MLA/DLACon2025

Building a comprehensive legal collection can be both challenging and costly. As legal fees are often prohibitive, more patrons are seeking to educate themselves on legal matters. Enhancing your library’s collection of community resources by including a legal information reference guide is an excellent way to address this need. This program will showcase essential legal resources that will help your library develop an effective research guide to strengthen its role in the community and provide valuable support for both your patrons and staff.

A panel of local Black library directors will speak on their own experiences, towards the end of giving participants insight into their responsibilities, and providing wisdom to those who may be inspired to, or already have ambitions to ‘climb the ladder’. Insights from writings on the fairly unique challenges that Black leaders face will also be explored by the moderator.

This session will provide an update on library-related legislation from the most recent Maryland state legislative session and touch on what's happening at the federal level. Presenters will offer attendees a comprehensive understanding of the structure of the Maryland General Assembly and its legislative process. Attendees will learn practical skills such as navigating legislative resources, developing effective advocacy strategies, and engaging in advocacy as individuals, within their library organizations, and through the Maryland Library Association.

Academic libraries have used diversity residencies to give opportunities to early career librarians from underrepresented groups and diversify librarianship. Despite the good intentions, residency programs often cause harm to residents. This presentation aims to share the experiences of early career librarian fellows and critique the reliance on residencies and fellowships to diversify the field. The presenters will also provide insight into recruiting, retaining, and supporting librarians of color. Attendees will gain insight into the unique experiences of librarians of color who experienced an Early Career Librarian Fellowship program.