Loading…
Welcome to the 2025 Tennessee Library Association Conference #tnla25! We’re glad you’re here. Build your schedule below, and be sure to check the More Info page for additional conference details.

to bookmark your favorites and sync them to your phone or calendar.
Type: Program Session clear filter
Wednesday, April 9
 

8:30am EDT

Back to the Basics: Law (Foundations) for Libraries
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 11
Dive into essential legal knowledge for today’s school librarians. This session unpacks Public Chapter 782, copyright basics, and the First Amendment’s impact on library spaces, providing insights into balancing access with legal responsibilities. Attendees will gain a foundational understanding of the law as it applies to libraries, empowering them to create informed, inclusive, and legally compliant environments.
Speakers
avatar for Erika Long

Erika Long

Guest Presenter, Not Yo Mama's Librarian
Meet Erika Long, the certified school librarian with a passion for all things books and a knack for making library magic happen! As a school library consultant and presenter, she's not just a bookworm - she's a leader in the world of libraries. Erika has rocked various leadership... Read More →
XL
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 11
  Program Session

8:30am EDT

Beyond Funding: Outreach Approaches for Grant Funded Projects
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 2
Grants provide vital support to libraries and archives engaged in archival description and digitization work, and granting and re-granting agencies require publicity and outreach for these projects. Unique collections and contexts present different opportunities and challenges to sharing these projects and generating engagement with patrons, fellow professionals, and other interested communities. Panelists from the Knox County Public Library, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and the Tennessee State Library and Archives will discuss recent and ongoing externally funded projects and offer a range of perspectives on planning and conducting impactful outreach.
Speakers
MC
SK
JM
SB
KW
CR
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 2
  Program Session

8:30am EDT

Bridging the Divide: Information & Digital Literacy Partnerships to Reach Underserved Communities in TN
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 10
University of Tennessee, Knoxville Libraries has worked in partnership with UT Extension to create new avenues of building information and digital literacy skills in communities throughout the state that have historically (and presently) had limited access to broadband. This presentation will talk about how the partnership works, how it expands opportunities for community members to access information and digital literacy trainings beyond the walls of their libraries, and how a train-the-trainer model can relieve the burden on already strained libraries in meeting the needs of their communities.
Speakers
avatar for Maggie Albro

Maggie Albro

Agriculture & Natural Resources Librarian; Interim Assistant Head - Health, Wellness, & Professional Programs Unit, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Hi, I'm Maggie! I'm the Agriculture & Natural Resources Librarian, Interim Assistant Head of the Health, Wellness, and Professional Programs Unit, and an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I work with students, faculty, and staff in UTK's Herbert College... Read More →
CB
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 10
  Program Session

8:30am EDT

How Can a Book and a Shot Save a Life
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 17
We have come up with a way to help patrons who are struggling with a domestic problem and wanting to get help or away and don't know how. The Angel shot popular in bars for domestic abuse or online dating gone wrong put into book form for patrons in our libraries. This Presentation explains how to implement and who to partner with to serve our Community.
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Harland

Elizabeth Harland

Assistant Director, Elma Ross Public Library
By day, I am the assistant Director of Elma Ross Public Library. I am also troop leader of Girl Scout troop 40083. I am also a dog Mom of three wonderful dogs, Keigen , Kara, and Casper. And a loving wife to my awesome husband. By night I am a karaoke singing, anime watching, book... Read More →
KH
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 17
  Program Session

8:30am EDT

No Longer Bound: Details of the Massive Periodical Deselection Project at East Tennessee
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 16
To make room for new innovative and technology-driven student spaces at the Charles C. Sherrod Library, faculty and staff decided to weed the bound periodical collection that is housed on the second floor of the building, store the remaining items in compact shelving, and renovate the now empty space by removing static and electronic compact shelving, replacing carpet, and updating paint. The space was converted for implementation of the Innovation Commons, a digital media and maker hub. Faculty and staff at Sherrod Library utilized GreenGlass for this project and elicited feedback from faculty inside and outside of the library regarding titles that were under consideration for deselection. This presentation will walk attendees through the process of deselecting 45,000+ periodicals and presenters will share their thoughts on GreenGlass and the effectiveness of this tool for a project of this size. Presenters will also provide an update on how this project has progressed since it was initiated in the spring of 2023.
Speakers
KL
BJ
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 16
  Program Session

8:30am EDT

We hear you! Helping Children Find Their Voice Through Library Programming
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 9
Designing children's programming with intentionality; honor the voices of young library users by modeling active listening while planning activities that allow children to question, explore, and participate in their own learning.
Speakers
avatar for Cindy Wilkey

Cindy Wilkey

Library Director, Audrey Pack Memorial Library
Library Director
Wednesday April 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 9
  Program Session

