Presented by: Sydney Stenekes

Description:

The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit that supports rural, remote and Indigenous communities in responding to their needs. We develop tools and resources, provide capacity, training, and expertise, and lead advocacy efforts to bring awareness to rural issues and increased funding to communities. 

In recent years, rural libraries have increasingly sought support from RDN to respond to homelessness and immigration. As community hubs, libraries often serve as spaces for people experiencing housing insecurity and newcomers. However, smaller communities often have limited resources and capacity to meet these growing needs. 

Recognizing the unique strengths and challenges of rural communities, this session will highlight different ways that libraries can be involved in responding to social issues and fostering community well-being. Throughout the session, we will share tools and resources with library staff, aiming to empower rural libraries and build confidence in their ability to engage with and support vulnerable community members, ultimately creating inclusive and welcoming spaces in their libraries.

Stream: Staff Development & Wellbeing

Presented by: Carla Frybort

Description:

Leduc is a growing, thriving community facing challenges with how to best respond to and serve a diverse unhoused population. With the closure of a social agency and shelter, the Leduc Library has faced challenges with being one of only a couple spaces open to everyone in the community.

Building on their partnership with the City of Leduc, the library is working closely with municipal departments, Family & Community Support Services and Leduc Enforcement Services, to build relationships with these residents who have very complex needs and to ensure that our library is a safe and welcoming space for all. 

Come learn about this project, and what we have learned with a FCSS Navigator, a Community Peace Officer and a Library Director to see their different perspectives and roles, and how the project is going thus far.

Streams:

• Library Governance & Advocacy
  
  
• Innovative Programming & Spaces

Presented by: Laura Reid, Kathleen James, Brianna Calomino

Description:

Onboarding in new professional roles can be challenging at any stage of a librarian’s career, but the experience of new and emerging professionals within academic institutions present particular hurdles that can be difficult to navigate with confidence. In this session, three early career librarians present a session that will prompt reflection around assumptions, challenges, and successes of onboarding and professional support. Through a discussion of peer support, self-directed learning, and ways to take initiative in professional growth, they will explore how early career professionals can approach new roles with a mindset towards assertive self-advocacy. By sharing their unique experiences and identifying common threads of onboarding, they will encourage an honest and practical framing of onboarding to support realistic expectations and strategies to establish positive momentum for your path in librarianship.

Stream: Staff Development & Wellbeing

Presented by: Lesley Moody, Maia Foster, Megan Ginther, Joy Willihnganz, and Rebecca Smith

Description:

In rural communities, small libraries often face challenges like limited funding, staffing shortages, and service duplication. But what if working together could turn these obstacles into strengths? In Mountain View County, five libraries have formed a unique partnership to provide seamless, county-wide programming—maximizing impact while minimizing barriers.

This panel of library managers will share how collaboration has enabled them to launch successful initiatives like the Books for Babies literacy program, a regional Comic Con, and a shared Community Adult Learning program. Through these partnerships, the libraries have increased accessibility, streamlined resources, and strengthened community connections—without sacrificing their individual identities.

Panelists will discuss practical strategies for building trust, reducing bureaucratic barriers, and leveraging shared technology like Microsoft Teams to enhance collaboration. Attendees will gain actionable insights on initiating partnerships, managing joint programs, and demonstrating impact through data.

Whether you’re in a rural or urban setting, this session will provide inspiration and practical takeaways on how libraries can amplify their reach by working together. Join us to discover how small libraries, through collaboration, can create big change!

Stream: Library Governance & Advocacy

Presented by: Carol Brown

Description:

This condensed workshop will cover strategies for locating and evaluating science and health information, focusing on assessing sources and evidence. I will introduce tools and techniques you can use and share with patrons and briefly discuss common tactics that are used to spread misinformation. The session will also provide the opportunity for hands-on practice using scenarios and practical examples.

Stream: Small/Rural Public Libraries

Presented by: Jessica Knoch, Laura Peters

Description:

Double the ADHD, Double the Insight: A Supervisor-Employee Perspective

What happens when both the supervisor and the employee have ADHD? Join two colleagues—one manager, one employee—as they share their lived experiences navigating the workplace as neurodivergent individuals. This session blends current research on ADHD in professional settings with real-world stories of miscommunication, breakthroughs, strengths, and stumbles. Together, we’ll explore how trust, emotional regulation, feedback, and productivity can be affected by ADHD—and what strategies actually work when both parties are learning and growing together.

You’ll hear from both sides of the supervisory relationship, offering a rare dual perspective on what support can look like when neurodivergence is a shared experience. We’ll also discuss how accommodations, self-awareness, and flexibility can shape more inclusive and functional work environments—not just for people with ADHD, but for everyone.

Whether you’re neurodivergent yourself, work with someone who is, manage someone who is, or report to someone who is, this session offers insight, empathy, and takeaways that can shift your mindset and your workplace culture. 

