Hello! I'm a director of a small-town library in Cache Valley, and I work with a staff of ten amazing people! Four of us are at ULA this year! In a previous life, I worked for the Utah State Library as a bookmobile librarian for 16 years. I loved it very much but I love being a director... Read More →
Youth Services Librarian, Salt Lake County Library System
I am a youth services librarian specializing in programs for school-age children. I love art and STEM programs and anything that encourages children to read!
Wednesday May 20, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am MDT Cascade B
Jennifer Blair Keynote: "Authentic Grace: Enlisting Gentle Boundaries and Compassionate Resistance by Shifting Motivations Toward Self-Compassion and Empathy"
Libraries are caregivers, providing compassion, and empathy to their communities. We recognize the impact we make, but only primarily as a library representative. As servant leaders, we often fail to recognize that compassion also requires self-application. But by shifting motivations and applying compassionate resistance, we incorporate gentle boundaries to maintain and eventually excel in implementing strategies to be intentionally authentic. In leading by example, we employ the same level of compassion and empathy we give to others. We go beyond surface-level acknowledgement, believing in our individual roles, illustrating authenticity and intentionality in applying grace to ourselves.
Head of User Services Librarian, Azusa Pacific University
Jennifer Blair is the Head of User Services Librarian and Associate Professor at Azusa Pacific University (APU). Her role is dedicated to the user experience, operations, design and student engagement. She has extensive experience teaching courses in design and library science. Jennifer... Read More →
Posters will be on display Tuesday and Wednesday in the Level 2 East Prefunction area. Poster titles and presenters are available below. See the Posters page for the full poster descriptions.
From the Dust: Introducing a History of the Health Sciences Archives and Lab — Bryan Hull & Carmin Smoot
Using AI to Add Tables of Contents and Summaries to Cataloging Records — Marissa Bischoff & Lance Hansen
Baby Ducks & Pumpkin Guts: Taking the Archives to the People — Jen Kirk, Emma Wilson, Braydon Write, & Paul Daybell
Designing for Discovery: Lessons from a 150th Anniversary Special Collections Exhibit — Gordon Daines, Cory Nimer, Duane Wilson, & Eric Howard
35 Years of Sophie: Sustaining Academic Projects within the Library — Adam Griggs & Mikayla Bishop
The Shelf Revolution: A Case Study in Genrefication and Custom Call Numbers — Tia Haycock & Scott Aylett
Faculty Focused, Student Supported: Managing Faculty Research in your Institutional Repository — Ellen Amatangelo, Kelsey Bradshaw, Allejah Young, & Jillian Peterson
The Science of Reading in Practice: Boosting Circulation and Satisfaction Through Curated Literacy Kits — Nancy Moos & Miriam Gersdorf
Getting the Hang of It: Integrating and Enhancing Art Exhibits in Your Library — Holly Grierson
Enhancing Genealogy Research with FamilySearch — Kori Robbins, Cherie Bush, Sandra Joseph
Meet REFORMA Utah — Leonides Ortiz, David Bird, Christina Walsh, Laura Marone, Nancy Funes
Becoming the Hero of Your Own Story: Empowering Youth Through Hope and Resilience — Elysia Butler & Heidi Taylor
NCSL.org: Convenient Access to State Health Legislation — George Stawley; Co-Authors, non-presenters: Dana Abbey, & David Brown
Engagement Specialist, Network of the National Library of Medicine Region 4
As an engagement specialist with the Network of the National Library of Medicine, George Strawley, M.L.I.S., works on funding and training aimed at increasing and enhancing access to reliable health information. George is a member of the NNLM Telehealth Interest Group. He works for... Read More →
Public Services Librarian, North Logan City Library
I am deeply passionate about Youth Services and strongly believe in centering youth voices in everything we do. I value opportunities that actively engage teens and empower them to share their ideas and opinions about library programs, collections, and how we can better serve them... Read More →
Director of the Journal of Western Archives; Curator, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University; Journal of Western Archives
J. Gordon Daines III is the Research and Instruction Services archivist and the Yellowstone National Park collection curator in the L. Tom Perry Special Collections at Brigham Young University. He also serves as the director of the Journal of Western Archives.
