August 23, 2024
Quest Conference Center Columbus
9200 Worthington Road, Suite 400
Westerville, OH 43082

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9:30 a.m. | Registration, Networking and Continental Breakfast

10 a.m. | Welcome (Morgan Rooms 1-3)

• Ada Myers, Chair, Conference Planning Committee and Assistant Director, Guernsey County District Public Library
• Michelle Francis, Executive Director, Ohio Library Council

10:15 a.m. | General Session (Morgan Rooms 1-3)

Leadership From All Levels: How to Be a Library Leader From Any Position

Presenter: Luke Bentley, Assistant Branch Manager, Delaware County District Library

Leadership comes in many shapes and sizes, and doesn’t mean that you have to be in charge. To be a leader is to guide people forward, and anyone can do that no matter their role. This session will discuss what leadership can look like throughout the organizational chart through the lenses of leadership styles, personal experiences, and discussion.

11 a.m. |  Break

11:15 a.m. | Breakout Sessions (choose one)

(1) Reaching Patrons in the YouTube Era: Turning Programs into Content (Morgan Room 1)

Presenters: Joshua Bryant and Zach Parish, Bexley Public Library

Gain a better understanding of the benefits of hybrid programming in libraries. Hybrid programming has become a permanent fixture at Bexley Public Library, giving patrons the flexibility to engage with programs at their convenience, increasing the community impact of library programs, and expanding the reach outside of the library. Learn about scalable hybrid setups, from simple smartphone streams to sophisticated three-camera broadcasts and explore budget-friendly options for libraries of all sizes. Bryant and Parish will also share practical knowledge on what makes a successful hybrid program, how to adapt to evolving technology, and strategies for creating an enduring archive of library events. Whatever the library size or budget, they will equip you with the tools to harness the power of hybrid programming for your library’s success.

(2) Library Programming for Adults with Developmental Disabilities: All-Abilities Adventure (Morgan Room 2)

Presenter: Katie Depew, Dayton Metro Library

Adults with developmental disabilities graduate from high school at the age of 22. After that, there are not a lot of safe spaces for them. Day groups do an amazing job enriching the lives of adults with developmental disabilities, but that is pretty much it. All-Abilities Adventure provides a safe space for adults with developmental disabilities to socialize, have fun, and be themselves. Katie Depew of the Dayton Metro Library will discuss her personal “why” for this program, and walk attendees through the research, planning, and community outreach necessary to make this program a success. You will come away from this session with a start-up budget, programming ideas, and community outreach tips.

(3) Social Workers Panel Discussion (Morgan Room 3)

Panelists: Kenzie Huff, Troy-Miami County Public Library; Natasha Marcum, MidPointe Library System; Katie Miller, Clark County Public Library; Shannon Pritchard, Twinsburg Public Library; Benjamin Reid, Columbus Metropolitan Library; Liz Vandendries, Athens County Public Library

The concept of libraries serving as a central gathering place for the community is not new. In fact, accessing and utilizing the resources in a library connotes strength and intelligence, instead of the stigma that is sometimes associated with seeking help in other environments. Libraries around the country offer services such as referrals and assistance for housing, employment and training services, and legal support and many so do with licensed social workers. This panel discussion will take a closer look at partnerships between libraries and social work.

12:15 p.m. | Lunch and Networking

1 p.m. | Breakout Sessions (Choose one)

(1) Labels are Limiting: Rethinking the African American Section (Morgan Room 1)

Presenters: Misty Alvaro and Erica Cherup, Columbus Metropolitan Library

Does your library have an African American section or shelving location in your circulating collection that is comprised of books by African American authors? Historically, public libraries have created collections like these as a means of highlighting books by African American authors and bringing them together to make them easier for our patrons to find, regardless of the genre or subject matter of the book. But as publishing has become more diverse and more Black authors are represented in our libraries, these collections may no longer be meeting the needs of readers. In August 2020, Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) put together a team of staff to discuss the scope of the African American Fiction collection and determine if changes were needed to better serve patrons. After a thorough review process, CML moved away from having a separate, labeled African American Fiction collection in early 2022. During this session, CML’s Collection Development Manager and Materials Manager will talk about the process they underwent to review this collection practice, share highlights of the committee’s work and lessons learned, and discuss how you might undergo a similar review process at your library.