Stream: Staff Development & Wellbeing

Presented by: Margaret Law

Description:

Library boards often find it challenging to supervise Library Managers, and to appraise them in an appropriate manner. Participants in this session will learn about the performance management cycle, including goal setting, providing feedback and getting the information they need to evaluate the Manager. The role of the Library Board in supervising the Library Manager will be explained. Topics will include: setting goals that are relevant and measurable, providing ongoing feedback in both positive and negative situations, asking for information about successes and challenges. The session will conclude with steps to complete a formal performance appraisal in a fair manner and writing the reports.

Performance management is an essential tool in ensuring that the Library Manager and the library staff are working towards the Library's goals, and that their time and effort are invested well. It is a risk management tool, as well as an essential component of accountability. The way in which the Board evaluates the work of the Library Manager can provide a model for how the Library Manager appraises other staff members. Participants will be able to practice giving feedback to deal with issues, and learn how to ensure that directions are clear.

Stream: Library Governance & Advocacy

Presented by: Amy Linville, Justin Unrau

Description: From finding research materials to figuring out QR codes, helping patrons with technology is a ubiquitous task at modern libraries. But help with technology isn’t just about technology; our heightened emotions often influence interactions, causing elation when things are going well and spiralling frustration when things aren’t working. So much of our everyday lives require devices and internet, leading to what can feel like high-stakes tech moments. Sometimes, our emotions can even impede technological success, hindering learning before we even begin. We feel this impact on patrons of varying ages and circumstances, when staff are prevented from effectively assisting them to accomplish their goals, even if the technology is working well.
With this in mind, we as library staff need to recognize and plan for the possibility of complex and intense emotions when working with patrons and technology in programming and at public desk encounters. Our presentation will focus on how the Digital Literacy team at Strathcona County Library has recognized the importance of dealing with our users’ feelings as part of their tech questions, and will share some of the ways our team embrace their roles as both tech and emotional support.

Stream: Digital Services & Literacy

Presented by: Caleigh Haworth, Gloria Wilson

Description: Challenged by creating attractive promotional materials that represent your brand's style while adhering to accessibility standards? You don't need a design degree to learn time-saving techniques and gain confidence in your design abilities. In this engaging and interactive presentation, you'll discover the power of well-designed materials, get practical tips on universal design principles, and learn how to express your brand with cohesive elements while ensuring your designs are inclusive and accessible, no matter what platform you use to create promotional materials!

Stream: Innovative Programming & Spaces

Presented by: Graeme Matichuk

Description:

ng Friends of the Library groups are essential partners in library fundraising and advocacy across public, school, academic, and special libraries. This session will provide library staff and library advocates with actionable steps to revitalize their Friends of the Library groups using insights gleaned from conversations with dozens of Friends of the Library groups. Through collaborative problem-solving and interactive discussion, attendees will learn practical techniques for recruiting members, refining advocacy strategies, introducing digital strategies, and enhancing fundraising efforts.

Graeme served as the Marketing Chair of the Friends of St. Albert Public Library from 2018 to 2025 and the President from 2020 to 2025, introducing new digital tools and boosting membership. In 2019, he helped revitalize the Friends of Edmonton Public Library from its dormancy. During his time with the Friends of the Library, he launched an initiative called “Friends Helping Friends” which has brought together over a dozen Friends of the Library groups from around the world to learn from each other. Graeme currently leads a business focused on libraries, community engagement, and accessibility, providing expert support to help build better communities.

Stream: Library Governance & Advocacy

Presented by: Elaine Jones

Description:

Society’s heightened awareness of neurodiversity has increased the demand for library services that are supportive of a wide range of sensory needs. Since the senses play a crucial role in children’s development and learning in the early years, it is particularly important to intentionally design programs and services to meet the needs of all children, including those who are neurodivergent. In this session you will have an opportunity to learn about some of the tools, principles, and approaches the Edmonton Public Library has implemented recently to make the library more accessible and welcoming for families with neurodiverse children. You will also have the opportunity to share ideas with colleagues and learn what other libraries have tried, what has worked (or hasn’t), and the cost. Whether you have been running a Sensory Storytime for many years or are just starting to think about how you can better support a particular family, you will leave the session with some practical suggestions you can readily implement to make visiting the library a more positive experience for all. Although the focus will be on young children, many of the ideas discussed can be applied to services for other ages, too.

Stream: Innovative Programming & Spaces

Presented by: Brittany Miller

Description:

Your library has a mission that matters—and it deserves to be seen!

But if you’re unsure how to leverage social media to showcase your library events, connect with sponsors, or increase visibility in your community, then this session is for you!

We’re diving into how libraries can use visual storytelling to boost their online presence, build stronger connections, and draw in the support they need. By the end, you’ll have clear, actionable strategies and relatable examples that will help you:

 Bring Your Library to Life – Use photos, videos, and graphics to highlight your programs, collections, and community impact in a way that connects and excites.

 Create Connections & Community – Humanize your library by showcasing the personalities behind the scenes—your team, staff, and unique events—to create meaningful engagement.

 Go Beyond Promotion to Participation – Learn how to turn basic event announcements into content that inspires action and drives attendance.

Join us to see how visual storytelling can amplify your library’s impact on social media, boost engagement, and elevate your visibility in the community!

Stream: Digital Services & Literacy