Pre-recorded
OverDrive Stands with Libraries: Access, Advocacy, Always Advancing. (Pre-recorded)
Discover key enhancements and innovative solutions that are helping libraries reach and engage more readers, including Libby updates, new content offerings, ARPA tools in Marketplace, diversity audits and more. (Public Libraries / Virtual Only / On-demand)
Teaching with Unique Collections: Innovation in Liberal Arts Pedagogies
Library instruction is changing. More and more courses are taught in libraries themselves. Now bibliographic research is less a skill used to understand material taught but the subject itself. These modules focus on unique library holdings. These may be special collections in modules that center the book as a material witness to history, or they may be digital services departments, as students work to gain skills to work with large datasets. Increasingly central to liberal arts education, the library becomes a laboratory for the humanities, giving students the chance to get hands-on, practical experience. (Academic Libraries / Virtual Only / On-demand)
So You Wanna Advocate for Yourself?
In a candid, but humorous, conversation, Trezlen Drake (Yale Law School Library) spoke with Leslie Bleichner (Grinnell College) on what it means to advocate for yourself, what that can look like, and some ways to navigate difficult conversations and situations in the workplace. This portion is pre-recorded; however, a “live” virtual streaming/viewing session will happen on Friday at 2:00p, followed by a LIVE Q&A with Trezlen Drake herself will be live-streamed on Friday from 2:45-3:15p! She will be here to answer your advocacy questions in real-time. (On-demand + Live Stream of Q&A, see below under Friday)
Wednesday / Preconference
Tribal History/Shared History: Inviting Indigenous Voices into Libraries
Facilitator: Mia Jackson, Outreach Coordinator, UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History
Presenters: Brent Spencer, Indian Education Coordinator, Oregon Department of Education
Jennifer Belle, Assistant, Oregon Department of Education
Cheyanne Heidt, Curriculum Specialist, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Deana Dartt, Founding Director, Live Oak Consulting
All Oregonians can benefit from understanding the vast diversity of the Oregon Native American experience. K-12 schools statewide are implementing the new Tribal History/Shared History curriculum that offers historically accurate, culturally embedded, contemporary, and place-based curricula developed in partnership with the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon. How can your programs and materials align with and support this effort? Join your peers to learn how libraries can partner with, better serve, and celebrate Indigenous people and cultures.
Topics covered include an overview of the new curriculum and available resources; how to approach culturally responsive collection development for public and school libraries; and how to provide informal education opportunities that support authentic Indigenous voices and welcome all community members to gain a deeper understanding of our shared history. Attendees will also have the opportunity for a sneak preview of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History’s new traveling exhibit, Native Innovation, which will tour Oregon’s libraries beginning later this year.
Sponsored By: Children Services Division and Oregon Association of School Libraries
Thursday Streaming Live
8:30a Keynote and General Session – Conspirituality: What Conspiracy Theories in the Wellness Industry Can Teach Us About Combating Misinformation
(In-person + live streaming)
Derek Beres is a multi-faceted author & media expert based in Portland, Oregon. He is the Senior Editor at Eco & co-host of the Conspirituality podcast. He is the co-author of Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracy Theories Became a Public Health Threat (Public Affairs / Random House Canada, June 2023), and is currently writing a book on male body dysmorphia. Derek’s work has been featured in the NY Times, LA Times, Harper’s Bazaar, and Rolling Stone, as well as on Good Morning America, The Daily Show, and PBS Newshour.
11:00a Reading for Access and Inclusion
(Live streaming + recorded for later viewing)
In the US, over 20% of our population has at least one condition that makes reading a printed book difficult or impossible. Whether they have blindness, arthritis, dyslexia, or some other condition, many people would benefit from accessibility technology if librarians knew what is available and how to use it. The IMLS-funded Reading for Access and Inclusion Project developed a training manual so librarians can quickly learn accessibility technology. It covers: Basics of accessibility technology Reading systems Accessibility features from library vendors, e.g., OverDrive, Hoopla, ProQuest and more.
11:00a Library Services to People Experiencing the Carceral System and Those Reentering.
(In-person + live streaming + recorded for later viewing)
Does your library prioritize lifelong learning and promoting literacy? If so, then it’s time to bring those initiatives to patrons who are incarcerated. Low literacy is linked to incarceration and recidivism while access to higher education has been shown to reduce recidivism by 43%. Even so, in Oregon only 6% of the prison budget is dedicated to education! Libraries can play a crucial role in increasing equity and dismantling mass incarceration by providing adults and youths in custody access to books, information, literacy programs, and by forming community partnerships that remove barriers for those recently released.
2:15p Storytelling & The Decolonization of Academic Research Libraries.
(In-person + live streaming + recorded for later viewing)
The Dean of the Kraemer Family Library (KFL) and the inaugural Storytelling professor will discuss their innovative efforts to decolonize and diversify their programs, collections, and information overall, through the art of storytelling and the digital exhibitions and corresponding story maps. The founding of this novel program will be discussed which includes the endowment of a storytelling professor, storytelling contests, events, and the digital curation and celebration of all KFL created content, as well as the emphasis on centering the narratives and lived experiences of their diverse community through storytelling.
4:00p Career Advancement by Staying Put
(In-person + live streaming + recorded for later viewing)
Have you realized that no matter how many vacations you take, you cannot bring back the enthusiasm you used to feel for your job? Instead of burnout, is it possible that you have put ambition over wellbeing? Or do you feel pressure to advance when you love what you are doing now? Join a recovering administrator as she uses her own life to explore the larger idea of advancement as the measurement of success in life and career. In a society where success equals worth, it is time to change the narrative around career advancement.
