This presentation will spotlight how the Labriola National American Indian Data Center, an Indigenous-led and Indigenous-staffed library at Arizona State University (ASU), centers community in their library programming and services. Presenters will highlight successful library programs that encourage Tribal community members within the urban area and on reservations at ASU campus to share knowledge through storytelling, art, and performance. Presenters will also stress the importance of how culturally relevant programming fosters a learning environment that supports Indigenous academic success. Through their implementation of Indigenous librarianship, Labriola staff will emphasize how libraries can be a space for decolonization and cultural resilience when Indigenous values of kinship, community, consent and sovereignty are applied throughout a library service model.

Learning Objectives:

• Creating programing and services that are centered in Indigenous learning
• Diverse ways to implement programing and research services at your university/library
• Incorporating art as ways of knowing and learning in libraries

Eric Hardy is from the Diné Nation (Navajo Nation). He is born of the Bitter Water Clan (Tódich'ii'nii) and for the Weaver Clan (Tł'ógi). He is currently the Senior Program Coordinator for the Labriola National American Indian Data Center. Prior to working at Labriola, Eric had worked with Tribes in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah to implement culturally adapted chronic disease prevention projects. In his work, he advocates for the strengthening of Indigenous cultural resilience practices and the decolonization of Tribal communities. He holds a Bachelor’s in American Indian Studies (AIS) from Arizona State University (ASU) and is currently completing his Master’s in AIS at ASU.

Vina Begay (Diné Nation) is the Assistant Librarian and Archivist at the Labriola National American Indian Data Center with Arizona State University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater, Master of Business Administration and Master of Library and Information Science with a specialization in Archival Studies and Digital Information Management. Vina has dedicated her career to safeguarding, preserving, and advocating the implementation of the Protocols of Native American Archival Materials within Western institutions to ensure proper care and management of Indigenous cultural information.  Additionally, Vina has served as a Tribal Archivist consultant for Tribal communities in the assistance of establishing Archival Centers within their community, including developing and providing training on Tribal archival practices tailored to the Tribal Nation’s cultural beliefs, practices, and governance structure. Vina is currently serving as the Chair for the Native American Archive Section (NAAS) and as an Archival Repatriation committee member with the Society of American Archivists. Vina also currently leads the Indigenous Archival Training Program for NAAS. 

The Sierra Vista Public Library is part of a 10 division Parks, Library, and Recreation Department, which includes sports, aquatics, parks, adaptive recreation, art, culture, and more. Learn how library staff used their programming and expertise, using practical examples, to weave a link between those "other" divisions to reach underserved populations in their area and reach vital new users "where they are"--at our pool, parks, and recreational buildings. Viewing the library as part of a much larger team as an opportunity to enhance our offerings, rather than a drawback, was key to our success. Here's how one library did it--and here's how you can bring our success to your own community!

Learning Objectives:

• Internal Partnerships
• Outreach and Relationship Building
• New Users & Growth

Emily Duchon directs the operations for the 30,000 plus square foot Sierra Vista Public Library in addition to managing four additional cultural & recreational divisions for the City of Sierra Vista: The Henry H Hauser Museum, Adaptive Adults Recreational Program, Family Programming, as well as the City Artist Studio. Her multi-departmental experience includes operational excellence, mentoring and retaining top notch employees, facility maintenance, budgets, and utilizing innovative ideas and designs to motivate the workplace and keep things fresh. She loves both libraries and parks and recreation dearly and works hard to integrate efforts at all levels of operation. She is a librarian as well as a certified parks and recreation professional. She holds both an MLIS and an MPA and considers departmental connectivity (and creativity) her greatest strength.

Come learn about this unique library that provides audiobook/braille services to the visually impaired, print disabled, and those with dexterity issues. The Talking Book Library (TBL) would like to empower librarians and library administrators to better serve your community by empowering you to register eligible people. Each library throughout the state knows their community and those who could be using these services. Let’s team up to better serve our communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the Talking Book Library
• Hear how libraries are able to assist your community
• How libraries are able to participate with this program

Christine Tuttle is the Outreach Librarian at the Arizona Talking Book Library. Christine received her MLIS from the University of Arizona. In 2007, she joined the Talking Book Library as the Readers’ Advisor and Communities Librarian. Since 2009, Christine has been her current role, as the outreach and community engagement librarian, providing workshops for libraries, professional associations, and the public throughout Arizona.

