Governor's Advisory Council on Library Development Open Forum
Sunday Sessions, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Summary
Using Academic Library Strategic Plans to Learn About Collection Trends
Sunday Sessions, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
AI Ethics and the Library
Sunday Sessions, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
From Gardeners to Ham Radio: Creative Community Partnerships for Adult Library Programs
Sunday Sessions, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Gap in the Shelf: the Joys and Tough Topics in Middle Grade
Sunday Sessions, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Advocacy for Everyone
Sunday Sessions, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
The TAB Experience Told by Teens
Sunday Sessions, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
LOCAL AUTHOR PANEL - ADULT
Sunday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Shopping Your Closet: Collection Strategies for a Library in Flux
Sunday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
What's the deal with Dungeons & Dragons?
Sunday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Summer Reading Scrimmage: Strategies for Planning a Structured, Supported, and Fun Summer Program
Sunday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Lisa Varga: From LJ Librarian of the Year to top federal advocate
Sunday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
From shelf reading to a digital bookshelf: AI use in libraries
Sunday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Intellectual Freedom 101: Not Just a Theory
Sunday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
President's Program - Opening Keynote Session
President's Program, 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Welcome Reception
Welcome Reception, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Coffee Talk
Monday, Breakfast Options
Summary
Not Attending
Monday, Breakfast Options
Summary
2026 Carolyne L. Smith Best Practices Awards Presentations - Part 1
Monday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Inside Students’ Information Literacy Journeys: Connecting Pre-College Experiences to College-Level Expectations
Monday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Make Your Programming Accessible with LAMP
Monday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
YAY GAY: Allying with LGBTQ+ Teens through Library-School Partnerships
Monday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
The 70% Leap: A Blueprint for Transformative Library Advocacy
Monday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
From Gatekeepers to System-Weavers: Librarians at the Center of AI in Education
Monday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Repair and Revive: Hands on Book Repair Basics
Monday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2026 Carolyne L. Smith Best Practices Awards Presentations - Part 2
Monday Sessions, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Slow Fundraising: A Calmer, More Effective Approach to Sustainable Development
Monday Sessions, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Poetry Writers Groups As Community Builders in Public Libraries
Monday Sessions, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
STEAM Express: Creating an Interactive Science Workshop with Themed Labs for Children
Monday Sessions, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
From Friction to Focus: Overcoming Bully Board Members and Agenda Drift
Monday Sessions, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Outside the Box Outreach!
Monday Sessions, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Understanding Human Trafficking
Monday Sessions, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Cheers to Midcareer! Navigating the Murky Middle of Academic Librarianship
Monday Sessions, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Building Partnerships that Last: Creating Meaningful Community Collaborations for Library Programming
Monday Sessions, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Musical Moments: Instruments, Stories, and Songs for Early Learners
Monday Sessions, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Family Literacy and Early Learning: where PA Forward® intersects with Civic & Social Literacy and Basic Literacy in Youth Services
Monday Sessions, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Relighting the Fire: a workshop on reenergizing and reengaging long term staff
Monday Sessions, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
From School to Community: Libraries as Lifelong Support Systems for Differently‑Abled Young Adults
Monday Sessions, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Local Author Session (Children) - Little Hands Signing in Storytime All Year Round
Monday Sessions, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Not Attending
Monday Lunches
Summary
CRD Luncheon - Veggie Option*
Monday Lunches
CRD Luncheon - Meat Option*
Monday Lunches
CWF Luncheon - Veggie Option*
Monday Lunches
CWF Luncheon - Meat Option*
Monday Lunches
Exhibits Grand Opening Strolling Lunch
Monday Lunches
Summary
No-Conflict Exhibit Time & Poster Presentations
Monday Poster Sessions & No-Conflict Exhibit Time
Summary
Exhibitor Showcase: Creative Library Concepts (2:25 PM - 2:45 PM)
Exhibitor Showcases, 2:25-2:45 PM
Exhibitor Showcase: OSS/KROY (2:25 PM - 2:45 PM)
Exhibitor Showcases, 2:25-2:45 PM
Exhibitor Showcase: J.P. Jay Associates, Inc. (2:50-3:10 PM)
Exhibitor Showcases, 2:50-3:10 PM
Exhibitor Showcase (2:50-3:10 PM)
Exhibitor Showcases, 2:50-3:10 PM
Expanding Who Belongs: Creating Inclusive Academic Library Experiences for Students with Intellectual Disability
Monday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Zen Doodling in the Library: Creative, Low-Cost Mindfulness Programming
Monday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
From Self-Paced to Supercharged: Strengthening Storytimes Through Intentional Practice
Monday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Funding the Future: Grant Opportunities for Pennsylvania Libraries
Monday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Talking With Your Community About AI: A Practical Guide
Monday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Manuscript to Metadata: Digitizing Pre-Revolutionary Papers
Monday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Saving Stories: The Librarians Responsibility to Challenge Censorship
Monday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Visit the Exhibits/ 5:15 PM Raffle Drawing
Visit the Exhibits (Raffle Drawing 5:15)
Summary
PA Black Librarians' Caucus Meet and Greet (5:30-6:30 PM)
PA Black Librarians' Caucus Membership Event
Summary
Public Library Division Business Meeting (5:30 - 6 PM)
Monday Evening Membership Meetings/Events
Summary
Coffee Talk
Tuesday Breakfast Options
Summary
Not Attending
Tuesday Breakfast Options
Summary
SPARK & Friends Breakfast
Tuesday Breakfast Options
Preventing Soft Censorship in Reader’s Advisory: Strategies for Conversations with Families
Tuesday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Think Outside the Stacks: Creative Outreach That Brings the Community In
Tuesday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Evaluating Youth Services Programs: some low cost and immediate evaluation tools.
