Join us at the Dixie Convention Center in St. George, Utah for the 2025 Utah Library Association Annual Conference!Registration is now open, with early bird pricing ending March 31. Soon after registering, you will receive a Sched invite to this event so you can plan your conference schedule. See you in St. George!
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Outreach at academic libraries is vital in reaching and supporting students. However there are often hidden challenges for librarians attempting to start and maintain innovative and effective outreach initiatives. Outreach librarians from two different Utah higher education institutions will share their experiences and insights into how to navigate these challenges.
In 2024, former Utah Library Association President Rebekah Cummings became the first librarian to run for Lt. Governor on a major party ticket in the United States. In addition to being a historic moment at the intersection of librarianship, advocacy, and public service, the selection of Rebekah as a Lt. Governor candidate highlights how the national book challenge battle has thrust librarians from the fringes of politics into the mainstream. In this presentation, Rebekah will share her inspirational seven-month journey on the campaign trail, the reasons that she now believes librarians are uniquely well-suited for public office, lessons learned, and a call to action to all librarians looking to engage in public service or run for public office.
Libraries have always been a place to find information, providing essential resources to people, and being helpers in the community. Having a social worker extends the work that libraries provide by connecting people with community resources to improve their lives. The Weber County Library System has focused on connecting people with resources whether it is providing research and/or reading material or working with other social service organizations to offer assistance beyond the scope of what traditional library services provide. This presentation will focus on ways small and medium sized libraries can utilize social workers to provide much needed resources to their communities.
A how-to session for ULA Annual Conference attendees. Learn to navigate the exhibits, decipher the conference program, how ULA really works, and ways to get involved. Ask questions and hear from active ULA members about staying connected and engaged in the ULA organization and how to make the most of your professional development.
Reluctant readers, who often struggle with finding the motivation to read, can be the bane of parents, teachers, and librarians. But once a reluctant reader catches the spark, they can devour multiple books quickly! This presentation will discuss similar traits in books frequently recommended for reluctant readers, what sparks that interest, and which books continue to keep readers enthralled, even years after publishing. While we will focus mostly on titles for children, books for teens and adults will also be included.
For beginner catalogers, postcards present a special challenge. Although postcards are a growing collection area for many institutions, few postcard catalog records have been previously added to OCLC, requiring catalogers to create original records for the vast majority of the postcards their institutions collect. Additionally, due to a growing interest in postcards from hobbyists and individual collectors, cataloging postcards often requires applying specialized terminology to catalog records, in order to enhance the discoverability and descriptiveness of catalog records. This presentation aims to make cataloging postcards feel more approachable for beginners by breaking down sample catalog records, pointing out unique features of postcard records that often confuse beginners, and highlighting best practices for applying RDA and LC vocabularies. It will briefly define and differentiate between the most commonly utilized postcard-related jargon (like the difference between chromographs and lithographs, or the significance of Real Photo Postcards). It will even include suggestions for how to notate handwritten messages, date/time stamps, or other copy-specific information in local records.
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.
Wednesday May 14, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am MDT
Entrada B
Reading Nation Waterfall (RNW) is a $1.4 million IMLS grant that seeks to enhance literacy access for Native American communities. Collaborating with Head Start Centers, the Little Free Library organization, public and tribal libraries, and community-based partners, RNW has developed a sustainable Book Ecosystem Model and built children’s community book ecosystems in five communities: the Yurok, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Lumbee, Northern Cheyenne, and Santo Domingo Pueblo. To date, RNW has delivered over 45,000 books among 7,746 children with at least 12,079 documented books read at home, catalyzing a 17% increase in circulation and 100% increase in usage across RNW libraries.
We will discuss the principles of experiential learning and how they can be applied to the development of student leads. These principles provide a strong foundation for enhancing the roles of student employees. Promoting student employees to lead positions can increase efficiency, collaboration, and connection within the workplace while fostering the lead student’s personal and professional growth. Student employee co-presenters who have been promoted to a lead position will tell their stories, highlighting how these roles have helped them develop leadership skills, refine their job competencies, and prepare for their future careers.
Through personal narratives, we will discuss our paths to librarianship, how we defended ourselves as part of marginalized groups, and how our colleagues supported us through our journey. Resources will be shared.
