MLA/DLACon2025

Are you smooth sailing with your teen users or are you in deep water? The teenage years are tough, and not just for them. Join this session to learn the ropes on relationship building with teen users with practices based in trauma-informed services. We’ll share ideas that have helped us to coast along and as well as those which have sunk to the bottom of the sea. Topics will include developing emotional literacy, getting staff on board with engaging teens, creating a welcoming space, and setting boundaries.

An accurate and equitable picture of underserved and marginalized communities and populations has taken on greater urgency in the face of contemporary equity concerns. Don't get washed away in heavy seas of data; the federal government has created tools and resources to inform Americans where we are resilient, where we are unsteady, or where and when to plan, to commit resources, and where to advocate new solutions.

School librarians are positioned to play a prominent role as leaders alongside administrators and educators on a school campus. How does this translate in challenging times? Where are the opportunities to build a strong ecosystem and how do you begin? AASL President, Becky Calzada shares actionable steps and ideas for school librarians to consider. Learn about the key leadership qualities that can unlock your leadership potential and prepare you for anything.

We tend to take a pretty narrow view of innovation – ribbon cuttings on shiny things that require lots of extra money. This self-limiting view stands in the way of our libraries thriving. A more expansive and empowering perspective is that innovation is a mental model, accessible to every organization, helping us overcome many perceived constraints. Innovation is the springboard to becoming the transformational places our communities deserve, our teams are excited to commit their time and talent to, and our values call on us to be.