Youth Services Librarian, Salt Lake County Library System
I am a youth services librarian specializing in programs for school-age children. I love art and STEM programs and anything that encourages children to read!
Cory Nimer is the University Archivist at the L. Tom Perry Special Collections at Brigham Young University. He received a Masters of Arts degree in History from Sonoma State University and a Masters of Library and Information Science degree from San Jose State University, and he is... Read More →
Kori Robbins, AG®, manages the team that oversees FamilySearch affiliates, which include libraries, museums, and archives. She holds a BA in Family History/Genealogy from Brigham Young University and is accredited in research in England. Alongside her husband, H.J., she tag teams... Read More →
Employee development increases capacity, communication, and growth within any organization. Transferable skills are versatile competencies like communication, leadership, and time management that empower employees to succeed in current roles and future careers. Drawing on practical examples and interactive activities, the session highlights how transferable skills can be effectively taught and applied, especially in student or temporary positions. Since many student employees won’t pursue careers in libraries, training them in transferable skills equips them for success in diverse fields and prepares them for job interviews. Additionally, involving employees in skill-based training helps them recognize their strengths, build confidence, and develop leadership abilities. This approach enhances morale and fosters a culture of growth, positioning student workers as valuable contributors to library teams and beyond.
Acquisitions and Collection Analysis Librarian, Brigham Young University
Rebecca Walton is head of the Acquisitions Department of the BYU Library and co-convener of the ACRL ULS Mid-Level Managers Discussion Group. After 11 years as an individual contributor and 3 years as a section manager, she stepped into the role of a department head in 2020, in the... Read More →
Wednesday May 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am MDT Cascade C
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Is there a superhero looking back at you? There should be! If you have any doubts, this session will help you feel the power of your profession. The first part of the session will focus on the image of the librarian in a vast array of media and over millennia. While the duties of a librarian have expanded and even altered over time, the core value of providing free and equitable access to information has remained constant. The dedication to this guiding principle sets the foundation for superhero status and needs to be celebrated!
However, burnout is a real issue among librarians and concerns for the profession have reached new levels. Tighter budgets and always being asked to do more with less can be deflating and exhausting. Not to mention the fact that it is getting more difficult than ever before to balance work and home life.
There will be a panel discussion about learning to deal with the pressures of being a librarian in today’s world, explore ways to develop a greater appreciation for the library profession, and keep a renewed interest in the job without losing yourself along the way.
This workshop will teach attendees how to be a superhero to both internal and external library patrons. We will take a closer look at how attendees can transform themselves into the librarian they want to be. And we will celebrate this unique creation, the librarian.
I worked for the Utah State Archives for six years and over 29 for the Salt Lake City Public Library, so information really is my business and history is my passion. Those who provide free access to information are essential heroes in any age.
Reference Librarian, Washington County Libary System
Lorie grew up in Northeastern Utah and began her library career there after attending college at Southern Utah University. After which she obtained her MLIS from the University of North Texas.
She is now the Reference Librarian at the Washington Branch Library in Washingto... Read More →
Wednesday May 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am MDT Cascade D
Karen Bowling (gen X) and Aubrey Durrant (gen Z) from the Smithfield Public Library will walk you through our history of social media at the library. From our initial struggles to our current successes, showing you how we leveled up our online presence and how it’s helped our library reach out to our community and beyond. We’ll offer practical design knowledge and strategic examples that can help you build on the social media you’re already doing. And we’ll give you ways to keep it cheap or free! Part I: Humble Beginnings - Resources for Getting Started Facebook and Instagram: using these platforms for success. Meta Business Suite: a visual tour for new users to organize their content. Canva: graphic design made simple. Part II: Level Up Your Look Slideshow/Tutorial: Graphic design basics for librarians. Solidifying your brand: making your library unique, recognizable, and appealing. Part III: Build a Community Follow, like, collaborate, tag, repost, comment. Show the behind-the-scenes of YOUR work - relate with your audience. Video/content examples from libraries we love. Part IV: Social Media Safety. Creating a social media policy to protect the library. Password safety. Watching for suspicious activity. Keeping posts and interactions relevant to your goals.
