MLA/DLACon2025: Full Schedule

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7:30am EDT

DLA Annual Member Meeting and Breakfast

Friday May 9, 2025 7:30am - 9:00am EDT

TBA

This event is open to all DLA members

Friday May 9, 2025 7:30am - 9:00am EDT
TBA

Meeting, DLA

7:30am EDT

MLA Annual Member Meeting and Breakfast

Friday May 9, 2025 7:30am - 9:00am EDT

TBA

Open to all MLA members

Friday May 9, 2025 7:30am - 9:00am EDT
TBA

Meeting, MLA

8:00am EDT

Registration Table Open

Friday May 9, 2025 8:00am - 10:45am EDT

TBA

Friday May 9, 2025 8:00am - 10:45am EDT
TBA

Conference

8:00am EDT

Silent Auction

Friday May 9, 2025 8:00am - 10:45am EDT

TBA

Friday May 9, 2025 8:00am - 10:45am EDT
TBA

Silent Auction

8:00am EDT

Vendor Hall Open

Friday May 9, 2025 8:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Friday May 9, 2025 8:00am - 12:00pm EDT
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Vendors

9:30am EDT

Closing Keynote

Friday May 9, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am EDT

TBA

Speaker to be announced soon

Speakers

Temim Fruchter

Author

Temim Fruchter is a queer nonbinary anti-Zionist Jewish writer who lives in Brooklyn, NY. She holds an MFA in fiction from the University of Maryland, and is the recipient of fellowships from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Vermont Studio Center, and a 2020 Rona Jaffe... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
TBA

Keynote, Conference Comm

11:00am EDT

Banned Books Week at an Academic Library: Collaboration and Promoting Student Engagement

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Presenters will share their experiences, including goals, partnerships, challenges, and successes, in planning Banned Books Week programming in an academic library setting. First, we will discuss the significance of our programming in the contexts of the history of Banned Books Week and of the current cultural climate. Then, we will explain how we collaborated with various individuals and groups to promote student engagement. Finally, we will reflect on what we learned and share strategies for other academic libraries to adopt for local implementation.

Speakers

Maren Cornett

Coordinator, Special Collections Cataloging Unit, University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press

she/her

Jessica Dai

Organizational Development and Learning Librarian, University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press

she/her

Bob Tolliver

Foundational Sciences Librarian, University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press

he/him

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, DLA ACRL

11:00am EDT

Beachcombing for History: Treasures of Maryland’s Past in Digital Maryland

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Discover the hidden treasures of Maryland’s past with Digital Maryland, an online archive funded by the State Library Resource Center.

Attendees will explore innovative ways to access, research, and utilize this valuable digital resource, gaining fresh insights into Maryland’s rich history. This session will introduce methods for navigating and utilizing Digital Maryland, highlighting new features and collections supported by the State Library Resource Center. Participants will learn strategies for integrating digital archives into their research and educational projects, enhancing their understanding of Maryland’s historical narrative.

Speakers

Megan Kean

Digital Maryland Project Manager, Enoch Pratt Free Library/ State Library Resource Center

she/her

Tracy Thompson

Digital Resources Manager, Enoch Pratt Free Library/ State Library Resource Center

she/her

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA ASRD

11:00am EDT

Beyond Books: Introducing DEI Programs in Library Spaces

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Join the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Office of Equity and Fair Practice (OEFP) for a presentation that empowers you to recognize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and social justice needs within your community. You will learn how to implement effective, measurable strategies for DEI and social justice programs and services in libraries. The session will guide you in developing community-informed programs that address social justice, ensuring libraries serve as inclusive spaces. Be prepared to leave inspired, equipped and motivated to provide equitable services to the underserved.

Speakers

Erin Kelly

Accessibility Coordinator, Enoch Pratt Free Library

she/her

Sierra Walker

Program Coordinator Project ENCORE, Enoch Pratt Free Library

she/her

Jessica Russell

Pratt Free Market Coordinator, Enoch Pratt Free Library

she/her

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA EDI

11:00am EDT

Beyond the Drag Queen Storytime

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

In today's political climate, both the LGBTQIA+ community and Libraries are under attack. The community for who they are and the libraries for supporting them through representation. While some progress might start with a Drag Queen Story Time, it goes far beyond that. It goes to the heart of schools, public libraries, and into the political arena itself. Librarian and Pride Board Member Jayne Walters brings her knowledge and years of experience representing and advocating for both to share how these two can be stronger together in this ongoing fight.