1:10pm EDT

"We're Not Boring, I Swear!": Strategies for Showing Off Your Local History and Special Collections
Wednesday April 9, 2025 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
From exhibits featuring 20th century cameras, genealogy research tea parties, and telling spooky local history stories on YouTube, the Chattanooga Public Library's Local History & Genealogy department has been doing it all to share their resources with their patrons. In this panel, Meagan Grim of the Chattanooga Public Library will be discussing how the Local History & Genealogy department has been able to show off their collections through exhibits, programming, and social media.
Speakers
MG
Wednesday April 9, 2025 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
  Program Session

1:10pm EDT

Advancing Consumer Health in Rural Public Libraries: A Strategic Partnership Between a Medical Library and a Regional Public Library
Wednesday April 9, 2025 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
Join us to explore a collaborative partnership between the University of Tennessee’s Preston Medical Library, which secured funding from the Network of National Libraries of Medicine Region 2, and the Clinch River Regional Library. This funding enabled public library staff to receive training on consumer health resources and provided curated sets of consumer health books for public libraries. Academic and regional library staff will describe the project and its funding sources, discuss the advantages and challenges of collaboration between public and academic libraries, and share best practices and potential improvements for future efforts.
Speakers
avatar for David Petersen

David Petersen

Assistant Professor, Research & Learning Services Librarian, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
David Petersen is Assistant Professor, Research & Learning Services Librarian at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine/University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. Before this, he served as Health Sciences Librarian at Florida Gulf Coast University in... Read More →
ME
MJ
MH
Wednesday April 9, 2025 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
  Program Session

1:10pm EDT

Building Stronger Communities: Effective Fundraising and Partnership Strategies for Small Communities
Wednesday April 9, 2025 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
Daphanie Gragg, Youth Services Librarian & Event Coordinator, would like to lead a session on effective fundraising and partnership strategies for small communities. The session will focus on leveraging local networks, grassroots efforts, and creative solutions to build lasting social impact. Attendees will learn how to identify and approach potential partners, raise funds without relying on traditional methods, and activate community resources. The session will address common challenges faced by smaller communities and provide practical tools for building capacity and strengthening relationships. My 15 years of experience in fundraising and community organizing make me uniquely qualified to lead this session. I am not opposed to partnering with others along this topic as well.
Speakers
avatar for Daphanie Gragg

Daphanie Gragg

Youth Services Librarian, Coffee County Manchester Public Library
Coffee County Manchester Public Library, Board Member for Imagination Library, and awarded the Manchester Chamber of Commerce Spotlight Member of the Year.
Wednesday April 9, 2025 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
  Program Session

1:10pm EDT

Check Your Alignment: Getting Back to Basics with Student Employment
Wednesday April 9, 2025 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
Training student employees to work in our libraries is a time-intensive process that must be repeated often, especially at 2-year institutions like Pellissippi State Community College. In this session, we will provide an overview of how we refined our student employment program to streamline training and create a partnership of librarian supervisors. We recently went back to basics by aligning student employee training to fit the needs of our four campus libraries and multiple departments, while also aligning to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competencies as required by our Human Resources Department’s student evaluation forms.
Speakers
ZB

Zoe Bastone

Reference Coordinator & Instruction Librarian, Assistant Professor, Pellissippi State Community College
SM
WB
AS
Wednesday April 9, 2025 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
  Program Session

1:10pm EDT

TEL Basics
Wednesday April 9, 2025 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
Andrea Zielke, TEL Administrator, will give an overview of TEL resources as well tips and tricks about how to use TEL for research and learning.  You'll leave this event knowing more about TEL resources, where to find marketing materials so you can share these resources with patrons at your library.
Speakers
AZ
Wednesday April 9, 2025 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
  Program Session

2:10pm EDT

Boundary Setting: Preventing Burnout in the Library Profession
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
Alex Sharp (Tennessee Wesleyan University), Jessica McClure (University of Memphis), and Cassandra Taylor (Nashville Public Library) will be showcasing data about public librarian's burnout during the book ban crisis. This data was accumulated by the Intellectual Freedom Committee and will be presented and discussed in an interactive panel with attendees. They will be discussing how to set healthy boundaries in many aspects of the library profession with patrons, students, and colleagues including book bans, budget cuts, and managerial responsibilities.
Speakers
avatar for Jessica McClure

Jessica McClure

Chair, Intellectual Freedom Committee, University of Memphis
avatar for Cassandra Taylor

Cassandra Taylor

Technology Engagement Center-Rutherford County Library System
Being a librarian has opened my eyes to a world where I fight to make a positive impact on my community and country every day.   My goal as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Chair is to provide equal access to everyone and educate patrons about the diverse community around... Read More →
AS
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
  Program Session

