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 ARSL 2025 Program DescriptionsPlease Note: This is a draft schedule and is subject to change. Additional programs and updates will be added in the coming weeks. For full program descriptions, please refer to this document. Jump to: Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Virtual Wednesday, September 17Morning Preconference Workshops | 8:30 AM-12:30 PMBuilding Bridges: Constructive Dialogue in Small Library Communities Courtney Breese, Director Emeritus, National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation Data Storytelling: Using Data to Share Your Library's Story Sara Richter, Library Technician II, Lonsdale Public Library Afternoon Preconference Workshops | 2:00-5:00 PMDitch Strategic Plans, Create Useful Strategies Amie Pilla, Library CEO, Berthoud Community Library District Health Reference Express Jamia Williams, Assistant Librarian, NNLM Training Office Meet Me at the Library: Building Trust & Fostering Connection Shamichael Hallman, Director of Civic Engagement and Economic Opportunity, Urban Library Council Thursday, September 18Morning Sessions I | 9:45 AM-10:45 AMExploring Local History with the Library of Congress Cheryl Lederle, Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives, Educational Resources Specialist, Library of Congress Reducing Substance Abuse through Community Learning & Bibliotherapy Noah Lenstra, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina Greensboro Rising to the (Book) Challenge: Lessons from the Battles Over Louisiana Libraries Sonnet Ireland, Director, Washington Parish Library Libraries as Community Hubs: Welcoming & Integrating New Americans in Small and Rural America Claire Holba, Immigration Policy Analyst, Niskanen Center How to Make the Most of the ARSL Conference! Chantel Rindt, Director, Lillian Tear Library First Steps to Fundraising: How Every Library Can Build Support Jonna Ward, Founder and CEO, Library Support Network MARC 101: How Cataloging Can Spark a Circulation Surge Casandra Norin, Library Director, Seward County Community College Library Morning Sessions II | 11:30 AM-12:30 PMEnhancing Your Library’s Digital Presence for Greater Community Impact Danielle Herriman, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Okotoks Public Library Homesteading at Your Library Erica Moses, Library Director, Genesee Area Library Big Impact, Small Budget: After-School Ideas that Cost Next to Nothing Chelsea Price, Library director, Meservey Public Library Imagine IF: A Game-Based Introduction to Intellectual Freedom Michelle Reed, Director of Programs, Library Futures From AI to Financial Scams: Preparing Rural Seniors for Emerging Technologies Jason Young, Assistant Professor, University of Washington How to be Kind Without Losing Your Mind (or Compromising Your Values) Jane Gagne, Learning and Staff Development Supervisor, Suffolk Public Library Strategic Planning from the Ground Up Maria Kramer, Library Manager, Alamosa Public Library Respectful Representation: Acquiring & Displaying Native American Art & Artifacts in Your Library Cassandra Osterloh, Tribal Libraries Program Coordinator, New Mexico State Library Another Audit: Evaluating Your Library's Accessibility Abi Avery, Assistant Library Director, Fennville District Library Pop-Up Program | 12:35 PM-12:55 PMYou Are Here: Mapping your Community Jessica Ansari, Assistant Director, Nederland Community Library Pop-Up Program | 2:20 PM-2:40 PMTools for Helping Older Adults with Health Questions George Strawley, Associate Librarian / Engagement Specialist, University of Utah / Network of the National Library of Medicine Afternoon Sessions I | 2:45-3:45 PMCultivating Community in a Divided & Disconnected World Nick Shimmin, Adult Services Librarian, North Liberty Library Open Data for Libraries Toolkit: Grant Interrupted Jennifer Ashby, Library Director, Asotin County Library Bring Literature to Life: Improv Games, Readers’ Theater, Relay Races & More Anna Szczepanski, Colleague on Call Consultant, Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC) Roundtable: Working with Volunteers