Schedule and Session Descriptions

Beyond Books & Programs: Changing Youth Services Conference
August 10, 2018
Ohio University – Baker University Center
Athens, Ohio

 

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

9:00 a.m. | Registration and Display Tables

Dr. Koestler photo

Courtney Koestler

9:45 a.m. | General Session

Everything is Political: Supporting Critical Literacy in Our Communities 

Presenter: Dr. Courtney Koestler, Director, Ohio Center for Equity in Mathematics and Science (OCEMS), Ohio University

In this presentation, Dr. Courtney Koestler will examine the professional, personal, and political sides of library work. She will discuss how “everything is political and nothing is neutral” and how this relates to our work in schools and libraries to support the critical literacy of students, families, and community members.

10:45 a.m. | Break

11:00 a.m. | Breakout Sessions

Track Unique Populations Technology Intellectual Freedom Get Creative Marketing Outreach
Session Reading with a Captive Audience: Services to the Incarcerated Achievement Unlocked: Becoming Media Mentors for Children and Families Taking Down the Sacred Cow Toss the Prepwork, Trust the Process: Developing More Engaging, Effective Art Programs 10 Tips for Program Marketing

12:00 p.m. | Lunch

1:00 p.m. | Breakout Sessions

Track Unique Populations Technology Intellectual Freedom Get Creative Marketing Outreach
Session Trauma Informed Care Augmented Reality: Programming That’s Captivating Be a Guide, Not a Gatekeeper: Avoiding Unconscious Bias The Importance of Play LSTA Grants and You:
An Insider’s Perspective

2:00 p.m. | Break

2:15 p.m. | Breakout Sessions

Track Unique Populations Technology Intellectual Freedom Get Creative Marketing Outreach
Session Fostering Library Connections: How Libraries Can Better Serve Foster Care Families and Youth Game, Coding and More Black Books Matter: Children’s Literature that Features African-American Males From Consumers to Creators: Starting a Teen Literary Magazine at Your Library Networking 101

3:15 p.m. | Break

3:30 p.m. | Breakout Sessions

Track Unique Populations Technology Intellectual Freedom Get Creative Marketing Outreach
Session Sensory Storytimes:
Best Practices 
How to Make a Big Impact with a Small Collection Uke Can Do It! Beyond School Visits: Unique Outreach and Community Engagement Opportunities

4:30 p.m. | Adjourn


SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

Reading with a Captive Audience: Services to the Incarcerated

Presenters: Ann Plazek and Sean Rapacki, Medina County District Library

Providing library services to incarcerated youth can be extremely challenging, but it can also be one of the most rewarding types of experiences for a librarian. The challenges, surprisingly, come less from the residents of juvenile detention centers, who tend to be thrilled anytime somebody visits and spends time with them, but more from finding programming options and materials that will both interest the residents while still complying with the typically stringent regulations of the facility. During this session, you will learn learn strategies for connecting with your local jail or juvenile detention center, steps for creating a program or library services for incarcerated youth, and how to work through the challenges.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Patron Awareness

 

Achievement Unlocked: Becoming Media Mentors for Children and Families

Presenter: Morgan Hidy, Worthington Libraries

Do the words “kids and screen time” make your head hurt? Does the thought of recommending apps to kids and parents leave you tongue-tied? Do you want to start incorporating apps into your programming but aren’t sure where to start? You’re not alone! Join Youth Services Librarian Morgan Hidy from Worthington Libraries to find out tips and tricks for supporting kids and families in their media use and learn more about how the Ohio Digital Media Literacy Training workshops aim to empower the media mentor inside us all. You will come away from this session with a better understanding of the research and guidelines surrounding children and screen time/media use; trusted sources for finding and making media/technology recommendations; and ideas for incorporating technology effectively in programs and storytime.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Adaptability

 

Taking Down the Sacred Cow

Presenter: Lyndsey Waiso, Akron-Summit County Public Library

Sacred cows run rampant throughout the library world. They are the way we have always done something and they are often a fight to change. But what happens when staff or management hide behind Intellectual Freedom to protect these sacred cows? What truly constitutes censorship and what is really just fear of change? During this session, you will learn best practices for weeding without self censorship; better customer service involving diversity; and ideas for ways to manage fear of change.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Intellectual Freedom

