ULA Annual Conference 2025

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.

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.

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 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!

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.

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.

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.