and a trend towards virtual existence have created a void in the community fabric, especially affecting teens.
• Libraries can fill this gap, providing a safe, inclusive space for teens to be themselves and build connections.
• Libraries should rethink their services for teens, focusing on creating a welcoming environment with diverse, engaging activities, such as providing pads, prom dresses, and hosting D&D games.

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.