2:10pm EDT

Cataloging Fundamentals: Principles and Practices
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 17
Aligning with TNLA’s back to the basics theme, this session will review the tools and techniques of cataloging work, including descriptive cataloging (RDA), subject cataloging (classification and subject headings), authority control (authorized access points), the Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC) format, and, if time allows, a brief discussion of what many see and hope for the future of cataloging: BIBFRAME. Mostly, however, this session aims to offer attendees–be they brand new catalogers, seasoned catalogers wanting a refresher, or non-cataloging library workers wanting a better grasp of what this work entails–a practical introduction to the fundamental principles and practices of cataloging.
Speakers
TD

Tiffany Day

Metadata & Catalog Librarian, University Libraries, University of Memphis
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 17
  Program Session

2:10pm EDT

Hustle and Know: Hip Hop Programing, DIY, and Leaning Into Your Network
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
This presentation explains the development of two hip hop programs in the Memphis Public Library system: the Hip Hop Community Takeover and the Hip Hop Gen X: Class Reunion. These programs featured internationally recognized artists like Al Kapone, DJ Spanish Fly, Tommy Wright III, among others at small branch libraries. They were the result of coordinated efforts between colleges and universities, journalists, non-profits, clergy, and layperson experts brought together by a single librarian. We will examine how any librarian can lean into their network using lessons learned from the DIY (Do It Yourself) community to produce epic programming across The Music State.
Speakers
SG
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
  Program Session

2:10pm EDT

Measuring What Matters: a Back-to-basics Approach to Library Assessment
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
In this interactive session, two academic librarians will explore fundamental aspects of library assessment, guiding participants to measure and enhance their library services, regardless of library type. Aligning with the theme "Back to Basics," the session will cover essential assessment areas—such as collection analysis, user experience, and instructional impact—through collaborative activities and practical examples. Participants will engage in group discussions and hands-on planning, gaining valuable insights and tools for balancing quantitative and qualitative data. With actionable takeaways and renewed confidence, attendees will leave ready to apply meaningful, straightforward assessment techniques that communicate library value across diverse settings.
Speakers
avatar for Jenny Harris

Jenny Harris

Assessment and Information Literacy Librarian, Austin Peay State University
EN
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
  Program Session

2:10pm EDT

Resume and Interviewing Tips
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
Recruiters from Unum, one of Chattanooga's largest employers, will share tips on making your resume stand out from the crowd and ace your interview. We will also discuss Unum's job skills partnership with the Chattanooga Public Library.
Speakers
RG

Richard Groves

Chattanooga Public Library
MK
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
  Program Session

2:10pm EDT

Tennessee Government Information in the Digital Age
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
To address the increase of born digital publications from Tennessee state agencies, the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) and the University Libraries at the University of Memphis each implemented the Digital Commons platform to house these materials and make them searchable on the open Web. Though the two institutions share similar goals, their unique missions guide the development of their online repositories. Join us to learn more about how you and others can benefit from the growing content on TSLA’s Digital Tennessee and the University of Memphis Digital Commons space.
Speakers
avatar for Perveen Rustomfram

Perveen Rustomfram

Head of Government Publications, The University of Memphis
Perveen Rustomfram is the Head of Government Publications at the University Libraries, University of Memphis.
RR
Wednesday April 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
  Program Session

3:10pm EDT

Better with Friends: Navigating Common Challenges to Strengthen Your Friends Group
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
Libraries are better with supportive, functional Friends. From healing fractured relationships to convincing groups to fund projects to drafting MOUs, this session provides practical advice to address common pitfalls and pain points and to build a productive and peaceful Friends of the Library group.
Speakers
avatar for Kathy Dooley-Smith

Kathy Dooley-Smith

President, Friends of Tennessee Libraries
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
  Program Session

3:10pm EDT

Inventory: It's more than scanning!
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
Inventory projects may be important for collection management, but they often get overlooked, postponed, or given a scan-it-and-forget treatment. With a little collaboration inventory can be transformed into a powerful tool to identify and correct a wide variety of problems in the collection and dramatically improve accuracy and retrieval. This presentation provides an overview of current inventory practices at the University of Memphis McWherter Library: the who, the how, the why, and the positive impact inventory can have on the print collection
Speakers
TD

Tiffany Day

Metadata & Catalog Librarian, University Libraries, University of Memphis
KW
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
  Program Session

3:10pm EDT

Librarianship and Social Work: Complimentary, Not Competing, Professions for Society’s Benefit?
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
This presentation reports findings of a survey distributed to public libraries across most of the SE United States to explore perceptions of administrative library professionals (e.g., Directors, Branch Managers, etc.) primarily, along with other librarians who might respond on behalf of the administrators, regarding the phenomenon of public libraries hiring social workers to become part of library staffing. How do the administrators and librarians in these settings feel about the increasing presence of social workers in public libraries? To what extent do these professionals believe that this is a benefit to their respective communities? To what extent do these same persons think that having social workers as professional colleagues in their respective public libraries will affect their libraries’ operations?
Speakers
avatar for Frank Lambert