Speaking with Legislators: Making Your Voice Heard Ashley Stewart, Campaign Strategist, EveryLibrary Soft Skills Can Be Hard: Interpersonal Skills in Your Library Kristi Chadwick, Director, Ballston Community Public Library How Many Hats Am I Wearing Today? Practical Tips for Filling Multiple Roles Melanie Ollett, Director, Licia & Mason Beekley Community Library Spark Talks: Let’s Get Digital Amber Dierking, Team Lead: Collections Services, and founding member of the Steering Committee, Queer Liberation Library Meetups I | 4:15-4:45 PMDirectors, Managers & Administrators Meetup Library Workers of Color Meetup Readers' Advisory Meetup Neurodivergent Library Workers Meetup Meetups II | 5:00-5:30 PMSolo-Ish Librarians Happy Hour LGBTQ+ Library Workers Meetup Youth & Teen Services Meetup Adult Services Meetup Friday, September 19Morning Sessions I | 10:00 AM-11:00 AMSlow Down to Show Up: Building Connection Through Intentional Gathering Jennifer "JP" Lee Peterson, Artful Gatherer, Facilitator of Community Connection & Learning, Seattle, WA RISE Programming: (R)eally (I)ncredible (S)imple & (E)asy Julie Elmore, Library Director, Oakland City - Columbia Township Public Library You Are Not Alone: Raising a Support Network & Finding Resources Drew Wichterman, Library Director, Pickaway County Library (ARSL Advocacy Committee Co-Chair) How to Library: Helping Patrons Unlock the Hidden Secrets of Your Library Anne Booker, Assistant Director, Central Skagit Library District Facing Homelessness: A Rural Library Perspective Bree Drapa, Director, Westford Public Library Ditch the Dread in HR Miriam Sisson, Director, North Douglas Library District Navigating New Building Projects Cari Cusick, Director, Newton Public Library Fill Your Brain Full of Books: Readers' Advisory Tips Rebecca Vnuk, Executive Director, LibraryReads Pop-Up Program | 11:05 AM-11:25 AMFree Audiobooks & Large Print Books for Your Low-Vision Patrons Alice O'Reilly, Chief, Collections Division, National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress Morning Sessions II | 11:30 AM-12:30 AMSpark Talks: Services Emily Ott, Marketing Specialist and Teen Services, St. Marys Community Public Library The Night Shift: Adult Engagement After Hours Melissa Duncan, Community Engagement Coordinator, Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System Mushrooms & Mindsets: Teaching Sustainable Food Skills at Your Library Skylar Dennis, Technology & Event Specialist, Destin Library Connecting With Your Community: Collaboration Is Key! Kristin Smith (Kristy), Director, Scottdale Public Library Library Privacy Guardians: Protecting Patron Confidentiality in Small Communities Chelsea Coleman, Colleague on Call, Colorado Library Consortium Navigating Perimenopause in the Library Workplace: On Top of the Hill, Not Over It Suzanne Macaulay, Program Director, OWWL Library System Good Morning, How Are You? Building Better Staff Morale One Greeting at a Time Wil'Lani A. Turner, Circulation & Career Services Coordinator, Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System MARC 210 to 300: Intermediate Cataloging—Fast Casandra Norin, Library Director, Seward County Community College Library Pop-Up Program | 12:35 PM-12:55 PMPaws for Healing: Integrating Therapy Animals into Library Mental Health Support Tara Jankowski, Adult Services Manager, Worcester Public Library Afternoon Sessions I | 3:15 PM-4:15 PMSocial Media Show & Tell! Sara Richter, Library Technician II, Lonsdale Public Library There’s Always Something Happening at the Library: Becoming a Daily Destination for Your Community Melanie Weigel, Library Director, Forsyth Public Library You Are that Child's First Librarian! Krystal Groneman, Program Coordinator, Canyon Area Library The Revolution Will Not Be Alphabetized: The History & Future of Good Trouble in Libraries Allyson Malik, Library Director, Oak Bluffs Public Library Handling Those Who Test Our-shelves & Sanity Paige Crawford, Librarian, Shawano County Library Spark Talks: Plan & Prepare Dr. Greg Carter, Library Director, West Plains Public Library You Can't Read Them All: Harnessing Technology for Readers’ Advisory Wendy Moulton, Director, Abilene Public Library Saturday, September 20Morning Sessions I | 8:30 AM-9:30 AMRising from Afterthought to Anchor Institution: Reversing the Small-Town Big-City Pipeline Keaton Toney, Library Manager III/Branch Manager, Thomasville Public Library Tech Trends: Promoting a Technology-Forward Future Jennie Rose Halperin, Executive Director, Library Futures Spark Talks: Programs Janine Jamison-Miller, Coordinator of Training & Development, Arkansas State Library Empowering Seniors in Small & Rural Communities to Learn, Connect &Thrive Melissa Shenk, Library Branch Manager, Horry County Memorial Library-Green Sea Floyds From Rotary to the Local Bar: Unexpected Allies in Library Outreach Tara Filiatreau, Assistant Director, Nelson County Public Library Privacy for Small Libraries Tess Wilson, Deputy Director, Library Freedom Project Imposter Syndrome, Part Deux: I Had It & I Got Rid of It! Amanda Doherty, Director, Mt. Pulaski Public Library District Highway to Hell: The Good Intentions Journey Michael Hull, Executive Director, Southeast Oklahoma Library System Morning Sessions II | 10:00 AM-11:00 AMBeyond the Book: Digital Censorship in U.S. Libraries Michelle Reed, Director of Programs, Library Futures Abundant Advocacy: Overcoming Scarcity for Our Libraries Betsy Gomez, Assistant Director, ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Empowering Communities Through Partnerships Tanner D Ames, Library Technician, Humboldt County Library - NV Inclusive Data Practices Through Engaging Rural Communities Brenda Hornsby Heindl, Branch Manager, Liberty Public Library, Liberty, NC (Don't) Do All the Things: The Importance of Delegation Kristi Chadwick, Director, Ballston Community Public Library Books, Policies & People: A Training Adventure in Collections & Complaints Chelsea Coleman, Colleague on Call, Colorado Library Consortium Making History: Documenting Your Community’s Story as It Unfolds Anna Trammell, Program Manager, Community Archiving, Internet Archive Roundtable: Tech Services & IT Virtual, On-Demand SessionsNo Longer the Cherry on Top: Giving Great Service Jamie Matczak, Education Consultant, Wisconsin Valley Library Service Return-on-Investment for Rural Public Libraries: Overcoming Difficulties in Translating Services into Dollar Values Brian Real, Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky Building Joy-Centric Libraries: An Experiential Approach Rebecca Hass, Programming and Outreach Manager, Anne Arundel County Public Library Transition Ready: Creating a Reference Guide for the Next Library Director Wendy Moulton, Director, Abilene Public Library Rural Kentucky Case Studies of Libraries as Social & Health Resource Hubs Margaret McGladrey, Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky College of Public Health HEAL at the Library: Health Eating & Active Living with Some Help from Our Friends Noah Lenstra, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro The Traveling Early Literacy Library: Serving In-Home Daycares Where They Are Emily Lloyd, Youth Services Librarian, Northfield Public Library Stars, Stripes & Science: Citizen Science in Your Library for America 250 Tara Cox, Director of Partnerships, SciStarter Making Is Messy: Unpacking the Problems of Practice in Library Makerspaces Cindi Place, Managing Director, Crooked Tree District Library Rising Above Toxicity: Overcoming Workplace Trauma & Rebuilding Trust Susan Kromrie, Assistant Director, Trails Regional Library Reaching Out to Residents Who Are Not (Yet) Library Users Jackilyn Roseberry, Director, Fremont Area District Library ABLE to LiFT: Introducing Library Foundational Training Annie Gaines, Continuing Education Consultant, Idaho Commission for Libraries You Can't Read Them All: Harnessing Technology for Readers’ Advisory Wendy Moulton, Director, Abilene Public Library |
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© Copyright 2026 The Association for Rural & Small Libraries. All rights reserved.
© Copyright 2026 The Association for Rural & Small Libraries. All rights reserved.
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