(2) Internal Customers Count Too! (Morgan Room 2)

Presenter: Beth Donaldson, Customer Service Trainer and Branch Manager at MRCPL, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library

We always hear how important customer service is, how vital it is to treat well the people who walk in your door every day. Library administrators and staff spend much time and attention on “the voters” and “the children” and everyone else who uses our libraries. This is important, of course… …but what about library staff? They might not be coming in off the street for the newest James Patterson book, but aren’t they customers too? What does internal customer service look like? How often do you think about the importance of great service to your fellow staff, coworkers or supervisors? If you haven’t thought about it lately, now is the time! In 2021, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library (MRCPL) revamped and updated its service policy. During the process, they recognized there is just as vital a need to address our customers “behind the desk.” In this session Beth Donaldson, a customer service trainer and branch manager at MRCPL, will share the vision, journey and results with you.

(3) Community Arts Programming for Small and Mid-Size Libraries (Morgan Room 3)

Presenters: Todd Bastin, Sarah Fisher, Austin Gilbert, and Erin Hogan, Athens County Public Libraries

Arts programming plays a crucial role in supporting the Athens County Public Libraries’ mission to empower, enlighten, and embrace; the Athens County communities are vital in making those programs successful. Events such as artist displays, musical performances, sewing groups, and outreach exhibits are successful and sustainable thanks to buy-in from our neighbors. This panel discussion will share best practices and ideas for developing community arts programs, with a focus on smaller and midsize library systems. Using past programs as examples, staff from multiple ACPL branches will share successes and lessons learned from building creative partnerships with neighbors and community members. Presenters will also share potential sources for program ideas and where to look for community partners.

2 p.m. | Break

2:15 p.m. | Breakout Sessions (Choose one) 

(1) Cool in Crisis: Navigating Material Challenges (Morgan Room 1)

Presenters: Randy Ebert, Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County and Jen Farrell, Huron County Community Library

No matter the size of the library, material challenges are happening in Ohio. It’s best to prepare now and learn how to handle these situations before they arise. This program provides a comprehensive exploration of censorship and banning materials in libraries, offering practical insights, ethical guidance, and strategies for navigating challenge situations with integrity and professionalism. Join us as we navigate this complex terrain together.

(2) Bridging Cultures: Enhancing Library Services for New American Populations (Morgan Room 2)

Presenter: Jessica Curtis, Westerville Public Library

Understanding the diverse backgrounds, values, and traditions of New American populations is essential for creating engaging library services and programs. It is also necessary for successful marketing, library policy adherence, and successful staff/patron interactions. This session will focus on building cultural competence among library staff, exploring ways to promote empathy, respect, and inclusivity in all interactions.

(3) Sparking Excellence: Put the Customer First in Your Staff Training (Morgan 3)

Presenters: Shelly Miller, Lindsey Gibson, Michelle Rucker, Columbus Metropolitan Library

Providing consistent customer-focused service can sometimes be a challenge, especially for a library with multiple locations. But no matter the size of your team, reflecting on and revising your internal training plan to put the customer first can help! Engaging trainings focused on customer service expectations and structured to facilitate system-wide connections assist staff members to feel more confident in their knowledge of resources, policies, and procedures and help to ensure that our patrons feel seen, heard and valued. In this session, a team of adult services librarians will walk you through their recent training program revision process. Starting with a basic description of their Customer First content, they will outline how they identified the current structural challenges and addressed changing staff needs. The team will discuss the series of format changes they undertook alongside the pros, cons, and resources required for each option. They will talk about how they tackled persistent problems that arose throughout the process, and how they aligned their content across topic areas and staff groups. You will come away from this session with a framework for reflection, advice on how to center customer service, and a resource list of the tools to use.

3:15 p.m. | Break

3:30 p.m. | General Session (Morgan Rooms 1-3)

Intellectual Freedom: A Conversation For Front-Line Staff

Presenters: Jen Farrell, Huron County Community Library and Meredith Wickham, Southwest Public Libraries

What does Intellectual Freedom look like in reality? Intellectual Freedom barriers, challenges, and services can vary in appearance once they translate from training to real life. Join the presenters for a conversation on how to handle different situations, best practices for front-line staff, and more. They will be using real examples of challenges and discussing different ways staff can handle those situations.

4:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks & Adjourn