Frank Lambert

Middle Tennessee State University
Graduate Education in Librarianship
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
  Program Session

3:10pm EDT

Tackling to-Dos with Trusty Tools
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 17
Do you have that one thing on your to-do list that is always at the bottom? Do you push it back day after day, week after week, month after month? Do you ever even do it at all? The good news is that we all have those things! In an effort to put out the fires popping up all over the library, we all end up pushing the other things back, sometime indefinitely. But we can help each other figure out how to get back to basics and tackle the things we absolutely don't want to do. This session will be a hands-on collaboration with the Obion River Regional team and your fellow library staff from which you will walk away with tools to help you tackle those annoying things at the bottom of your list.
Speakers
JG
KM
JG
LR
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 17
  Program Session

3:10pm EDT

The Basics That Bend: Getting Back to Core Principles in Library Outreach
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
In an era of constant change, effective outreach programs are grounded in purposeful principles. This session explores how ACRL's newly adopted outreach competencies build on fundamental elements of successful academic library outreach: intentionality, assessment, and strategic relationship-building. Drawing on research from conceptual frameworks to practical applications, learn how understanding these core elements creates adaptable and sustainable programs. Perfect for both new and experienced outreach librarians, attendees will discover how mastering outreach fundamentals enables programs to demonstrate value while evolving to meet changing needs. Join us to explore getting "back to basics" while building for the future.
Speakers
NG

Nancy Gibson

Professor & Interim Coordinator of Access Services, Library
AP
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
  Program Session

3:10pm EDT

Words Matter: Exploring the Discourse of Book Bans in TN
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
Book censorship has been a polarizing issue in Tennessee. From the chilling effect of inflammatory rhetoric to claims that children are being sexualized by pornography, words uttered in these moments have been divisive, and state laws now restrict what people can read. Our research explores discourse both for and against book censorship in Tennessee to understand how and why narratives about book censorship were developed and reproduced, and how language in use influenced, changed, or reinforced public thinking about books and libraries in Tennessee.
Speakers
JK
SM
Wednesday April 9, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
  Program Session

4:10pm EDT

Don't Drop Kirby: How to Build a Teen Advisory Board from Nothing
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
Interested in incorporating more teen voices into your library’s offerings, but unsure where to begin? Do you dream of teen programming conceived and executed by teens, for teens? Teen Advisory Boards provide an opportunity for teens in your community to be empowered, build out-of-school friendships, and gain leadership experience, while your library gains authentic youth perspective and engagement. Participants will come away with practical strategies and best practices for facilitators interested in building a Teen Advisory Board from the ground up.
Speakers
MM
WS
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
  Program Session

4:10pm EDT

Getting Fit with the Library: How to Incorporate Fitness into Programming for Libraries of Every Size
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 17
Fitness programs are a great way to add some diversity to your calendar while also attracting fresh faces to your library. But the process of starting or implementing them can be daunting. We will explore different kinds of programs for a wide range of interest groups, as well as ways to implement and fund these programs for maximum impact. Be forewarned: we may do some moving ourselves!
Speakers
CS
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 17
  Program Session

4:10pm EDT

Growing Library Gardens
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
Are you ready to start a library garden, or would you like to learn more about it? Join this session to discover our garden programs at the Chattanooga Public Library. Learn how you can create a garden, the benefits of having one, and get ideas for programs. You'll also explore how to grow your garden program through partnerships and find resources to help you launch your gardening initiative.  
Speakers
BM
KG
Sponsors
CP
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
  Program Session

4:10pm EDT

Promoting School-Readiness Skills Through Storytime
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
Storytime can serve as one of the most profound learning experiences for children, allowing them to naturally comprehend their surroundings through story and play. By utilizing developmental milestones and the Tennessee Early Learning Developmental Standards (TNELDS), the Audrey Pack Memorial Library has successfully crafted a storytime program that facilitates a smooth transition for young learners into pre-K and kindergarten classrooms.
Speakers
avatar for Cindy Wilkey

Cindy Wilkey

Library Director, Audrey Pack Memorial Library
Library Director
AK
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
  Program Session

4:10pm EDT

The Lazy Librarian's Guide to Building a Culture of Reading: The Easiest Things You Can Do to Encourage Book Love for Children
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
You want to encourage your students or patrons to love reading--you really, really do. The thing is, you only have so many hours in a day, and responsibilities can be overwhelming at times. We'll talk through some of the easiest ways to increase students' interest in your library and in reading, and there will be time to share and learn from each other as to what programs have been implemented successfully in their libraries.
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
  Program Session