7:00p Virtual Bingo with Poison Waters
(Live streaming only)
Poison Waters is not just a personality. Poison is an experience!! Whether dressed as Poison Waters or her alter ego Kevin Cook, they are both captivating and one of a kind! For over three decades Poison has been having tons of FUN entertaining from countless stages throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. She has been coordinating, participating in and hosting an endless docket of benefits, revues and shows for various local, regional and national charities. During the Covid 19 global pandemic, Poison went virtual, bringing her Drag Queen Bingo, Drag Queen Storytime and event hosting to thousands of new fans all over the world. Whatever the title, event, cause or venue, one thing remains the same: the important bond between Poison Waters and her audience. She remains, “the smile on the face of Portland.” www.poisonwaters.com
Friday Streaming Live
8:45a Summer Reading: What Is It Good For?
(In-person + live streaming + recorded for later viewing)
This is the spot if you’re wondering any of the following: Why do we do summer reading? How does summer impact kids, teens, and families in our state? How does my library fit into the bigger picture of summer for Oregon families? What’s our vision for summer in our community? Are we accomplishing what we want to? Join a panel of Summer Reading experts to learn more.
11:00a Attack of the Pod People: A Crash Course in Podcasting.
(In-person + live streaming + recorded for later viewing)
There’s a reason podcasts have become so popular. They’re accessible, entertaining, educational, and a surprising way to build communities of people over long distances. Should your library have its own podcast? Join the hosts of Toledo Public Library’s The Free Bin and Coos Bay Public Library’s Swords and Starships as they tell the origin stories of their podcasts, discuss the practicalities of recording and publishing episodes, and share lessons learned to guide your journey into the podcasting world. There will be plenty of room for Q&A and discussion because this presentation will be recorded and published as a very special episode!
12:30p Awards Lunch
(In-person + live streaming)
2:00p Telling Your Story with Data (and Not Accidentally Lying)
(In-person + live streaming + recorded for later viewing)
Libraries generate an incredible amount of data around collections, services, and patrons, but what do we do with all these data? This presentation covers examples of how to leverage data and visualization tools to inform decision making and measure success. It also highlights some easy-to-make data missteps.
2:00p So You Wanna Advocate for Yourself?
(Pre-recorded session + live streaming for Q&A)
In a candid, but humorous, conversation, Trezlen Drake (Yale Law School Library) spoke with Leslie Bleichner (Grinnell College) on what it means to advocate for yourself, what that can look like, and some ways to navigate difficult conversations and situations in the workplace. Join us after we view the recorded program together for a live Q&A with Trezlen Drake herself from 2:45-3:15p! She will be here to answer your advocacy questions in real-time.
3:45p Empower your inner activist, empower your patrons – strategies for civic activism
and engagement!
(Live streaming only)
This workshop will inform you about why and how our country has overcome difficult times, identify key knowledge and strategies utilized to make change now, and provide a toolkit from which you can build your own – and help build your patrons’ – route to more civic involvement. There is an epidemic of not understanding about our civic/political processes and how to influence them. Let’s change that! If you would like a say in those decisions that affect your life and/or would like to help your patrons have a say – this is the workshop for you!
3:45p A Book for Every Person: Presenting Your Collection to Improve Patron
Engagement.
(In-person + live streaming + recorded for later viewing)
Libraries want to connect patrons with the materials they need and be responsible stewards of their collections. This presentation will focus on how libraries can apply proven practices from the retail merchandising profession to create a clean, neat and easy to browse library collection that works for staff and patrons. Techniques for determining the best location for collections, how and where to do displays, and how to develop effective staff training materials will be addressed.
Saturday Streaming Live
8:45a Workforce Development: Teen Internships at Your Library
(In-person + live streaming + recorded for later viewing)
Why should your library host a teen intern? Your community sees you as integral to workforce development and student success. Your staff build new skills as they lead, supervise, and support your intern. You are critically important in the life of an individual who will become a lifelong library ambassador. Your library gains new audiences excited to be part of the library community. You’ll leave understanding how to implement a teen internship that works for your community. This includes funding options, successful outcomes for teens, staff, and community members, and ways to share with local stakeholders.
11:00a What’s New in Narrative Nonfiction? Promoting and Sharing Nonfiction with Children
and Teens
(In-person + live streaming)
This session will share common award lists for nonfiction for children and teens as well as innovative methods for promoting, book talking, and sharing nonfiction titles with youth readers. We will explore book awards for nonfiction, online nonfiction author resources, and creative methods for displaying, sharing, and promoting nonfiction reading in classroom, school, and public library spaces.
12:30p Wrap-Up Lunch and Farewell with speaker Andy Mangels
(In-person + live streaming)
Andy Mangels is the USA Today best-selling author and co-author of twenty-six fiction and nonfiction books — including Star Trek, Roswell, Iron Man, X-Files, Star Wars, and Young Adult tomes — and is an award-winning comic book anthology editor. As a pop culture historian, he has also contributed to international magazines and newspapers, and has scripted, directed, and produced over forty DVD documentaries and Special Features projects. In 2012, he was awarded the prestigious Inkpot Award for Achievement in the Comic Arts at Comic-Con International. He has written licensed material based on properties by Lucasfilm, Paramount, New Line Cinema, Universal Studios, Warner Bros., Microsoft, Abrams-Gentile, and Platinum Studios. He was not only the first openly gay mainstream professional in the comic book world, but he was the editor of the award-winning Gay Comics anthology for eight years, and has hosted the Gays In Comics/Out In Comics panel at Comic-Con International since 1988. He is a member of the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers. As a youth, he was more excited to go to the library than Disneyland.