Jennifer McLaughlin: I am the Reading Disabilities Librarian/Reader Advisor at the Arizona Talking Book Library. I have worked for more than 15 years as a librarian in public, medical and academic capacities. I also have previous professional experience in business/marketing, social work and teaching that I bring to my work as a librarian.

Join us to learn about barriers patrons face when attempting to use library services and resources, and strategies employed by ASU Library to aid in reducing these barriers. Stay for a round table discussion to work with peers, further community understanding of accessibility, and brainstorm new strategies that can be used to reduce and eliminate barriers within our field. Help form an active network of library workers focused on improving the accessibility of libraries across Arizona!

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will deepen their understanding of potential barriers to resources and services faced by library users.
• Attendees will learn about strategies and resources used by other libraries to minimize and remove such barriers.
• Attendees will make connections with peers interested in improving accessibility at their institution.

Seren Nutt (pronouns: they/them) has worked for ASU Library since October 2021, first as a student worker and currently as a Public Services Specialist at Hayden Library. They have a background in LGBTQ2S+ and disability advocacy and are currently completing an undergraduate degree in community advocacy and social policy from Arizona State University. Seren is neurodivergent and physically disabled and is passionate about increasing access to library services and resources for all communities.

Karen Grondin (pronouns: she/her) is the Licensing Librarian at ASU Library. She has more than 30 years' experience working in academic libraries in a variety of roles. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Kent State University, a Master of Arts in Information Resources and Library Science from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in Disability Studies from Arizona State University. She advocates for accessibility and serves as an ASU Digital Accessibility Liaison.

Learn how to take your Storytime to the next level with less stress! The Storytime Team at the Buckeye Public Library uses teamwork and planning, collaboration with other city departments and outside organisations, and volunteers to deliver awe-inspiring Babytimes and Storytimes three days a week between two branches.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how planning and teamwork can be used to deliver bigger results in less time.
• Use partnerships to enhance your Storytimes and help parents raise the whole child.
• Learn how to use the six pillars of early literacy to make themes easy.

Cynthia Martinez, a bilingual Arizona native and proud resident of one of the fastest-growing cities in America, the City of Buckeye, has been working with the library since 2003. She has a passion for exceptional customer service and has taken on leadership roles in various capacities within the library, including, Children’s, Adult, and Youth Services. As a Library Assistant Senior, she currently oversees a system-wide team focused on the development of programs tailored to children aged birth to 5. Additionally, she imparts her knowledge of bookbinding and the art of origami to enthusiastic learners. When she’s not brainstorming innovative ways to promote the importance of early literacy, Cynthia enjoys making memories with her children by visiting The Buckeye Public Library, a meaningful place to her during her own childhood.

Bersabe Amaya is a devoted wife, proud mother, and passionate library enthusiast. She first stepped into the world of books and knowledge in 2018, at a library in Victorville, CA. That is when she realized that her work was more than just a job; it was a heartfelt commitment to serving the community with joy, creativity, and unwavering dedication. Bersabe works as a Library Assistant Senior at the Buckeye Public Library Downtown. Alongside an incredible team, she helps curate experiences that not only educate but also spark imagination. With every program Bersabe organizes, the goal is simple- inspire the next generation of bookworms and dreamers.

Carly Southwick is an Arizona State University graduate with a B.S. in Global Business. She quickly realized that global business was not what she wanted to do with the rest of her life but found her passion with public libraries. She spent 11 years working for the Phoenix Public Library, and has spent the last 8 years at the Buckeye Public Library where she is a Library Assistant. Her current focus is on early literacy where she helps with weekly Babytime and Storytime programs. She and the Storytime Team have built a successful Storytime program and they often have over 300 people coming to their programs on a weekly basis. When she’s not shaping young minds, she loves spending time with her husband and two daughters.