As materials created by AI continue to flood the marketplace, it is inevitable that librarians will encounter materials generated wholly or partially by AI. Libraries can prepare for this reality with selection guidelines and collection development policies that intentionally address AI generated materials. In addition to discussing AI guidelines and policies, we will share tips on identifying and evaluating AI generated materials. After attending this session, attendees will have a better understanding of key issues regarding AI generated materials and considerations that need to be weighed in regards to their collection. Armed with this knowledge, they will feel empowered to make decisions regarding AI generated materials for their own library.
Many of us only think about the importance of strategic communication in times of crisis, but creating a strategy for library communication is a key tool in connecting meaningfully with patrons. In this session, we'll discuss principles and strategies for communicating with patrons on a variety of issues, diving into real-life examples of success (and failure) and discussing the ultimate impact of successful library communication.
Finding federal government information is often a considerable challenge, yet understanding the history of the Government Publishing Office, as the largest publisher in the world, can aid researchers in finding relevant information. This history predates its official formation in 1860 and includes the transition to a digital world. Historians and researchers will find in this presentation some of the tools and strategies to assist in their quest for government information.
Understanding how children's brains grow and develop is a crucial part of early literacy. But for children who have undergone trauma or toxic stress, regular brain growth can be altered, leading to developmental delays. We will share insight into trauma informed practices at story time and other early literacy-based library programs. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, we will share practical strategies for creating safe, inclusive, and supportive library environments for young patrons.
The written word plays a role of significant illumination in the human experience. Those who work in the world of books are in a position to enlighten, lift, and encourage. Beth Brower shares a collection of thoughts about the importance of this work—be it only the striking of a momentary match or helping to light a torch that grows into a personal beacon.
Beth Brower is a writer. Immersed in the current volume of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Beth has also published The Q, The Beast of Ten, and a trilogy entitled The Books of Imirillia. She writes a monthly St. Crispian’s Gazette based on characters from her Emma M. Lion... Read More →
In 2013, University of Utah’s Marriott Library purchased its first 3D printer. Over the past decade, the Creativity & Innovation Services department expanded 3D offerings to include self-service 3D printers, an online 3D printing service, 3D scanning tools, and training materials for all of the above. In this session, we will present a timeline on the development and deployment of each service, provide quantitative data about user demographics and use trends over the past decade, and relate qualitative data and anecdotal stories about the meaningful impacts these 3D-related services have had on University of Utah affiliates, curricula, and research.
Libraries play a vital role in preserving the stories of their communities. This session will explore practical ways to develop or enhance a local and family history section in your library—whether you're just getting started or looking to expand existing resources. Learn how to identify valuable local materials, collaborate with community partners, and create engaging displays and programming that connect patrons to their heritage. We'll also introduce the FamilySearch Affiliate Library program as one optional pathway to enrich your library’s genealogical offerings. Affiliate status provides access to expanded digital collections and tools that support family history research, but it’s just one of many strategies available to libraries of all sizes and types. Presenters will share examples, templates, and tips from libraries that have successfully built history collections tailored to their communities. You’ll leave with actionable ideas to help your library become a trusted resource for historical discovery and preservation—no matter your starting point. This session is ideal for librarians interested in strengthening their library’s role in local history, genealogy, and community engagement.
Kori Robbins, AG®, manages the team that oversees FamilySearch affiliates, which include libraries, museums, and archives. She holds a BA in Family History/Genealogy from Brigham Young University and is accredited in research in England. Alongside her husband, H.J., she tag teams... Read More →
Wednesday May 20, 2026 1:15pm - 2:05pm MDT Hobble Creek
A balanced Library collection provides windows, mirrors and sliding doors. However, traditional weeding practices, primarily based on circulation statistics, often erase underrepresented voices. The best way to combat homogenous collections is to perform regular diversity audits! Michael Biggs and Lexi Johnson have collaborated on auditing SLCPL Collections for diverse authors several times over the years and are ready to share the results of their research and how these audits tied directly into balanced collection management.