Utah libraries can uncover innovative programming opportunities by teaming up with public health agencies and community organizations. Libraries are great partners for collaboration and have potential to partner on public health education and interventions in their communities. Many of their services and programs support Healthy People 2030 objectives and goals identified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program-description presentation will highlight the breadth of programs and resources public libraries offer that support public health initiatives in both direct and indirect ways. After offering a brief overview of the NNLM program, the presentation will examine the distribution of public libraries and public health locations in Utah. We will then provide examples of how libraries are supporting public health initiatives as well as free resources that can be used in health outreach to the public.
Community Engagement Coordinator, University of Utah; Network of the National Library of Medicine
I represent the NNLM All of Us Community Engagement Network, part of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. My organization has funding for consumer health information programs delivered through public libraries. Please see me at the NNLM exhibit table or come to my lightning... Read More →
Learn how to create escape rooms for all ages on a small budget. We will talk about picking a theme, figuring out what supplies you will need, creating puzzles, and mapping out the path that participants will take to solve the room. We will also discuss how to determine the appropriate difficulty and length of puzzles for your chosen age group. We will go over some of the pros and cons of requiring registration and the challenges of not requiring registration.
Romance has been the highest-selling fiction genre for more than a decade. What makes it so popular? Why are romance readers ashamed of their reading preferences? Are romances really for feminists? Can reading romance be good for you?
The Beehive Book Award is going to be undergoing some exciting new changes beginning in 2025, in this session we will explore the changes, discuss why they are being made, and outline how everyone can get involved in the new era of the award. Participants will also have time to ask questions and give feedback about the new processes.
The idea of library outreach can often feel overwhelming. Come learn how you can take some of the programs and services you already do inside your library, out into the community. The Provo City Library Outreach Librarians will share several different aspects of our outreach services like preschool story times to Title 1 schools, homebound outreach and offsite programs. We’ll also share the logistics of how we schedule our visits and some of the tips and tricks we’ve figured out along the way, so you can learn from our mistakes!
As part of an ongoing floor-by-floor renovation within the BYU Library, subject librarians have been asked to assess their current physical collections. The renovations are currently approaching the Humanities department on the 5th floor and in this session, two Humanities librarians in the BYU Library will discuss their ongoing collection assessment or “weeding” projects. They will speak about the overarching aspects of the assessment, such as specific library priorities and parameters, and how conducting an assessment in the Humanities presents some unique challenges. Additionally, each will discuss their experiences in conducting the assessments in relation to effective processes, selection criteria, time management, student mentorship, as well as lessons learned. This session will offer participants valuable perspectives and insights on collection assessments that can be applied to collections within academic libraries specifically, as well as all libraries generally.
Library workers experience high levels of stress for a variety of reasons, such as increased public scrutiny, book challenges, budgetary constraints, and toxic interactions with patrons and co-workers. In addition, many libraries face severe staffing shortages, requiring library workers to take on added responsibilities, often with little to no additional compensation. As a result, burnout in the library profession is on the rise. As many of these stressors are caused by outside influences, what can an individual library worker do to decrease burnout and find inner peace? This session explores the importance of self-care for the overworked, stressed-out library worker. Topics addressed include developing mindfulness practices, engaging in physical activity, fostering supportive relationships, and creating uplifting physical environments. Come learn why self-care is not the same as self-indulgence but is an essential (and often overlooked) aspect of professionalism.
Supervisors, Directors, and elected officials often assume that those who are constantly moving or talking are the best leaders - but are they? This presentation explores effective library leadership as an exercise in finding the balance between working to understand, mitigate, or avoid significant challenges, acting quickly and decisively in crisis situations, and deliberately making consistent, measured progress toward organizational goals. In particular, the presentation relies on Martin Gutmann's Action Fallacy principle (our society's incorrect belief that good leaders move when others are paralyzed, and that this action is the ultimate indicator of the effectiveness) to show the need for wholistic leadership. Presentation and discussion will discuss relevant scholarship, shared library experiences, and best practices surrounding library leadership.