Silvana Kane has been a library assistant for five years. She also has two decades of experience working in school settings. Being an Ecuadorian-immigrant, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep love for literacy to her role. Currently employed as a Library Assistant at the Downtown Branch of the Buckeye Public Library, Silvana dedicates her time to organizing captivating storytelling sessions, designing craft projects, and making the library a welcoming place for young readers. Outside of work, Silvana finds joy in reading, exploring Arizona's trails, relaxing by her pool and engaging in personal DIY projects. Her commitment, spirit, and boundless enthusiasm contribute significantly to the library and the local Buckeye community by nurturing children's passion for reading and learning from a young age.

Join us for a fast-paced look at recent projects powered by federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Get ideas for launching your own programs and services with Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants offered by the Arizona State Library. Brief presentations by project managers from all over the state will cover a range of topics such as digitization, community outreach, teen services, and coding programs. There's something for every library type and size, and for every community!

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants
• Learn about recent projects funded by LSTA
• Get ideas for launching your own programs and services with LSTA grants from the Arizona State Library.

Chris Guerra is Grants Consultant and State Data Coordinator for the Library Development branch of the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records. An "accidental librarian," being that he came into the world of libraries by chance, he has nonetheless found a home within the profession, and has had the pleasure of being part of the State Library for over 13 years now. An avid gaming and technology enthusiast, he spends a lot of time online and would likely be one of the first to fall in an apocalypse with no Internet.

Standing on the Corner of OERizona

Join us to learn about the newly formed OERizona Network (https://www.oerizona.org), a community started by Arizona’s community colleges and universities, and expanding to all educators across the state. The OERizona Network is a professional learning community committed to providing learners across Arizona (and beyond) unimpeded and equitable access to high-quality learning materials through the promotion of open educational practices. We’ll provide an introduction to open education and open educational resources (OER), how and why OERizona was formed, and an overview of the free, customizable resources available to all. Finally, you can be part of our OERizona hub on OER Commons (https://oercommons.org/hubs/oerizona) and join our community of practice — it’s such a fine place to be!

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the basics of open education and open educational resources.
• Learn the goals and benefits of the OERizona Network.
• Find out how to get involved in OERizona.

Cheryl Casey is the Open Education Librarian at the University of Arizona Libraries, where she has led open educational resource (OER) initiatives since 2014. She is a trainer for the Open Education Network (OEN) and an instructor for the OEN’s Certificate in Open Education Librarianship. She holds an MIRLS from the University of Arizona.

Megan Crossfield is President of the OERizona network’s Board of Cultivators. She coordinates the Open Textbooks for Rural Arizona initiative. She has a Master of Education (M.Ed.) specializing in Educational Counseling from San Jose State University.

Shelly Gilliam is the Manager of Public Services & Instruction at the Yavapai College Library and holds an MLIS from the University of Arizona. Her librarian superpowers are leading the Library Instruction Team, OER team, Reference & Circulation services, and Shelly recently acquired a certificate in Creative Commons licensing.

Anali Maughan Perry is the Head of the Open Science and Scholarly Communication (OSSC) Division at ASU Library. In this role, she leads efforts to provide outreach and education to the ASU community regarding open science and scholarship, scholarly publishing and copyright, open access to scholarly information, and open education. The OSSC Division includes Research Data Services and Course Resource Services, as well as management of the ASU Research Data and KEEP institutional repositories.

OER Librarian Carrie Meakins-Farnsworth holds an MIRLS from the University of Arizona and comes with a background in K-12 education. Her current librarian superpowers are OER faculty outreach, curating OER resources, a member of the Yavapai College Library Instruction Team, and Carrie recently acquired a certificate in Creative Commons licensing.

