ULA Annual Conference 2025

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!

Library customer experience is ongoing, not a moment in time. It is shaped by all the interactions your community has with your library, regardless of whether they are consistent and empowering or scattered and stodgy. Customer experiences include navigating the digital world and your physical buildings. It is the programs and events they attend as well as the big and small interactions with staff. What do communities expect from their libraries? Do staff members have the time and ability to meet those expectations? What factors impact the customer experience? Salt Lake City Public Library’s chief service and impact officer Daniel Neville-Rehbehn and MSR Design senior associate Jeff Davis will address these questions and more as they illustrate how they are increasing customer satisfaction through ongoing customer feedback. They will offer inspiring stories about implementing community engagement within the ongoing customer experience journey.

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.

Libraries strive to be a place where all people are welcomed. While many library programs target specific age ranges, finding programs that are interesting to all ages can be a challenge. Come see some examples of what has worked for us and share ideas with other librarians.