 

Toss the Prepwork, Trust the Process: Developing More Engaging, Effective Art Programs

Presenter: Alice Mackey, Marysville Public Library

Perhaps you’ve heard of the move away from product-centered toward process-centered art. But what exactly does that look like in a library, and why all the excitement? During this session, you will examine art programming using Ohio’s Early Development Standards, real-world examples, and an art education perspective. You’ll learn about roadblocks to making the switch, and end with an idea share. You’ll leave this session with a packet of ideas for all ages, and never spend your time cutting out pieces again!

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Programming

 

10 Tips for Program Marketing

Presenter: Chuck Duritsch, Dayton Metro Library

You don’t need an in-house marketing department to get the word out about your library’s programs and events. This session will give you 10 ideas to help you get better attendance…that’s one tip every 6 minutes! And most of these marketing tips are free or use materials you probably already have. You will learn how to write succinct program descriptions that grab readers’ attentions as well as simple concepts of modern graphic design. These ten tips will allow you to leverage the community partnerships you already have to increase new visits to the library and program participation.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Marketing

 

Trauma Informed Care

Presenters: Toni Ashton and Patricia Waits, Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health (ADAMH) of Fairfield County

Many of the children (and adults) with whom we engage in the library have been affected by traumatic experiences. Trauma Informed Care is a framework that involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma. Presenters from ADAMH (Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health) of Fairfield County will provide an overview of trauma informed care, including a shared understanding and language about trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences – ACEs, and a shift in thinking.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Patron Awareness

Augmented Reality: Programming That’s Captivating

Presenter: Virginia Wright, Tuscarawas County Public Library

Since the release of Pokémon Go, Augmented Reality (AR) is more recognizable with library customers of all ages. How can libraries use AR outside of Pokémon programs? Programmers at the Tuscarawas County Public Library System have been creating innovative and engaging programs for younger library customers (that can be done with adults, too) using AR. Everything from making artwork come alive and instructing customers on how to create their own AR to recreating Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (adapted from the children’s book Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by New York Times bestselling author Chris Grabenstein). Learn how to easily (and inexpensively) develop AR programs at your library.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Programming

 

Be a Guide, Not a Gatekeeper: Avoiding Unconscious Bias

Presenter: Jennifer Coventry, Wadsworth Public Library

Access to information is fundamental to our profession, but sometimes we deny children and teens access in ways that we might not even be aware. In this interactive session and discussion, we’ll explore the subtleties of unconscious censorship as it relates to materials and services for youth. Understand the necessity of maintaining a balanced collection, learn to reconcile “age appropriateness” with intellectual freedom, and receive some helpful tips on how to exercise ethical courage in those real-life difficult situations.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Intellectual Freedom

 

The Importance of Play

Presenter: Sue Kirschner, Cuyahoga County Public Library

The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights recognizes play as the right of every child–that’s how important creative play is to the early development of children. Find out what the research says and then learn how your library can give parents the information and the tools (toys!) they need to help their children succeed. During this session you will gain a better understanding of the scientific reasons behind why play is necessary for children in early childhood; materials your library can purchase (toys) to promote play; and initiatives your library can take to bring this knowledge to the public.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Patron Awareness

LSTA Grants and You: An Insider’s Perspective

Presenter: Cindy Boyden, State Library of Ohio

Do you have great ideas? Do you need some money to make those ideas into reality for your library and community? State Library Consultant Cindy Boyden coordinates the federal LSTA grant programs for the state of Ohio, and she wants you to apply, get funding, and turn your ideas into impactful projects. If grant writing intimidates you, attend this session. If you think you don’t have the expertise or experience to apply for a grant, attend this session. If you’ve heard rumors about LSTA and envision hoops to jump through, attend this session. You’ll receive myth-busting, straight-forward advice, and encouragement and you learn about the requirements and rewards of LSTA Open Grants, the Summer Library Program grant, the Celebrating Ohio Book Awards and Authors grant, and other LSTA programs.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Fundraising

 

Fostering Library Connections: How Libraries Can Better Serve Foster Care Families and Youth

