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.

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. 

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).