4:10pm EDT

The Librarian in the Mirror: Reflective Practice for Professional Growth
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
While librarians may ask ourselves if we are doing a good job, we often don’t reflect effectively on our actions or decisions we make as librarians. In this session, we will discuss the importance of reflection and participate in a guided activity using Gibbs Reflective Cycle to help us examine our professional choices; think critically about beliefs concerning patrons, programming, or instruction; and consider ways to emphasize or modify what we do in our libraries. While this session includes practicing reflection, no one is expected to share personal experiences; group discussions will focus on reflection in general.
Speakers
avatar for Julie Lewis

Julie Lewis

Emerging Technologies/Reference Librarian, Walters State Community College
I most enjoy designing instruction and curriculum for information literacy and integrating technology when it's helpful. I spend most of my time teaching research skills to classes and doing one-on-one research consultations.
Wednesday April 9, 2025 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
  Program Session
 
Thursday, April 10
 

8:30am EDT

Forgot Your Why: Shedding the Superhero Cape and Gaslighting Phrases
Thursday April 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 16
With dwindling budgets and rising anti-library sentiment, it is difficult to remain positive. We're all working harder because we believe in what we do, but burnout is also rising. We're asked to do more with less, and when we complain or raise our concerns, we're often told canned phrases, especially, "Remember your why." My presentation is both a love letter to our professions and a calling out of toxic behaviors and gaslighted thinking. We deserve to be treated as humans, not superheroes. So lets take off our capes and talk about what we need.
Speakers
avatar for Caroline Mickey

Caroline Mickey

Chair, EDI Committee, TASL
Caroline Mickey has been an elementary school librarian for six years. She has been on a personal mission to expand her horizons and learn about her privileges so that she can acknowledge and work to help others recognize theirs. Caroline was recently quoted in a Washington Post article... Read More →
Thursday April 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 16
  Program Session

8:30am EDT

Inter Library Loan: Basics and Etiquette
Thursday April 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 2
I will be presenting on the inner workings of ILL and how to do just the most basic things in the systems for ILL and Expak. How to "be kind, rewind" as it pertains to the books you send and return to other libraries and how to work with Firefly. This should be light and fun presentation with hopefully some audience participation. I will hand out all resources available to me.
Speakers
LW

Lily Woodside

Teen Service Librarian, White County Public Library
Thursday April 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 2
  Program Session

8:30am EDT

Streamlining and Empowerment: A 7-Year Retrospective of How We Made Tech Services Better at Chattanooga State Community College
Thursday April 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 9
During this presentation, hear a lively conversation from the entire Tech Services team about the importance of streamlining, empowerment, and teamwork in creating a fun, proactive, and dynamic environment that stands in stark contrast to the traditional reputation of Tech Services departments. We will discuss seven years of collaboration and transformational changes ranging from incremental to fundamental while reviewing successes and failures. Engage with us in a candid discussion on a variety of topics from mundane Tech Services tasks to fun team building. Hear how team-oriented leadership empowers everyone to "get stuff done” while also making time for bling, capes, cookies, and regular outings.
Speakers
AP

Anthony Prince

Cataloging and Metadata Librarian, Chattanooga State Community College
“No“ liberates you; “Yes“ commits you.AFOL
Thursday April 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 9
  Program Session

8:30am EDT

Taking a Walk in the Shoes of Our Students & the Families: A Real World Look at the Impact of Demographics & Literacy
Thursday April 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 11
This is an interactive session that promotes academic discourse among educators about how family dynamics and choices affect the literacy of our students. Participants will put themselves in the shoes of our underserved students and families by selecting a career and working through daily choices as a group. These real-world choices determine if students come to school and if their basic needs are met by their parents or guardians. All these decisions ultimately affect literacy and performance in school.
Speakers
SR
Thursday April 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 11
  Program Session

8:30am EDT

Taking Control of Your Story: Telling your story to the most important person (you!)
Thursday April 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 10
As library professionals, we often focus on the stories of others while overlooking our own. This program will help you rethink the stories you tell yourself, giving you the tools to reshape them in ways that support your success and well-being. Participants will enjoy a presentation, a self-storytelling activity, and the chance to share their newly reframed stories with peers.
Speakers
WO
Thursday April 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
Meeting Room 10
  Program Session

9:30am EDT

50 states/50 ideas
Thursday April 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
Meeting Room 2
Feel like you’ve run out of ideas? Interested in starting something new? Stop by this training to view some of the most interesting and innovative features, services, and programs we’ve found in every state of our country. Get ready to be inspired by the creative efforts of your library peers and leave this workshop planning your library’s next move.
Speakers
CM
CH
Thursday April 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
Meeting Room 2
  Program Session

