Track 1: Patron-Facing Services
- 9:30-10:30
- Steve Sheinkin
- Session will not be recorded.
Keynote - Steve Sheinkin
Confessions of a (Former) Textbook Writer - Steve describes his long and winding path from miserable textbook writer to much happier writer of nonfiction books that kids and teens actually want to read. He'll include stories from his recent and upcoming books. A former textbook writer, Steve Sheinkin is now making amends by writing books young people might actually want to read. He's the author of fast-paced, cinematic nonfiction including Bomb, Fallout, Undefeated, Born to Fly, The Port Chicago 50, and Impossible Escape, as well as The Bletchley Riddle, a middle grade historical mystery written with Ruta Sepetys. Steve's accolades include a Newbery Honor, three Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, a Sibert Medal and Honor, three National Book Award finalist honors, and the Margaret A. Edwards Award. He lives with his family in Saratoga Springs, New York.
- 10:45-11:45
- Bambi Pea
- Session will be recorded.
Track 1, Session 2: Free and Low Cost Library Programs
Come learn about free and low cost programming for youth! We will talk about things you can do on the fly, or programs you can plan for next to nothing out of your library budget. We will cover all ages from birth to 18. Bambi Pea is a Branch Manager at the East 38th Street library of the Indianapolis Public Library System. She has a passion for working with the community, especially young people and seeing the difference she can make in the community. She went to IUPUI for all of her college career earning a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education in 2005 and her MLIS in 2015. She has a total of 16 years of library experience between two library systems in Indiana. She has presented at several conferences on topics pertaining to Children’s Services within the state of Indiana. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her three boys, who are very active in sports, arts and otherwise just being boys.
- 11:45-12:15
- Session will not be recorded.
Lunch & Optional Networking
Join your colleagues from around the region while you enjoy your lunch and discuss your favorite holiday baked goods! We'll exchange recipes too!
- 12:15-1:15
- Anita O’Brien
- Session will not be recorded.
Track 1, Session 3: Making Inclusion Happen in Your Library
Libraries serve as a primary destination for many families with children and remain an essential hub for accessing valuable resources, information and social connection across the lifetime. With approximately 26% of Americans living with a disability, and 27% of adults in New York State living with one or more disabilities, there exists a significant opportunity to ensure that the valuable services offered by our libraries are accessible to people with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. In this session, we will take a close look at what the concept of "inclusion" looks and feels like and explore strategies to use a lens of inclusion to transform our libraries into inclusive places of destination and employment for people with disabilities. Learning Objectives: - Participants will understand inclusion as a process rather than a checked off box. - Participants will learn how to reframe language so that it is used to promote an inclusive and empowering environment. - Participants will understand a model of Functional Ability to help reframe disability in a way that can result in the removal of barriers to participation by patrons/employees with disabilities. - Participants will learn at least three tangible strategies they can implement at their library that can result in enhanced participation by patrons with disabilities. Presenter: Anita O'Brien, Executive Director, Rochester Accessible Adventures. Anita O'Brien is the Founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit, Rochester Accessible Adventures. She received her Master’s Degree in Recreation & Leisure Studies from The University of Georgia and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Anita has 29 years of experience in the field of recreation, working with community-based recreation programs for people intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. She is an advocate for transforming how our communities offer recreation, sports and tourism so that people with and without disabilities can participate together with equitable and inclusive access, always.
- 1:30-2:30
- Tony Iovino
- Session will be recorded.
Track 1, Session 4: Connections: How Libraries Can Combat Loneliness
Loneliness and social isolation are rampant in America, according to many experts. The Center for Disease Control calls loneliness an epidemic, and says it has a higher morbidity rate than obesity (about the same as smoking two packs of cigarettes a day). Libraries can use programming to address this significant mental (and physical) health condition. The Oceanside Library has created a program to combat social isolation/loneliness. The program, Connections, crosses all demographics and includes passive as well as active programming. The presentation will address: • Identification of existing programs which have an anti-loneliness component in them • Creation of programs which have anti-loneliness as a key function • Adjusting programs to have an anti-loneliness component Tony Iovino has been the Assistant Director for the Oceanside Library since 2015. Prior to that, he was the head of litigation and managing partner for a law firm he started in 1986. Tony received his undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond, his JD from St. John's University School of Law, and his MLIS from the University of Kentucky.
- 2:45-3:45
- Emery Grant
- Session will not be recorded.
Track 1, Session 5: “We Lead with Kindness Here.” Creating Inclusive and Affirming Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth
Join a discussion on strategies for holding inclusive and supportive spaces in which LGBTQ+ youth and gender expansive youth are encouraged to be themselves. Gain resources for guiding youth to age appropriate, culturally-competent, and well-researched material that affirms the lives of LGBTQ+ people. Learn more about the impact that representation has on the health outcomes and academic performance of LGBTQ+ youth. Discuss strategies for engaging and affirming LGBTQ+ youth in mixed groups and in work environments where push back is expected. Emery (he/they) serves as Director of Evans Mills Public Library, part of the North Country Library System in Jefferson County, NY. He brings 15+ years of experience as a director and programmer for LGBTQ+ nonprofit cultural organizations and also serves as Director of Beyond, programs for LGBTQ+ youth and their families, powered by the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways. Previously, he served for eight years as Deputy Director of Stonewall National Museum & Archives, a museum, library, and archive of American LGBTQ+ history and culture. Emery is a transgender man from rural NNY who loves the joy that emanates from LGBTQ+ youth when their perspectives are normalized and supported, and when they learn about the legacy of LGBTQ+ people that came before them.