This hands-on session introduces a spreadsheet-based tool and suggested practices for auditing your collections for diversity of authors, focusing on race & ethnicity, authors with disabilities, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Bring a laptop to follow along and start your own audit.
Feedback is essential to professional growth—but it’s also one of the hardest skills to practice well. In this session, we’ll explore ways to both give and receive feedback to strengthen communication, trust, and collaboration. Participants will learn ways to accept feedback about their institution, leadership, or individual performance without defensiveness—focusing on trends, context, and growth opportunities. We’ll also discuss how to give feedback that is direct, specific, and genuinely constructive.
Libraries have always been more than books. As we move into the future it will be more important than ever that we embrace being a library of things, including modern makerspace equipment including 3D printing, Laser Cutters, Electronics Projects, Woodworking Tools, Sewing, AV equipment, and Others. Since 2018 the Libraries in Southern Utah have provided tools and training to their patrons in their makerspaces across the 8 libraries in the Southern Utah Library system. This session will describe the process of supporting maker tools and equipment across multiple libraries and how to teach patrons to run the equipment themselves.
The Smithfield Public Library has been partnering with our city Arts Council since April 2024, when six (or seven) strangers met in a small conference room at City Hall. Our partnership has now resulted in two seasons of a summer concert series and an immersive Christmas Storybook Festival, as well as several other fun events, a bunch of new friendships, and a ton of high fives!
Learn how a handful of willing residents have built a thriving network of community volunteers who are interested in improving the quality of life in their city, with their once-neglected public library at the center. We’ll discuss how to organize public events on a shoestring budget using free online tools and how to cultivate new relationships with a wide range of arts communities. Our successes (and failures) will inspire you to walk out of the library and tap into the energy and expertise of your town as you create fun and exciting cultural events for your community.
Hello! I'm a director of a small-town library in Cache Valley, and I work with a staff of ten amazing people! Four of us are at ULA this year! In a previous life, I worked for the Utah State Library as a bookmobile librarian for 16 years. I loved it very much but I love being a director... Read More →
Wednesday May 20, 2026 1:15pm - 2:05pm MDT Soldier Creek
In 2023, Grand County Public Library opened a Teen Center off-site. This move has resulted in the amazing opportunity to provide teen services while allowing teens to behave like teens. We've been able to partner with numerous community organizations to reach an often-overlooked (and often unappreciated) population. During this session we will discuss the logistics of making it happen and what we’ve accomplished in the last few years.
I have been the Director of the Grand County Public Library in Moab, UT since 2007 although I have worked at the library for almost 24 years. I have a MLS from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor’s in Human Resources. I have lived in Utah all my life (except for a brief... Read More →
“Your Librarian Is In!” In this session, two subject librarians share our experiences of holding office hours out of the library, on site where our liaison departments are housed. We discuss the origins, benefits, challenges, and related statistics of the arrangement. We feel that holding office hours outside of the library has improved our services and strengthened our relationship with faculty.
Betsy Hopkins is the Nursing Librarian at Brigham Young University. She is interested in the use of metrics in research evaluation and preparing students to succeed in today's complex information environment. She has curated exhibits on Florence Nightingale and early Utah women in... Read More →
Economics, Finance & Data Librarian, Brigham Young University
I am the Economics, Finance, and Data Librarian at Brigham Young University. I started my current role in the fall of 2021 and love the opportunity to work with and help students and faculty. I also love getting to work and constantly learn with great colleagues at BYU and throughout... Read More →
Wednesday May 20, 2026 2:30pm - 2:55pm MDT Cascade B
Utah State University (USU) Libraries has recently created a Metadata Application Profile (MAP) to successfully map and crosswalk metadata fields in DigitalCommons to DublinCore and DataCite. We created this MAP to help authors and librarians better understand our records in DigitalCommons; this MAP ensures consistency and readability with other Institutional Repositories. In this presentation, we will cover our process for creating a MAP, the relevant context for creating a MAP, and how we plan to implement this MAP to remediate metadata and increase accessibility of our materials.