Josh Johnson is the Director of the Davis County Library in Utah and serves on the State Library Board since 2022 (currently Chair). He is passionate about data-driven future planning, collaborative decision-making, and creating learning organizations. He also enjoys time with family... Read More →
Wednesday May 14, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm MDT
Sunbrook A
Transform your library's Staff Development Day from a routine training into a meaningful celebration of growth and community through strategic planning and cohesive branding. Learn how to create an engaging, inclusive full-day experience that energizes staff while delivering valuable professional development. This session will cover the essential elements of a successful staff development day, from strategic planning timelines to creative themes that unite your programming initiatives. Discover strategies for balancing structured learning, including coordinating multiple learning tracks and creating memorable moments through carefully chosen speakers, activities, and recognition ceremonies. We'll explore practical aspects like catering management, branded swag selection, and accommodation planning, alongside the more nuanced elements of fostering staff engagement and building institutional culture. Discover how to weave consistent visual branding throughout your event ecosystem, from digital platforms to on-site navigation and every touchpoint in between. Whether you're reimagining an existing staff development day or planning your first one, you'll leave with a comprehensive planning framework and creative ideas for making your next Staff Development Day both meaningful and memorable.
Teens and Tweens patrons are busy people, so how can you inspire them to spend their limited time at the library? By offering "Return Programming"! From Bookopoly, to Plinko, to Junior Dungeons & Dragons, ongoing activities encourage readers to keep coming back and reward reluctant readers for trying something new. Join Kaitlin and Sarah as cover how to put a "Return Program" together, where to gather inspiration, and share some of their most successful ideas.
Reference Librarian, Washington County Library System
Cosplayer and reformed sewing machine serial killer, Sarah's secret identity for the past twenty plus years has been a Teen and Reference Librarian at the Hurricane Branch of the Washington County Library System. She has created, staffed, and been a guest at conventions, run book... Read More →
This session will report on research done to better understand the landscape of archival publishing. This research compared the American Archivist with seven regional archival journals. The study used corpus analysis to compare the contents of the journals, an author analysis to understand who is publishing in the regional archival journals versus the American Archivist, and a citation analysis to examine the impact of the regional archival journals versus the American Archivist. The session will discuss how tools like corpus analysis, author analysis, and citation analysis can be used to understand the key issues in archival and library studies.
Director and Editor 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 curator of Research and Instruction Services and the Yellowstone collection in the L. Tom Perry Special Collections at Brigham Young University. He also serves as the director and editor of the Journal of Western Archives.
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 →
Wednesday May 14, 2025 2:50pm - 3:40pm MDT
Entrada B
Libraries are a trusted, neutral place for accurate information in our communities. Learn how to become a Certified Designated Organization to offer assistance finding affordable health insurance on the healthcare marketplace. Our session will cover the pros and cons, tips for success, the training and resources available, successful onboarding for staff, and how to register.
Be empowered to disrupt and discourage inappropriate behavior by patrons and staff through boundary setting and learn strategies to effectively back up a staff member receiving negative behavior.
Librarianship as a profession often appeals to introverts. Working with books and seeing the regular patrons in a relatively quiet setting seems like the perfect job for the more reserved. But what happens when an introvert advances in their career and suddenly find themself in a leadership position? Can introverts be effective leaders? Yes! In this panel session we will hear from some great librarian leaders who are introverts and learn how being introverted actually helps them be effective leaders.
Library workers in the United States face a complex array of challenges in their professional environments. Recent findings from a groundbreaking survey published in College & Research Libraries reveal that harassment and abusive behaviors are alarmingly prevalent in libraries, significantly more than previously thought. The survey indicated that 78% of librarians in academic settings have encountered gender harassment, while 64% reported experiencing seductive behavior from patrons, and 35% have faced sexual assault. Additionally, the 2022 Urban Libraries Unite Trauma Study, which gathered responses from over 435 urban library workers, paints a vivid picture of the difficult working conditions many face. This survey not only highlights these challenges but also provides a promising framework for addressing the needs of the library community. The emotional labor involved in library work is substantial, particularly as workers frequently interact with patrons who are distressed or frustrated. Library staff often act as frontline responders, necessitating a high level of empathy and professionalism in their interactions. Recognizing that staff are an organization’s most valuable resource, it is crucial to protect them. In this session, we will discuss the urgent need for evidence-based, trauma-informed programs focusing on human safety, de-escalation techniques, leadership development, and crisis management.