9:30am EDT

Fostering Autistic Inclusion in Middle Tennessee Libraries
Thursday April 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
Meeting Room 10
AutismTN and four Middle Tennessee public libraries partnered to enhance Autistic inclusion by establishing sensory-friendly spaces, providing sensory kits, and updating collections with books and resources created by Autistic people with lived experience. This initiative, funded by the KFC Foundation, made the partnering libraries more welcoming, accessible, and neuro-affirming for Autistic patrons (children and adults) and neurodiverse families, as well as expanded community understanding of neurodiversity. Our presentation will cover an introduction to neurodiversity and neuro-affirming frameworks, insights from project implementation, and recommendations for inclusive programming, as well as the impact of sensory-friendly adjustments in libraries across Wilson, Putnam, and Williamson counties.
Moderators
CR
Speakers
CD
JJ
AB
KW
AC
Thursday April 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
Meeting Room 10
  Program Session

9:30am EDT

Information Literacy in the Time of AI
Thursday April 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
Meeting Room 11
Many libraries have pioneered the use of AI in their work, but few presentations have approached how library patrons perceive AI generated information. This session will go over the basics of how Large Language Models work, how to spot an AI generated book (they exist!) in the wild, and how to educate others on judging the accuracy of the information provided by AI.
Speakers
EL

Emory LaPrade

Johnson City Public Library
Thursday April 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
Meeting Room 11
  Program Session

9:30am EDT

Mushroom for All: Creating an Open-Access Guide to Campus Mushroom Hunting as an Academic Librarian
Thursday April 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
Meeting Room 9
In the summer of 2024, I combined my work as an academic librarian, my commitment to open-access publishing, and my amateur mushroom hunting antics by creating Fungi of Lambuth: A Field Guide on our Digital Commons at the University of Memphis Lambuth. This guide features photographs of mushrooms I found entirely on our campus, along with information to help students, faculty, and staff learn about my finds and begin their own mushroom hunts. In this session, I'll share why I wanted to create this resource, what the process was like, and how you can use open-access publishing to create your own campus nature guides and get your colleagues and students out exploring nature!
Speakers
KM
Thursday April 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
Meeting Room 9
  Program Session

9:30am EDT

The ONEAL Project: negotiation education for library workers
Thursday April 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
Meeting Room 16
Come and learn about a new open educational resource and community to support library workers as they develop their negotiation knowledge and skills. Designed to help all library workers learn negotiation best practices and strategies for both their personal and professional lives, this OER includes lectures, readings, assessments, and hand-on assignments.  In addition to learning about this resource, attendees will learn about the community being created to provide support for library professionals responsible for negotiations and about key issues and trends uncovered during an interview research study. While the content developed around licensing is geared toward an academic audience, the negotiation strategy and planning techniques in the OER are widely applicable across all types of libraries and library workers.
Speakers
avatar for Courtney F

Courtney F

Asset Management Librarian, Belmont University
As the Asset Management Librarian and subject liaison to the College of Education, I manage the library's physical and electronic collections (from purchasing to deselection) and work closely with the College of Education faculty to ensure that the library's services and collection... Read More →
Thursday April 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
Meeting Room 16
  Program Session

11:10am EDT

ADHD and the Library Profession
Thursday April 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
The library is full of organized, efficient professionals. What happens when your brain is wired differently than most of them? How does it affect our relationship with our coworkers and the way we accomplish tasks? This presentation is for everyone working in libraries who has ADHD or knows someone who does. It discusses the reality of what ADHD actually is--versus the persistent myths about it--and covers ways forward to make our workplaces the best they can be for all involved. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how their ADHD coworkers' chaos can sometimes be a superpower that might bring new ideas to the table for everyone!
Speakers
CL
Thursday April 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
  Program Session

11:10am EDT

Back to Basics: Rebuilding Student Engagement and Outreach Post-COVID
Thursday April 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
In the aftermath of COVID-19, libraries faced the challenge of reengaging students and rebuilding disrupted outreach efforts. At East Tennessee State University’s Sherrod Library, librarians recognized the need to rebuild, innovate, and restructure our approach to student outreach. This presentation will explore how ETSU reference and instruction librarians revamped existing strategies to foster a welcoming, inclusive environment for students by redesigning our student orientation process, by developing several casual student-centered clubs, and by opening a new reference desk for drop-in research help. This presentation will provide insights and practical takeaways for libraries looking to revitalize their student outreach programs in a post-pandemic landscape.
Speakers
avatar for Lydia Gwyn

Lydia Gwyn

Instruction Librarian, Sherrod Library, East Tennessee State University
Writer & Instruction librarianDirector of the Library Ambassador Program at Sherrod Library
JW
Sponsors
ET
Thursday April 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
  Program Session