Librarians from USU and BYU will share their experiences with student employees in libraries & archives. Attendees will learn how we’ve worked with hourly employees, interns, graduate students, and more. We’ll talk about the importance of experiential learning to student success and how to grow the understanding and appreciation of archives and librarianship in Utah.
In an era of record-low trust in media and the proliferation of "AI slop," many library patrons have moved beyond healthy skepticism into information nihilism—the belief that because some information is biased, no information can be trusted. This shift presents a unique challenge for librarians: How do we teach critical thinking and evaluation skills without accidentally fueling deep-seated cynicism?
Join our panel of experts as we explore the "messiness of expertise" and share actionable coaching strategies to move patrons from the "everything is fake" mindset toward a productive hopeful skepticism. We will discuss:
Navigating High-Tension Conversations: Strategies for engaging patrons who reject traditional sources of authority.
Instructional Frameworks: Evaluating the effectiveness of frameworks like SIFT in the age of generative AI.
Empowerment over Despair: Helping patrons embrace ambiguity and uncertainty without throwing all journalists and scientists "under the bus."
Cross-Disciplinary Partnerships: Suggestions for leveraging expertise from experts and colleagues to combat both naive acceptance or nihilistic opposition.
Attendees will leave with practical conversation strategies and resources to help their communities reclaim a sense of agency in a complex information landscape.
Hear about ideas, challenges, creative solutions, and successes for public library outreach to elementary and secondary schools! We will provide general overviews and best practices for school outreach, including Salt Lake County Library's systemwide programs and how they can be scaled down for small library systems. We will also explore the challenge of getting in the door and making connections with schools in your area.
Explore how the Pleasant Grove Library has created successful programs to meet the community's changing needs. Using three case studies we will discuss how we discovered the gap in our programming, what need the program is filling, and how it was developed and adjusted.
Orem Library's focus on inspiring lifelong learning and creating enriching opportunities has led us to create a monthly storytime for patrons in grades k-2. This presentation will reflect on our best practices and learning opportunities over the past three years of stories, songs, STEAM, yoga, games, and critical thinking in the hopes that other libraries might consider how to provide regular programming for the kids in their communities who are too big for storytime and too young for tween book clubs.
The Marriott Library (University of Utah) has three media production studios as part of their ProtoSpace emerging technologies and digital scholarship hub. This presentation is part of an article under submission entitled User scheduled media production studios in academic libraries: A case study. This is a follow up article to my publication: Podcasting services in academic libraries: A case study. https://doi.org/10.1080/10691316.2021.1897722.
The Marriott Library has two Podcast Booths and a Simple Video Studio. Students, faculty, and staff can reserve these spaces for audio and video production. This presentation will discuss use statistics, the types of projects scheduled, and charts on how often and when each studio is in use.
While the purpose of each studio is media production, the data results show a variety of non-media projects taking place supporting coursework, teaching, outreach, research, and personal projects.
In addition to the use data, this talk will discuss suggestions for physical studio creation and affordable equipment lists. The purpose is to generate podcasts and film videos in any library type maker space location/environment.
The BYU library recently did a gallery exhibition on the renovation of the Salt Lake Temple. This project took roughly three years to plan. It included four main curators but also a large variety of organizations, student contributors, and stakeholders as we navigated legal concerns, developed content, sought permissions, and accessed materials.
In this session we will take you through the challenges, rewards, and lessons learned as we completed this project; including: o Timeline issues o Permissions, Legal Concerns o Identifying Stakeholders o Asking for what you need and what you want
Eighty-one percent of employees nationally report that they will look for future workplaces that support mental health. The Eccles Health Sciences Library at the University of Utah, in cooperation with the campus WellU program, encourages wellness among its faculty and staff with innovative “challenges” offering an insurance incentive for activities that promote good mental health. The programs also encourage good working relationships among colleagues. We will provide background information on mental health among employees, detail the library’s efforts, and discuss lessons learned from the campaigns.