Learn how to introduce your patrons to short plays, Readers Theaters, and skits with a minimal budget and no rehearsal or previous drama experience required. Then try out your own acting skills (if you dare) with some fun skits to see how a program like that would run.
Mid to late career librarianship is experienced differently by all of us, but can predictably have a powerful impact on our professional lives that can be measured and examined. For example, have you ever had a colleague say something like, "wow! you know everything about the library!" OR "you've been here that long!?" The mid to late career librarian can experience phenomena such as professional identity stressors, career plateaus, changing family responsibilities, leadership opportunities, burnout, political change, professional growth, working with younger generations, technology paradigm shifts, needs for refreshment & community, and plenty more. While this is well documented in the literature of management, private industry and elsewhere, the post-pandemic library is in a great position to foster this valuable conversation as we grow and contribute to the next generation of academic libraries. Panelists come from a variety of institutions in Utah and their panel interests follow:
Hi! I'm very interested in developing services and products (assessment, curriculum, etc.) to develop stronger liaison role outreach. I'm also very interested in how public libraries can research their constituency and develop marketing ideas via social identity, cultural and community... Read More →
Management & Accounting Librarian, Brigham Young University
I am the Management and Accounting Librarian at the BYU Harold B. Lee Library. I love being a librarian and working with business students and faculty. I also love the ULA annual conference because it allows me to interact and learn from dear colleagues around the state!
Equipping employees for success requires starting on strong footing with an organized onboarding plan and making continuous growth a priority for both the employee and the organization. We will share our experiences, lessons learned, and how professional development can be scaled to libraries of any size.
A few years ago Salt Lake County looked at what we were doing to help grow our employees for future leadership roles and recognized a need for a more formal program. A leadership development program was created, of which mentoring was a key part. Over the past three years we've seen what a critical part mentoring plays in helping employees grow and develop new skills, especially in a leadership development program. We'll be covering the benefits of mentoring for staff, good guidelines for mentoring interactions (formal and informal), and offering a look at how we structured mentoring within the framework of our own leadership development program.
We will provide a clear understanding of what experiential learning is through an experiential learning framework that has been successful at our institution. We will offer practical real-life stories and have table and partner discussion as we deliver each step of the framework. The session will demonstrate how implementing experiential learning can give time back, can teach us how to delegate more to employees and empower them in ways that will further their growth. Attendees will learn how to implement this framework at their library.
In this session, three catalogers from BYU will present on interesting cataloging problems that we have come across in our work. One presenter will present on cataloging Captain Canuck and will address the challenges associated with cataloging comics. The second presenter will address her quest to identify and catalog a picture. The third presenter will present on cataloging oddities in digital objects.
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!
Every librarian gets asked for help choosing a book, but sometimes it can be difficult to know what to recommend. This session will help you solve the mystery of what your patrons want to read.
Lego Serious Play is a facilitation and problem-solving method where participants use Lego bricks to model and brainstorm solutions to complex problems by “thinking with their hands.” Emphasizing active engagement, open communication, and inclusion, Lego Serious Play is useful for making library planning and UX projects more participatory for both staff and library users. In our case, Lego building activities provided a fun and engaging way to gain insight into students’ sense of belonging and perceptions of library services, and was useful in helping kickstart more complex design conversations about the library’s homepage.
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.
Who are you as a leader? What impact do you hope to have? These are some of the initial questions every good leader asks. Effective leadership is not confined to formal positions of authority and emerges from any level. Come learn about the differences between being a leader and a manager, using self-awareness as a foundation for success. Communication and community building are essential tools to effectively lead and manage onsite, hybrid, and remote teams. Informal leaders often emerge from unexpected sources, and can significantly impact an organization. Participants will leave with actionable insights and a renewed understanding of their potential to lead and inspire, regardless of their position within the library hierarchy.
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.
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!
Thursday May 15, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT
Sunbrook B
This session will outline a process for achieving a participatory, function-focused organizational realignment on a 6-month timeline. Presenters will share an in-depth look at the activities, structure, and ultimate outcome of a recent reorganizational process for a collections-focused department that included visioning, conducting a functional analysis, and providing a space for participatory organizational modeling.