Speakers

Jayne Walters

Librarian, Anne Arundel County Public Library

she/ her

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA LGBTQIA

11:00am EDT

Converging Oceans: Conversations in Global Resource Sharing

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Interlibrary Loan brings together resources for people all over the globe, however, not all libraries conduct resource sharing in the same way. Join us for a resource sharing conversation where we can learn about one another’s ILL practices and how we can improve on the services we provide.
Attendees will learn about one another’s daily processes and best practices, as well as how Maryland’s Public Library Systems share materials across the state. Pratt staff from the MILO department will share Pratt’s practices for interlibrary loan across both Marina and OCLC PRA-14217474 and answer questions about interlibrary loan from attendees.

Speakers

Emma Beaven

Resource Sharing Supervisor, Enoch Pratt Free Library

She/Her

Hannah Brady

Office Supervisor, Enoch Pratt Free Library

She/Her

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA MIG

11:00am EDT

Demystifying AI Instruction: A Byte-Sized Case Study

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Libraries are uniquely positioned to stem the flow of misinformation, alleviate fear, and provide resources that aid in skill development around new technologies. Want to create library classes that render Generative AI approachable and accessible, while helping customers navigate the minefield of mis/information? We’ll discuss the process of researching, planning, and instructing our biannual AI class at the Howard County Library System. Then, we’ll share how we refresh our research to ensure we are staying accurate and up to date, while demystifying artificial intelligence so that it is accessible to all.

Speakers

Jessica Seipel

Instructor & Research Specialist, Howard County Library System

she/her

Sahana Callahan

Instructor & Research Specialist, Howard County Library System

they/them

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA FOLIG

11:00am EDT

Ignite Session 2

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
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Program - 1 hour, Conference Comm

11:00am EDT

Innovative Strategies to Boost School Library Visibility and Usage

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

This is an engaging session designed to transform your school library into a vibrant hub of the school community! Discover proven, innovative strategies to exponentially increase engagement among students, parents, and the broader school community. Participates receive specific and proven examples to effectively bring the library to 'the people,” and to bring “the people” to the library. Attendees will leave with a comprehensive plan to cultivate library stakeholders, heighten book circulation, and increase patronage. The session will give participants proven tools needed to make their library the heart of the school!

Speakers

Joyce Lester

Library Media Specialist, Delaware Library Association

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, DLA DASL

11:00am EDT

Library Student Employment as a High Impact Practice: Empowering Students to Succeed

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Applying classroom andragogy/pedagogy to student employment and training creates additional learning experiences for students that go beyond the classroom. Library Student Employment as a High Impact Practice: Empowering Students to Succeed will cover topics including student employment as a high impact practice, fostering trust, collaborating with campus partners, developing and providing professional development for students, professional and peer-to-peer mentorship opportunities, and supporting students’ early career skill-development in preparation for post-graduation success. We will address methods for hiring, training, student growth / leadership opportunities, and managing challenging student employees.

Speakers

Amelia Gossman

Tracey Gilchrist

Towson University

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour

11:00am EDT

Literary Reparations: Fully Funded Library Science Scholarships for Black Students

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

In America’s history, there were anti-slavery [enslavement] laws that prevented Blacks and, in some states, anyone who was non-white from reading, writing, as well as being taught to read and write. These laws applied to enslaved Blacks and in some cases, Free(wo)man. Reimagining the field of library science means refocusing our efforts on increasing Black library science practitioners and resetting our agendas to be intentional about allocating funds. In this presentation, you will learn about the history of anti-slavery [enslavement] laws and what Black representation in the field of library science could mean for our domestic and global communities.

Speakers

Christopher Stewart

Library and Information Science Programs, Syracuse University | St. University

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour

11:00am EDT

Run a Teen Dungeons & Dragons Club

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Learn the basics of D&D and how to start your own Dungeons & Dragons Club from scratch. Hear success stories and gain insights on how to empower teens through D&D. Learn how to get a free educator kit, how to spread the word, how to create a safe and inclusive space for players, how to get started with running your game, and how to empower your teen participants to take ownership and run their own games. In addition, learn how to access free online resources for tabletop roleplaying games that will help you get started and keep your club going.

