MLA/DLACon2025

Two Delaware Library staff members share their experiences with the DLA Community Engagement Grant, including the planning and application process, implementation, and reporting. Hear about their projects and their impacts on the community!

Someone is hovering at the desk and telling you their life story. Another calls you “honey” or “sweetie”. Someone insists that you’re the only person that can help them with the copier. We've all been in these types of situations, and maybe we've even silently wished a coworker would come and save us. In this presentation we’ll delve into setting healthy workplace boundaries; how to set the expectations early, how to enforce them, and how to rescue a coworker in need. All of it starts with being aware of your surroundings, reading others' body language, and recognizing how our body language can be interpreted.

Today’s youth are growing up in a world that is “digital by default.” Youth and teen services librarians are well-positioned to help youth learn to navigate the privacy issues that arise through pervasive technology use. This session will walk participants through a prototype privacy literacy toolkit designed to help librarians identify privacy issues and model for children and teens what it means to engage with technology in socially appropriate ways. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on ways the toolkit could support their own work as well as to provide feedback on how the toolkit could be improved.

Think advocacy is only for the CEO? Want to speak up for the future of your library system but you don’t know how?  Reimagine what advocacy could look like! You’ll learn about how one library system created a comprehensive advocacy effort involving staff at all levels, donors, customers and elected officials to help secure better funding and legislative support. Walk away empowered to advocate effectively for your library with concrete strategies that can be adapted for any system or situation! 

Julius Jefferson has spent his career committed to advocacy, information policy, diversity, equity and inclusion, and professional and leadership development. An ALA Past President, he continues to advocate for libraries as the chair of ALA's International Relations Committee. In this wide-ranging conversation, Mr. Jefferson will be interviewed by Joseph Thompson, Director of Public Services at the Carroll County Public Library, about his experience and he will share advice for all of us as we work to advance the mission of libraries locally, nationally, and internationally.

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.