Empowering Communities: Libraries Leading Public Health Partnerships

Libraries have extensive population reach and invest in technology and services to meet the diverse needs of the communities they serve. There are over 17,000 public libraries in the U.S., with nearly half located in rural areas. Libraries are an important part of the public health environment because they offer two components of a successful health-care network: accessibility and trustworthiness. Both libraries and public health share a common goal of building and sustaining resilient communities. Library programs across the nation provided support and resources for vulnerable populations including homeless people, people with mental illness and substance use, recent immigrants, and children and families suffering from trauma. One library system had over half a million people attend programs addressing health determinants, such as housing and literacy. This session will highlight a few initiatives public libraries are supporting and provide examples of public health partnerships.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will understand the role of public libraries in promoting community health.
• Participants will gain an understanding of the various ways in which public libraries contribute to public health initiatives, including access to health information, educational programs, and community outreach efforts.
• Participants will learn about real-world examples of collaborative efforts between public libraries and public health organizations, including integrating health promotion activities into library services.

Dana Abbey, MLS, is an Engagement Coordinator with the Network of the National Library of Medicine Region 4. For over 20 years, she has worked to improve the public's access to reliable information to enable informed decisions regarding health, and to enhance access to evidence-based research for clinicians and the public health workforce. She has worked in special, public, and academic libraries. Dana is a Colorado native and loves to visit and learn about the communities across Region 4 and the nation.

Join Federal Depository Library staff from across Arizona on an exciting Government Information journey into the world of Government Information! Discover examples, resources, and practical tips to help you navigate government documents with ease. No worries – we will start with the basics and spark your curiosity to explore even further.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand where to find trusted government information in print and online
• Learn how government information can enhance your answers to reference questions
• Understand Arizona’s Federal Depository Libraries, what they offer, and how the transition from a print to a Digital Federal Depository Library program will affect access
• Articulate what government information is and how it is produced on a state and federal level

Aimée C Quinn is the NAU-Yuma Assistant Librarian. She earned her M.L.I.S. degree from Louisiana State University and a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of New Mexico. She published over 50 articles, book chapters, and reports related to the preservation of the U.S. Congressional Serial Set, rare and valuable government publications, civic engagement, and digital government information. Having taught civic engagement, collection management, and foundations of government information and library science in her career, she is regularly sought out as a mentor and advisor to new government information librarians. She is interested in the intersections of government information and underserved communities which led to her contributions to research and publication her service on the U.S. Government Publishing Office Depository Library Council for the past three years. She is continuing this research along with her work on the impact of presidential actions on environmental and scientific government information.

Jordan Myers is a Librarian I at Burton Barr Central Library located in the heart of downtown Phoenix. Over the past year, Jordan has made significant contributions to the Special Collections Team. In his role, Jordan helps oversee the Arizona Room, ensuring the collection remains accessible and engaging to the community. Additionally, Jordan assists with the library's Rare Book Room by planning engaging programs and leading informative tours, helping bring the collection's valuable resources to life for the public. With a background as a high school English teacher, Jordan brings passion for education, literacy, and exercising proper research methods to their role so that patrons in his community can stay better connected in a world full of information overload.

Jennifer Parker is a Library Assistant with Phoenix Public Library at Burton Barr Central Library. She has worked with the Government Documents team, among other things, for two years. Before joining the library, she spent many years as a theatre artist and academic.

Kori Tueller is the Administrator of the State of Arizona Research Library, a branch of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. She is the Regional Federal Depository Library Coordinator for Arizona. She earned her MLIS degree from the University of Arizona. She enthusiastically connects researchers to resources any chance she gets!

Myrrh Morningstar is the Government Information Library Associate at the State of Arizona Research Library. She started her library career as a Page within the Phoenix Public Library system, is a MLIS graduate student at the University of Arizona, and in 2023 received the Sharon G. Womack Outstanding Library Technician Award.

We will go over the processes of starting the Bookmobile Branch which is the 18th branch in the Phoenix system as well as a service model not done with the city in 35 years. We will discuss what has worked and not worked in our first year as a fully dedicated outreach team covering a large city while acting as a local branch to an underserved community.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn the process of starting a new branch and services model
• How to adapt and keep an open mind when starting something new
• The best services in being an outreach library branch

Keith Lord has been with the City of Phoenix Library system for 12 years starting as a page at Burton Barr Central Library. For 4 years he has been a branch manager, most recently as the new Bookmobile Branch manager.