Speakers

Caitlin Felder

Teens' Instructor and Research Specialist, Howard County Library System

she/they

Julia Marks

Teens' Instructor & Research Specialist, Howard County Library System

she/her

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA TIG

11:00am EDT

Serving Homeschoolers in Public Libraries: A Panel Discussion

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

What does homeschool programming look like in today’s public libraries? How can we create, update, and better market our homeschool programs? How do we reach a diverse cross-section of the homeschool community with our program offerings? Our panel of youth services librarians from all over Maryland will tackle these questions and more.

Speakers

Karen Earp

Youth Services Manager, Sarbanes Branch, Wicomico Public Library

she/her

Shannon Young

Public Services Specialist II, Youth Services, Prince George's County Memorial Library System

she/her

Marsha Quarles

Public Services Specialist I, Youth Services, Prince George's County Memorial Library System

she/her

Jaclyn Cassidy

Youth Services Supervisor, Cecil County Public Library

she/her

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA YSD

1:00pm EDT

Bridging the Middle: How Tween Literature Can Spur Intergenerational Conversations for Healing and Change

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

Middle grade novels exploring relationships between tweens and their adults are critical for addressing intergenerational patterns and showing children finding their own, healthy path forward. These stories create a gateway into difficult conversations and create community within various library patron populations. In this panel, four award-winning authors will present recent books that address themes of mental health stigma, drug addiction, systemic racism, generational trauma, and bodily autonomy, lead a conversation on library programming to open up intergenerational conversations, and provide reading lists, model display and book club ideas, and activities and community partnership ideas to facilitate family conversations.

Speakers

Heather Murphy Capps

Upper MG Author/Writing Instructor, Lerner

I’m an award-winning author of upper middle-grade books. I write historical fiction and use magical realism—topics I love to talk about, especially with young readers and educators.

Meg Eden Kuyatt

Writer / Instructor, Scholastic / Anne Arundel Community College

Meg Eden Kuyatt is a Maryland teacher at colleges and writing centers, including Anne Arundel Community College and University of MD College Park. She is the author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literature winning poetry collection “Drowning in the Floating World,” the forthcoming... Read More →

Ali Terese

Author, Aladdin / Simon & Schuster and Scholastic

Ali Terese is a middle grade and YA author who writes funny and heartfelt stories including FREE PERIOD (Scholastic - 2024) and VOTE FOR THE G.O.A.T. (Aladdin / Simon & Schuster - 2025). Her work has received the National Book Award longlist honor, a School Library Journal starred... Read More →

Sydney Dunlap

Upper Middle-Grade Author

Sydney Dunlap (www.sydneydunlap.com) is an award-winning author and former elementary school teacher who has worked extensively with youth facing challenging circumstances. She enjoys reading and writing heartfelt, hopeful books that explore tough topics that aren’t often addressed in middle grade literature. He... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA YSD

1:00pm EDT

Challenging Traditional Pedagogy: OER

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

Traditional educational resources put a high-cost strain on students and are increasingly controlled by corporate bookstores. Open Educational Resources (OERs) offer an anti-capitalist alternative with the potential to transform learning for students and empower faculty. This presentation will establish the current pitfalls and inequities perpetuated by traditional educational resources, and present how OERs can challenge and subvert those drawbacks.

Speakers

Jeanne Kambara

OER Publishing Librarian, University of Delaware

They/Them

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, DLA ACRL

1:00pm EDT

Charting the Course Together: Empowering Leaders through Collective Growth and Experience

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

Learn about AACPL’s year long, peer leadership institute. Staff members explore topics such as strategic thinking and decision-making, collaborative leadership, change management and innovation in libraries, advocacy and communication skills, diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership all through a variety of discussions, hands on activities and workshops. This helps grow new leaders and share valuable expertise while providing fresh innovative ideas and thoughts for more seasoned leaders who are new to our organization.

Speakers

Bethany Lambert

Learning and Development Manager, Anne Arundel County Public Library

She/Her

Michele Noble

Library Manager, Anne Arundel County Public Library

She/Her

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA LDD

1:00pm EDT

Check It Out! Marketing Your Collection with Better Booklists and Displays

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

Market your collection more successfully! Make inclusive and exciting displays and booklists that your customers want to engage with! Using an EDI lens and a focus on customer relevancy, libraries can make booklists and displays that increase discoverability, improve readers advisory, and boost circulation. This program will talk about the benefits of creating custom booklists and walk participants through the hows and whys of building, maintaining, and displaying these powerful marketing tools. It will also include an overview of creating display guidelines to help set your library’s standard for physical and digital displays.