Reference librarians get asked all kinds of questions. Do you know where to direct patrons when they ask how to learn more about their family history? Learn how to find the answers in this class!
We'll explore the meaning of allyship and discuss intentional ways to embody it in the Library. Get ready to supercharge your skills with practical tools for effective disruption and intervention, and leave empowered to be a more impactful co-worker and advocate.
Learn how to make inclusion a natural part of your library's operations -- without needing to overhaul programs, services, or resources. Multiple presenters will share their practical strategies, personal experiences, and key takeaways from creating more inclusive library spaces, programs, and offerings.
This program will explore how to leverage the unique personalities of your library staff to create more engaging, relatable marketing. Attendees will: 1) Learn ways to use your staffs' personalities to promote your library 2)Hear suggestions on how to make email marketing, podcasts, and social media more engaging and 3) Provide new ways to think about how your library communicates with your patrons.
I joined the Provo City Library in 2013. In my position I manage marketing, outreach, the Basement Creative Lab, and the Attic exhibition space. Mostly I do a lot of math to hang exhibits, answer many questions, and write great emails. When not at the library I read, crochet, embroider... Read More →
Thursday May 15, 2025 2:10pm - 3:00pm MDT
Sunbrook C
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.
This presentation explores the translation capabilities of various Artificial Intelligence systems, with a particular focus on several European minority languages. Additionally, it examines the challenges and techniques involved in translating colloquialisms and idiomatic expressions within literary works.
In 1983, two journalists traveled the country asking hundreds of people with diverse backgrounds and professions two questions: “What book has made the biggest difference in your life?” and “What was that difference?” In a partial replication of that inquiry, we designed a two-phase study in which we ask a similar sequence of questions via survey and then follow up with more in-depth, probing questions through interviews and focus groups. While we began by focusing on our own university community of students (undergraduate and graduate) and employees (faculty and staff) representing a diverse range of academic disciplines and professional service areas, we employed snowball sampling to reach a broader pool of participants. Initial findings will be discussed including titles, genres, and authors identified as well as emergent themes regarding the impact of chosen books. Additionally, in light of this year’s ULA conference theme (“Our Stories Inspire”), attendees will have an opportunity to share a book that has been influential to them and see what books have made a difference in the lives of other conference attendees.
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 →
Reaching “across the aisle” to the ‘BookBanners’ was frightening. But a desire to know why, what we shared, and how to come together was stronger. Hear about the experiences when Intellectual Freedom meets Crusaders for Clean.
In 2024, The Salt Lake County Library installed free period product machines in County Library restrooms. This presentation will share how the process evolved for the County Library and what financial, building-related, and public health considerations came up throughout the process. We will also discuss: why should libraries care about what patrons are needing from our restroom spaces? How can something as simple as providing free period supplies in our restrooms convey care to our patrons? How can public libraries reframe the "normative restroom experience" and develop creative ways to meet patron needs in a place we all eventually visit - the restroom? Come explore and go with the flow!
All libraries face the challenge of reaching the non-library user in their communities. Come listen to a panel of out-reach tasked librarians from academic, public (small and large), and special libraries discuss the challenges and opportunities of reaching out and engaging their communities. Learn from their failures and successes and gather outreach ideas for your own library.
Public Libraries collect a lot of data, but for many people, data can be abstract and fail to account for the whole story of an institution. As librarians and library staff it is important for us to tell individual stories that illustrate and elaborate on the data we collect. These stories help communicate our impact to all our shareholders, including city leaders during budget planning, granting organizations, and in our communications with the public. This presentation will include examples of innovative storytelling from libraries around Utah and the country.
Daily decisions and problem solving creates stress. We have latitude in spending our budgets, but not in creating them. We have amazing patrons and staff, but there is always the possibility of conflict. Our daily decisions and priorities can be questioned at any time by almost anyone. Steve Decker has been making library decisions for over 30 years. He hasn't seen it all. Nobody has. But he has learned about what can be "fixed" and what cannot. Join Steve for some insights about What You Can Fix - Don't Stress the Rest.
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.