Presenter: Kristin Wilson, Loudonville Public Library

Every year more than 23,700 Ohio children will enter the foster care system. These are children who had to be removed from their families due to abusive or neglectful situations. Research shows that reading can be both an escape and therapeutic for people who have experienced trauma. Yet, many library policies hinder foster care children from obtaining library cards. This session will cover the realities of foster care, library policies and outreach resources.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Patron Awareness

 

Gaming, Coding and More (Un-program)

Presenter: Kristie Miller, Greene County Public Library

Technology has crept into every aspect of life, and the library is no exception. Join us for this un-program and let’s talk about all of the ways we’re using technology in youth services.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Adaptability

 

Black Books Matter: Children’s Literature that Features African-American Males

Presenters: Winnie Johnson, Mariah Johnson, LaSasha Lackey, and William Colston, Dayton Metro Library

Measures of school achievement for African-American boys reveal the stunning racial inequities that exist in our state. Libraries can be part of their community’s efforts to eradicate the achievement gap by using and promoting literature that counters negative stereotypes with positive alternatives and explicitly addresses racism. During this session, you will explore some of the racial issues that need to be addressed, consider specific books that can be used by librarians, teachers and parents, and learn ideas for incorporating these books into storytimes.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Customer Service

 

From Consumers to Creators: Starting a Teen Literary Magazine at Your Library

Presenter: Liz Strauss, Dover Public Library

Since 2015, Dover High School and Dover Public Library have worked together to publish Tornado Alley, a Teen Literary Magazine featuring the fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art of local teens in grades 6-12. During this session, Teen Outreach Services Manager Liz Strauss will share the story of Tornado Alley as well as strategies and tips for anyone looking to start a teen publication in their community. Topics will include teen recruitment, challenges to consider, techniques for getting submissions ready to print, and publication solutions.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Project Management

 

Networking 101 (Un-program)

Presenter: Janet Ingraham-Dwyer, State Library of Ohio

Are you trying to meet other professionals in your field? Want to chat about what new or tried-and-true things have been successful at other libraries? Are you wondering how your peers are addressing challenging issues and situations? Then this is the Un-program for you! During this session, participants will talk shop, and get to know others in the children and teen services universe.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Communication

 

Sensory Storytimes: Best Practices 

Presenter: Audrey Hogan, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library

Providing quality programs to all members of the community is an integral part of ensuring equitable access to services. Learn how to tailor your storytimes to meet the needs of young children with different abilities and to support every child’s success at library programs. You will gain a better understanding of what it means to have sensory integration challenges as well as tricks for adapting storytimes of meet the needs of differently-abled children.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Programming

 

How to Make a Big Impact with a Small Collection

Presenter: Christina Getrost, Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library

Learn how to make your teen collection “pop.” During this session, you will learn ideas for managing a mid-size young adult/teen materials collection, from the perspective of a standalone public library. Tips include where to get review sources, selection without self-censorship, some creative merchandising/display ideas, trying different media/formats, and the all-important but painful job of weeding.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Collection Management

 

Uke Can Do It! (Un-Program)

Presenter: Alice Beresford, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; Kim Edsell, Grafton-Midview Public Library; Sybil Wendling, Avon Lake Public Library

Would you like to add a little something to your programs? Think you can’t learn to play an instrument? Join us to learn the basics of playing a ukulele, including how to hold, strum, and play a few chords. By the end of this Un-program, you’ll be able to play more two-chord songs than you ever imagined! With just a little more practice, you’ll be strumming in all your programs. Please bring a ukulele if you have access to one; a small number of ukes will be available for use.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Programming

 

Beyond School Visits: Unique Outreach and Community Engagement Opportunities

Presenters: Carolyn Burrier and Sarah Deisler, Akron-Summit County Public Library

Are you looking to reach children, teens, parents, and teachers outside of the library? Tired of school visits? It’s time to try something new! Thinking beyond schools and day cares, this session will explore unique outreach and community engagement opportunities. You will learn strategies to prepare for these unique visits, and talk about the importance of whole library support when thinking outside of the box.

Ohio Public Library Core Competencies Addressed: Community Awareness