Submitted by Ann Decherd and Sarah Reynolds
From Ann:
Last month, Sarah Reynolds and I attended the PLA 2022 annual conference in Portland, Oregon. It was an interesting experience since this was the first conference since the pandemic began. However, it was apparent the organizers worked hard to make attendees feel welcome and created an atmosphere of learning.
Below are just a few examples of sessions that provided inspirational and practical information for staff and patrons.
Silver Linings: Aging Adults - The Longevity Gift and Public Libraries. This session, presented by Denver Public Library, talked about programming for our aging patrons, which they define as ages 50 & up! The presenter outlined research on the developmental stages of aging and how they impact programs. The current research shows the "rocking chair model" of programming for that age group is not always successful because it fails to consider older patrons' dynamic stages. They've had real success in programs such as drum circles, poetry slams, singing and biking groups, small business startups, and solo travel. For further information on this, check out the research by Gene Cohen.
Meeting the Needs of Our Disability Community: Inclusive Spaces. In this session, presenters discussed how we could make our library spaces more accessible to everyone. They talked about creating inclusive spaces rather than segregated places for patrons with disabilities. For example, designing self-checkouts that are accessible to all rather than asking patrons with disabilities to checkout at lower height stations at the Ask Us desks and clear signage, so patrons don't have to ask for accommodations and don't require disclosure.
In the Braille Enhanced Story Walks program, they gave us ideas and processes to create accessible story walks by providing tips on the books to choose from and resources on finding translators, organizations, and braille materials. The suggestion of adding QR codes that link to an audio format of the book was especially promising.
There was also a fascinating session on Adult English Language Learners. The presenters described successes in adult ESL programs through the promotion of bilingualism. Research shows that students must be fluent in their native language before learning a new one. Workbooks and products like Leamos helped patrons become proficient in their native language before tackling English. Also, the English immersive approach is not as successful because for a learner to create word connections, they must be able to access their language when participating in a conversation program. They also offered biliteracy book bundles for learning patrons. Each bundle included 3 -4 children's books, family activities, and literacy tips in both languages.
In addition to these sessions, I attended informative programs on providing mock citizenship programs, effective security strategies, libraries as spaces for playful learning and creativity, and learning organizations' characteristics.
From Sarah:
I, too, had some interesting and informative sessions at PLA. There were many sessions to choose from throughout the event, the most impactful of which are outlined below.
Finding your Leadership Pathway, offered by PLA Leadership Development Committee
Offered as a full-day pre-conference, this was by far my favorite session. The day was broken up with panel discussions with leaders from various organizations and levels of leadership, small group discussions about leadership challenges, and practical tips on how to lead from any level in your organization.
Each attendee received a Leadership Roadmap which served as an exploration of internal motivations, goals, passion projects, and leadership style, Questions to consider include:
What do I do well?
When am I most productive?
What am I excited about?
Presenters shared practical advice for communication across the organization when proposing new ideas/services:
Do the research and be ready with numbers. The more expensive the project, the more research you need to do.
Have “radically candid” conversations with everyone involved.
Have patience.
And when creating change:
Be clear.
Be passionate.
Be a leader (and you don’t need a title to be a leader.)
Ask questions.
Work together
Find a champion.
Building a Dynamic World Language Collection
This session shared how libraries approached the creation and development of World Language Collections. Each branch started a collection analysis, community assessment, and staff input. The presenters compiled a great list of vendors that I shared with the Materials Department. The biggest takeaway was the importance of marketing the collection and placing the collection in a highly visible area in the library.
Doing the Work: Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
In August 2016, Richland Library formed the Social Awareness Taskforce (SAT), which has become their Let’s Talk Race Team, consisting of 15 staff members. The team was trained to lead discussions on race, bias, inclusivity, and equality and facilitate community discussion.
Each month, the Let's Talk Race team facilitates discussions that tackle various topics through the lens of race, equity, and inclusion. Every conversation is different and offers community members the opportunity to participate in this honest and courageous dialogue. In addition, Richland has plans to make training materials and program outlines available to other libraries to serve as a model for programming.
Conferences are a great way to revitalize and refresh, providing inspiration for new programs, exploring new procedures and initiatives, and connecting with peers from across the nation. We highly recommend taking advantage of any opportunities that become available.
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