ULA Annual Conference 2025

This session will highlight how The Salt Lake City Public Library supports teens transitioning to adulthood. We’ll explore partnerships, resources, and programs designed to help teens prepare and build confidence. Participants also will have the opportunity to share what their libraries and communities are doing to assist older teens. Together, we'll discuss the most common "adulting" needs and brainstorm ways libraries can better equip young people for success as they move into this challenging (and exciting!) phase of life.

Journey with me through the intimate experience of serving on the 2024 Caldecott Committee that selected "Big" by Vashti Harrison as the medal winner. This session weaves together two parallel narratives: my firsthand account of the deliberation process and Harrison's journey in creating this groundbreaking book. As the first Black woman to win the Caldecott Medal, Harrison's achievement marked a historic moment in children's literature. I'll share behind-the-scenes insights into how the committee evaluated the artistic excellence of "Big," examining Harrison's masterful use of light, color, and composition to tell a profound story about self-acceptance and taking up space in the world. Additionally, I'll discuss what it takes to serve on the Caldecott Committee, including the professional requirements, time commitments, and necessary experience. Bring your burning questions about committee service—this is your chance to ask what you've always wanted to know about this prestigious opportunity!

We've all had that experience after a program of feeling that something went wrong. But are these failures? Let's talk about what can we learn from missteps and how can we be kinder to ourselves.

When we started storytimes back after the pandemic, we looked for a way to keep the kids spread out (and their germs away from the storyteller) while still creating an engaging experience. 3 years later, we've created a whole new style of storytime that our patrons love.