Speakers

Emilia Mudd

Lead Childrens' Librarian, Calvert Library

She/They

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA MKTG

1:00pm EDT

Easy (Climate) Listening: How to Start Worrying and Love Your Neighbors

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

Pool and augment your listening skills for difficult or fraught topics—including, but not limited to, climate change. Learn and practice:
 Ways to show you’re listening
 Quick methods for grounding and releasing tension
 De-escalation tools
 Attention to your own responses
Whether you’re setting up a formal listening station to gather people’s impressions and questions, or making room for complexity and conflict within a group, listening to others on a topic that you care about can be a challenge. This set of practices will solidify your confidence in difficult conversations and help you welcome the parts you can’t control.

Speakers

Kate Schapira

Professor & Climate Listener, Brown University

She/Her

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA SIG

1:00pm EDT

Hollywood in the Stacks: A Film Club for Teens in the Library

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

Learn how to start and run your very own filmmaking club for teens at your library. Even with minimal resources and experience, you can encourage your teens to make their own movies step by step through the filmmaking process, from script to screen. You can even organize your own film festival or world premiere night to share with friends, family, and the public.

Speakers

Bill Stea

Assistant Branch Manager, Waldorf West Branch, Charles County Public Library

He/him

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA TIG

1:00pm EDT

Let's Talk Stuff

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

The panel will share their experiences of planning, the implementation process, their success and the obstacles they faced while putting these programs into place.

Speakers

Marlyn Norton

Administrator, Adult and Community Engagement, Mobile Engagement Group, Baltimore County Public Library

They/Them

Cassandra Zamutt

Librarian, Baltimore County Public Library

She/Her

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA SSD

1:00pm EDT

Putting the “Special” in Special Collections

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

We will present the success we’ve had with both Howard County Library’s DIY Education Center and the Enchanted Garden. The programs have enabled us to attract and empower new and different audiences, in many cases, folks that have never attended a library class. Library users who come to take advantage of our practical, hands-on learning opportunities then can also be made aware of all the things we offer, and perhaps take advantage of our more traditional offerings (i.e. books and community space).

Speakers

Eric Laun

DIY Instructor and Research Specialist, Howard County Library System

he/him

Erica Coady

Enchanted Garden Instructor, Howard County Library System

she/her

Kelly MacBride-Gill

DIY Instructor and Research Specialist, Howard County Library System

she/her

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA MIG

1:00pm EDT

Seas the Fun: Beach Reads Hiding in Your Academic Library

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

Leisure reading and programming in academic libraries is frequently on the chopping block. Academic libraries need to support all the information needs of students, faculty, and staff including materials for their recreation, so that patrons can learn through their preferred methods. The SU Libraries’ Leisure Committee has navigated everything from creating innovative programming and a curated selection, to collaborating with varied groups to achieve mutual goals. SU's Leisure Committee will share the big picture of their struggles and successes in providing extracurricular materials to meet recreational needs instead of only scholarly.

Speakers

Natasha Finnegan

Cataloging & Metadata Services Librarian, Salisbury University

She/Her

Nicole Kulp

Serials and Electronic Resources Librarian, Salisbury University

She/Her/Hers

Sara Wheatley

Acquisitions Specialist, Salisbury University

She/her

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, MLA RAIG

1:00pm EDT

The Ethics Edition

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

After a complex small group effort, Towson University developed a reporting process for privacy and ethics concerns with vendors and library platforms. We are interested in expanding this process to include other organizations that encourage critical analysis of library expenses. Come discuss your library’s concerns or experiences relating to intellectual freedom issues: speech in meeting rooms, vendor terms of service, patron data collection, data mining, etc. This session will not be recorded but will encourage peer-to-peer connections: bring your 21st century business cards.

Speakers

Elizabeth De Coster

Research & Instruction Librarian, Alberty S. Cook Library, Towson University

she/hers

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
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Program - 1 hour, MLA IFP

1:00pm EDT

User Experience From a Circulation Perspective

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

User experience is the philosophy of considering spaces, services, and processes from the end user's point of view. Shifting our perspective from what makes sense to librarians to what makes sense patrons will create a better experience for patrons using our space. This program will discuss how to get into the mind of a patron, creating an enjoyable experience, and the possible pain points of our services.

Speakers

Paul Weymouth

Assistant Director, Selbyville Public Library

He/Him

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

Program - 1 hour, DLA PLD