Engagement Specialist, Network of the National Library of Medicine Region 4
As an engagement specialist with the Network of the National Library of Medicine, George Strawley, M.L.I.S., works on funding and training aimed at increasing and enhancing access to reliable health information. George is a member of the NNLM Telehealth Interest Group. He works for... Read More →
Help shape the future of the Utah Library Association. In this interactive session, participants will reflect on current challenges, share ideas, and collaborate in small groups to “remix” those ideas into actionable possibilities. Input gathered will inform ULA programming and future conferences, with a focus on building stronger structures, deeper connections, and collective impact across Utah libraries.
This panel brings together librarians from academic and public libraries to provide a broad perspective on outreach efforts. We define outreach as connecting with library users outside the physical space of the library or outside the ways that library users typically interact with the library. As such, outreach is a huge undertaking. In this panel we will focus on how building connections and working relationships with individuals, organizations, and groups both within and outside the library is central to successful outreach efforts. Attendees at the panel will gain practical tips for who to partner with and how to begin and strengthen those working relationships.
I started working at the Provo City library in 2000 as an Adult & Teen Reference librarian. After over twenty years at the reference desk, I moved over to being an Outreach librarian and I am so happy I did. I absolutely love taking the library out into the community! I look forward... Read More →
Economics, Finance & Data Librarian, Brigham Young University
I am the Economics, Finance, and Data Librarian at Brigham Young University. I started my current role in the fall of 2021 and love the opportunity to work with and help students and faculty. I also love getting to work and constantly learn with great colleagues at BYU and throughout... Read More →
Social Innovation in Libraries explores how libraries harness their role as civic connectors to creatively and inclusively address community challenges. By collaborating with local organizations, entrepreneurs, and residents, libraries serve as laboratories for testing new approaches to digital equity, literacy, workforce development, and community wellbeing.
Today’s libraries are redefining innovation—not through collections alone, but through people-centered practices that foster connection, experimentation, and belonging. As welcoming “third places,” libraries offer opportunities for socializing, learning, and creativity, where librarians act as guides and facilitators of change.
This session will highlight key types of social innovation in libraries, including participation, outreach, partnership, learning, and creative making. Participants will explore foundational principles of social innovation, strategies for communicating (“selling”) the concept within their organizations, and share their own innovative practices. Together, we will celebrate the library’s evolving role as a social innovator and consider implications for future library leadership.
Quality metadata is vital to the patron experience, but metadata creation is only one part of the metadata lifecyle. Patrons may not know what metadata maintenance, enhancement, and remediation are, but they do notice when they need to be done. In this panel, five librarians from BYU’s Cataloging and Metadata department will discuss the steps they have taken to upgrade the patron experience at their library through improved metadata. This panel will describe how to evaluate metadata, create and prioritize projects, involve student workers, and collaborate with other library departments to improve the patron's experience finding and using library materials
Katie Yeo is the 19th and 20th Century Americana Catalog Librarian at the Brigham Young University Library in Utah. She is also a former solo librarian at the Utah State Hospital Library. She is passionate about topics such as metadata accessibility and inclusive cataloging.
Utah has also been one of the more active states in legislating for the removal of books from school libraries. Signed in 2024, Utah’s HB 29 requires that a book be immediately removed from all school libraries if 3 districts deem the book as containing sensitive content which has led to the removal of 19 titles from school libraries. This dramatic rise in censorship begs researchers to ask questions about the feelings and motivations of those involved towards censorship. We need to answer these questions with the hope of finding answers that can bring disparate voices together so that the development of shared values can help us learn to work together. In this presentation we will present conclusions from a qualitative research study about Utah parents' thoughts and experiences with the removal of books from school libraries. This study is helping us to identify parental involvement in and awareness of what constitutes a need for censorship in libraries and homes as we critically engage with a variety of opinions on the validity of book removals to determine what influences, personal or received, create the environment in which we find ourselves.
I have been a librarian in the Harold B Lee Library at BYU for 28 years. I've served in many professional capacities in library organizations including the American Library Association, the Utah Library Association, and the Children's Literature Association of Utah. I have written... Read More →
Wednesday May 20, 2026 3:30pm - 4:20pm MDT Cascade C
