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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Libraries are essential, but ensuring decision-makers recognize their value requires effective advocacy. This hands-on session will equip participants with practical tools to confidently share their “library story” with legislators and community leaders. Attendees learn the importance of different types of advocacy including grassroots, relational, and institutional, while busting common myths, such as whether public employees can engage in advocacy. Through practical, interactive exercises, and peer storytelling, participants will refine their messaging, align their advocacy with policymakers’ priorities, and leave with the knowledge, tools, and confidence they need to take effective action. Whether you're new to advocacy or looking to refine your approach, this workshop will provide the skills, confidence, and strategies needed to champion your library effectively.
Intellectual property (IP) underscores every aspect of our lives. In today's global economy, understanding IP is crucial for knowledge workers and IP-intensive industries employees. IP-intensive industries are vital to our economy with those workers having higher lifetime earnings and more social mobility. With the recent changes in both accessing and searching patents and trademarks in the United States, it is crucial that librarians and library users increase their IP knowledge. This "train the trainer" workshop will include hands-on activities and discussions on the significance and types of IP, searching for trademark and patents, and providing equity-focused resources and opportunities.
PAVE Prevention recognizes that libraries across the United States are experiencing increased public aggression toward their workers, as highlighted in the 2022 Urban Library Trauma Study. To address these challenges, PAVE offers comprehensive training sessions focused on critical skills for library staff. The training covers topics such as building situational awareness, ensuring physical, emotional, and mental safety, and employing de-escalation techniques—both verbal and non-verbal. Participants will also learn grounding techniques, self-care practices, bystander intervention strategies, boundary setting, conflict resolution, and effective intercultural communication. Additionally, the training incorporates principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIJA), as well as cultural humility and competency. All PAVE modules utilize adrenalized, real-life scenario learning, which has proven to be one of the most effective training methods for adult learners. PAVE has successfully trained library workers nationwide in trauma-informed, DEIJA-inclusive human safety skills. As part of this initiative, PAVE will deliver a 3-hour workshop for ULA participants, equipping them with the tools needed to navigate their complex working environments.
This workshop is intended to help professionals at all levels understand and put their data to use and enhance their data literacy and analytical skills. No prior experience in data analysis is required. Roughly the first hour of the workshop will be dedicated to sharing best practices, case studies, and success stories to help participants understand the value of the data they collect. Once the basics are covered, participants will be guided through creating goals, and choosing a product to create with their data. Finally, participants will have time to work on their project with guidance from presenters. Ideally, participants will leave this session with an understanding of how data can enhance and enable positive and productive discussions and take home a ready-to-use product of their own design. Participants should bring their own laptops and datasets; discussion, Q&A, and bad jokes will be provided and encouraged throughout the session. Multiple data professionals will collaborate on the presentation.
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 →
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.
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 →
As a self-professed “librarian gamer,” I've come across a number of "library-related" board games & video games, and I’d like to share them with all of you! Each game mentioned in this session will have a specific focus on libraries and/or library work as a central theme of gameplay. Each game asks its players to utilize different skills & tackle scenarios that real librarians might encounter, & thus could be useful for developing programs or collections (especially anything intended to highlight a library's usefulness to patrons, or various aspects of librarianship to prospective library students).
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.
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.
How do we move beyond the performative and truly engage with the communities whose land we occupy? Reparative work goes beyond a basic show of support for underrepresented communities and intentionally collecting authentic voices. Building trust between libraries and communities starts with reciprocity, the act of giving back, sharing, being accountable, and developing consistent cultural connections. Beginning with a growth mindset, respecting the diversity found in humanity, and practicing humility are essential starting points to building trust and respect. Being proactive in building connections, working with a cultural liaison, centering marginalized voices, and creatively using new technology are methods to build relationships based on mutual respect. With trust comes expanded access for all users and creates a more inclusive library.
Two years after the Eccles Health Sciences Library's 50th anniversary in 2021, the library began a journey of transformation with a seismic retrofit project. This project provided an opportunity to preserve history in another unique way—a time capsule, to be placed in the new building core constructed for restrooms, elevators, and earthquake safety. This presentation will detail the process undertaken by a team of four librarians and five staff members to curate and create the time capsule without overburdening anyone’s schedule.
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.
This session is anticipated to be an updated version of my presentation at the ULA 2024 Fall Forum discussing what constitutes unauthorized practice of law, how to navigate the Utah State Court website and resources, and provide links and information on how to find legal reference information.
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
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.