11:10am EDT

Beyond Books: Exploring the Possibilities of Non-Traditional Collections
Thursday April 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
Lending power tools, outdoor gear, rock instruments, and makerspace equipment? Of course we do that! Join the Chattanooga Public Library for this presentation on how to launch a beyond books collection that works for your library system and your community. During this presentation, we will highlight our experiences of creating, sustaining, and expanding our own unique collections. The story of the Beyond Books collections at the Chattanooga Public Library can help inspire your library to find natural partnerships to expand access to community assets and to create a new non-traditional collection of your own!
Speakers
RG

Richard Groves

Chattanooga Public Library
CV

Crissy Varnell

Chattanooga Public Library
Thursday April 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
  Program Session

11:10am EDT

Nurturing Your Community Through Library Agriculture
Thursday April 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
Norris Community Library and Rocky Top Public Library discuss the planning and implementation of their seed library and community garden. Get tips and tricks on how to find community partners, manage the budgeting and deal with any unexpected issues along the way.
Speakers
avatar for Kimberlee Byrge

Kimberlee Byrge

Director, Norris Community Library
KH
Thursday April 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
  Program Session

11:10am EDT

Putting Some "Fun" in the Fundamentals of Locating Government Publications
Thursday April 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
Ready for a refresh on government publications that will help your users? Join us to learn how to locate the latest information on careers, publications of the three branches of government, rules by departments/agencies, and practical Federal services and resources (in English and Spanish). Bring a device for some engaging hands-on activities that will allow you to explore these resources.
Speakers
avatar for Perveen Rustomfram

Perveen Rustomfram

Head of Government Publications, The University of Memphis
Perveen Rustomfram is the Head of Government Publications at the University Libraries, University of Memphis.
BR

Bess Robinson

Head of Research and Instructional Services, University Libraries, University of Memphis
Bess Robinson is the Head of Research and Instructional Services at the University Libraries, University of Memphis.
Thursday April 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
  Program Session

1:30pm EDT

Constructed and Contextual: Exploring Concepts of Authority through the Creation of Student Zines
Thursday April 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
What happens when students take authority into their own hands—literally? This session blends critical pedagogy, alternative media, and the ACRL Framework to explore how zines can transform discussions about bias, authority, and representation. Featuring examples from psychology and literature classes, we’ll examine how creating zines empower students to challenge traditional notions of expertise and amplify diverse voices. Participants will leave not only with new strategies for the classroom but also with their very own mini zine, created during the session. Let’s reimagine who gets to be “in the room” and why their stories matter.
Speakers
AR

Amanda Roper

Chattanooga State Community College
Thursday April 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
  Program Session

1:30pm EDT

Pushing Back Against Censorship in TN Libraries: One Group's Experience
Thursday April 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
Learn who last year’s TNLA Intellectual Freedom Award winner RCLA is, what they do, and how they can help you! Libraries have unfortunately turned political, with attempts to impose censorship here in Tennessee. We’ll dive into what the laws actually say, what the specific language used means, and how to resist censorship in your libraries.
Speakers
avatar for Frank Lambert

Frank Lambert

Middle Tennessee State University
Graduate Education in Librarianship
KL
JR
Thursday April 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
  Program Session

1:30pm EDT

Read a Good Book Lately
Thursday April 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
Join this fun group of friends as they share what they are reading lately. You will learn absolutely nothing, but will have a full list for your TBR pile!
Speakers
avatar for Cathy Farley

Cathy Farley

Executive Director, Tennessee Library Association
By day, I am the Director of the White County Public Library in Sparta, Tennessee.  Our staff of 14 serves a population of just over 27,000 community members.At night and on weekends, I am the Executive Director of the Tennessee Library Association. I collect your dues and pay our... Read More →
JC
MH
EL
Thursday April 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
  Program Session

1:30pm EDT

Read and Ride: A Pilot Partnership Between Chattanooga Public Library and the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority
Thursday April 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
After almost four years of trying to figure out how the Chattanooga Public Library could help bring free rides to children in our community, Read & Ride was born! Read & Ride, the pilot partnership between CPL and CARTA, ran from June 1-July 31 in conjunction with the Summer Learning Program at CPL with the express intention of facilitating free bus rides for children 6-18. It has been so successful that CARTA is publicly speaking about the possibility of year-round free rides for minors. There are very few of the 19 urban and municipal transit systems (or the 9 rural public transportation systems) that currently provide free rides to children 18 and under, so opportunities to increase access to transportation for their young patrons are out there! Session attendees will hopefully learn from CPL’s failures and successes to leave with at least one strategy with which to approach a collaborative project with their own transit system.
Speakers
avatar for Lyn Hunter

Lyn Hunter

Youth Services Supervisor, Chattanooga Public Library
Children’s and YA books & programs, public & school library collaboration, serving the whole person/whole child, intellectual freedom, and library advocacy
Thursday April 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
  Program Session

