G&G 2026 Schedule
Conference Track Key
- Track 1: Library Administration & Trustees
- Track 2: Programming
- Track 3: Advocacy & Access
Session Descriptions, Presenter Bios, and Additional Details
Gather & Grow 2026 Schedule and Session Links
| TIME | SESSION TITLE | PRESENTER NAME(S) | LINK TO JOIN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:15 – 9:30am | Welcome & Introductions | Brian Hildreth, Erika Jenns, Terry Kirchner | Click to join the Welcome & Introductions session. |
| 9:30 – 10:30am | Keynote – The Ripple Effect: How Small, Intentional Acts of Inclusion Can Have Big, Meaningful Impacts | Eric Rosswood | Click to join the Keynote session. |
| 10:30 – 10:40am | Break | Break | Break |
| 10:40 – 11:40am | Track 1 – Executive Search Done Well: A Trustee’s Guide to Hiring Your Next Library Director | Ian Coyle | Click to join Executive Search Done Well session. |
| Track 2 – Play, Explore, Learn: Building Early Literacy Through Station-Based Programs | Kendra Brewer | Click to join Play, Explore, Learn session. | |
| Track 3 – Your Library Accessibility Action Plan | Katie St. Laurent | Click to join Your Library Accessibility Action Plan session. | |
| 11:40am – 12:40pm | Lunch & Networking Session | Keturah Cappadonia, LJ Martin, Circe McKenney, & Haleigh Mikolajczyk | Click to join Lunch & Networking session. |
| 12:40 – 1:40pm | Track 1 – Legal Issues for Libraries | Stephanie Cole Adams | Click to join Legal Issues for Libraries session. |
| Track 2 – Ready, Set, Race! Implementing a Teen Amazing Race into Teen Programs | Cherish Inman | Click to join Ready, Set, Race! session. | |
| Track 3 – Serving Neurodivergent Patrons | Courtney Tsahalis | Click to join Serving Neurodivergent Patrons session. | |
| 1:40 – 2:00pm | Break with Chair Yoga | Keturah Cappadonia | Click to join Chair Yoga session. |
| 2:00 – 3:00pm | Track 1 – Exploring the Library Director and Board President Relationship | Panel: Rachael Aycock, Emerson DeMeester-Lane, Beth Osborne, and Quintin Peacock | Click to join Exploring the Relationship session. |
| Track 2 – Navigating AI Hype in Small Public Libraries | Hannah Cyrus | Click to join Navigating AI session. | |
| Track 3 – Library Advocacy with NYLA | Max Prime | Click to join Library Advocacy session. |
Special Break Opportunities
11:40am – 12:40pm: Lunch Networking Session – Rooted in Partnership
Join colleagues from around the state for networking over lunch! As you snack at your desk, Keturah Cappadonia Outreach & Sustainability Consultant at the Souther Tier Library System, LJ Martin Assistant Director of the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, Circe McKenney Professional Development Coordinator at the Four County Library System, and Haleigh Mikolajczyk Program Consultant at the Southern Tier Library System will lead the group. Join us for this fun, lunch-time session and get to know some new faces and facts about libraries in NYS.
1:40 – 2:00pm: Break with Chair Yoga
Join STLS Outreach & Sustainability Consultant, Keturah Cappadonia, for a 15-minute break and some chair yoga!