ULA Annual Conference 2026

Creative and engaging ideas for developing programs for kids ages 8+. Staff from the Spanish Fork Library will present on planning programs based on specific genres and books. Haven Gertson from the Salt Lake County Library system will present on hosting a program for the popular tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.

What began as a fun program for the 2018 Summer Reading theme, Libraries Rock, quickly became a staff and patron favorite that transformed throughout the years to cover more summer reading events, the closing of a beloved neighborhood branch, a new library kick-off celebration, National Old Rock Day, and more.

Librarians and Salt Lake County’s biggest library fan will share successes, creative explorations, patron responses, and how we transitioned for the 2020 summer reading and turned a challenge into a community collaboration. We will also share an innovative idea that could bring libraries across the state closer together through music, stories, creativity, education, and laughter.

No time for planning programs? Come learn about some programs that require little or no set-up or planning and can be run by almost anyone. Also includes supplies to always have on-hand in storage and what programs can be created with these supplies.

Empower teens to be the youth voices of the library through a Teen Advisory Board (TAB). Mentor teens to actively participate in decision-making by proposing, voting on, and helping implement library programs, while also promoting events to their peers and schools—ensuring teen services reflect real community needs.

This session will explore how TABs provide meaningful leadership opportunities through community partnerships, communication skill-building, mental health–focused workshops, and the development of job and interview skills.

Attendees will leave with practical strategies to start or strengthen a Teen Advisory Board, build impactful community partnerships, and empower teens as confident leaders prepared for both the library and the workforce.

Attendees can join us for a roundtable session in the same room immediately after the presentation.