1:30pm EDT

They are called Comics for a Reason: Humorous Graphic Novels for Children and Tweens
Thursday April 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
Join Scot Smith as he explores humorous graphic novels and non-fiction for younger readers. He will discuss why humor is important in books for children and tweens and highlight some recently published Comics for kids. Scot will also share important resources about Comics and graphic novels and discuss ways to make the Comics collection more accessible for children.
Speakers
avatar for Scot Smith

Scot Smith

Member Presenter, School of Information Sciences
Scot Smith worked as a school librarian for almost 27 years before he changed careers and joined the faculty at UT's School of Information Sciences. Scot served in various capacities for the Volunteer State Book Award for many years and has read for numerous committees and juries... Read More →
Thursday April 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
  Program Session

2:30pm EDT

Basic Book Repairs and Weeding
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
This practical show and tell training will teach library staff how to evaluate items for retention or replacement using the MUSTIE & Crew methods and cover basic book repairs. Participants will learn about mending methods, tools, and materials through lecture and demonstration. Each participant will get a weeding slip, book repair supply list, and PPT slides.
Speakers
KH
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 11
  Program Session

2:30pm EDT

Beyond Books: How Libraries Can Offer Even More Basic Skills to Our Youngest Children
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
As children’s librarians, we are trained in early literacy best practices. However, we know that it takes many more skills to prepare the whole child for kindergarten and beyond. While storytimes with books, flannels, and fingerplays are wonderful tools for developing early literacy skills, we can add so much more to our early childhood programming. Learn how the Chattanooga Public Library is exploring additional ways to introduce basic skills into programs. From early motor skills and potty training to STEAM and kitchen skills, it’s never too early to start the journey towards kindergarten.
Speakers
avatar for Erica deBin

Erica deBin

Library Services Specialist - Children's, Chattanooga Public Library
I received my MLIS from University of North Carolina at Greensboro and have worked for the Chattanooga Public Library for 10 years doing children's programs. Before that, I used my degree in American Sign Language while working as a sign language interpreter for Deaf students. I love... Read More →
SH
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 10
  Program Session

2:30pm EDT

Encouraging the Anxious: Free and Low Cost Events to Lift Spirits in the Academic Library
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
Like many other college campuses, Lipscomb University saw an increase in mental health and social problems as students returned to campus after the Covid-19 shutdown. Because of that, our library put a new emphasis on student events to encourage students and make them feel at home in the library. In the past two years, as federal Covid funding has ended, we have also faced budget cuts making it more difficult to fund these events. These dual problems have forced us to be more creative in our programming. We faced the question: How do we make the library an inviting and encouraging place for students without spending money? This presentation summarizes our attempts to leverage our current resources to provide some levity in the library. We found that seeing students smile raises our spirits too. We hope that our experience will inspire you to create some fun in your own library even when times are tough.
Speakers
JC
MR
JL
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 16
  Program Session

2:30pm EDT

Haunted History: Teaching Teens About Primary Sources
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
Learn about a teen program used in a public library to explore primary sources. Help teens explore local history and investigate a murder from days gone by. Have your teens ever wanted to solve crimes? Do they have what it takes to be a librarian or an archivist? Learn how to put their deductive skills to the test in this spooky historical investigation.
Speakers
DH
BM
OS
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 9
  Program Session

2:30pm EDT

Library Data Storytelling: From Data to Narrative
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 17
Discover the benefits of library data storytelling: a merger of marketing and assessment. More than ever, libraries have a great need to communicate the resources and expertise of their staff and their data. Data storytelling takes data from storage to a story. We will bring examples of how we tell stories to highlight the Kolwyck Library and its staff.
Speakers
avatar for Dwight Hunter

Dwight Hunter

Librarian, Chattanooga State Community College
Librarian. Social Media Coordinator. Trained in non-profit management.Personal website: http://orangejayhawk.com
AK
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 17
  Program Session

2:30pm EDT

The Basics of Becoming a Good Leader in Your Workspace. How and Why?
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
I would like to share about the basics of being a good leader in your workspace. By answering the questions, What makes a good leader?, Why do you want to be a good leader?, How do you lead people that you don't have a connection with?, and How do you lead an inherited staff? During the discussion we will talk about the challenges that we have faced as leaders and how we have used setbacks to help us grow as leaders.
Speakers
RC
Thursday April 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Meeting Room 2
  Program Session
 
Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link

Filter sessions
Apply filters to sessions.
Tuesday, April 8
Wednesday, April 9
Thursday, April 10
Ballroom H
Ballrooms E, F, & G
Chattanooga Public Library
Meeting Room 10
Meeting Room 11
Meeting Room 16
Meeting Room 17
Meeting Room 2
Meeting Room 9
Meeting Rooms 4, 5, 6
  • Exhibits
  • General Session
  • Luncheon
  • Meeting
  • Pre-conference
  • Program Session
  • Social Event
  • Ticketed Event
  • Popular