Tuesday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Powered by the People: Building Equity-Driven, Community-Led Library Programming
Tuesday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Project Planning and Management in Technical Services
Tuesday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Crafting Safe Spaces: Supporting Women Library Leaders with Caregiving Roles
Tuesday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
From Construction to Community: Challenges and Opportunities in Library Renovations
Tuesday Sessions, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
No-Conflict Exhibit Time & Poster Presentations
Tuesday Poster Sessions & No-Conflict Exhibit Time
Summary
Exhibitor Showcase: First Nonprofit (10:10 AM - 10:30 AM)
Tuesday Poster Sessions & No-Conflict Exhibit Time
Exhibitor Showcase (10:10 AM - 10:30 AM)
Exhibitor Showcases, 10:10 AM - 10:30 AM
Exhibitor Showcase: TechOps Specialty Vehicles (10:35 AM - 10:55 AM)
Exhibitor Showcases, 10:35 AM - 10:55 AM
Exhibitor Showcase (10:35 AM - 10:55 AM)
Exhibitor Showcases, 10:35 AM - 10:55 AM
Student Success on a Shoestring: Academic Libraries, Student Success, and Shrinking Budgets
Tuesday Sessions, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Stronger Together: Building Productive Library–Municipality Partnerships for Sustainable Community Impact
Tuesday Sessions, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Empowering Young Entrepreneurs: Hosting Teen Artisan Craft Fairs at Your Library
Tuesday Sessions, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Stormproofing the Stacks: Crisis Management for Libraries
Tuesday Sessions, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
From Inner Critic to Inner Leader: How to Work with Your Mind, Not Against It
Tuesday Sessions, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
2026 PA Forward® Adult Literacy Programming Awards
Tuesday Sessions, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
The Nuts & Bolts of Starting a Tool Lending Library
Tuesday Sessions, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Public Library Division Luncheon
Tuesday Lunch Options
Exhibits Strolling Lunch
Tuesday Lunch Options
Poster Presentations
Tuesday PM Poster Sessions
Exhibit Hall Raffle Drawing
Exhibit Hall Raffle Drawing
What’s the Verdict? A Panel Discussion on Law for Librarians
Tuesday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Library-Based Social Work: An Emerging Practice Advancing Library Services
Tuesday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Everyday Advocacy
Tuesday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Demystifying Human Subjects Research: Tools, Tips, and Confidence for Librarians Pt 1
Tuesday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Celebrating Success: Honoring the 125th Anniversary of the Pennsylvania Library Association
Tuesday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Really? That's the book you want? Children selecting their own books
Tuesday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Connecting the Commonwealth Through Books: Statewide Resources & Youth Awards from the PA Center for the Book
Tuesday Sessions, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Discovering Discovery Layers: how PA libraries are leveraging technology to showcase resources
Tuesday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Creating Music & Movement Classes That Are In-Demand
Tuesday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Panel Discussion: Beyond the Stacks—Specialized Departments in PA libraries
Tuesday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Demystifying Human Subjects Research: Tools, Tips, and Confidence for Librarians Pt 2
Tuesday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Becoming Compliant: A Review of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Standards
Tuesday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Supporting Reluctant Readers Through Scary Stories
Tuesday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Librarian by Day, Comics Advocate by Night: Supporting Comic Creators and Readers
Tuesday Sessions, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
PaLA History Keynote
Tuesday Keynote
Not Attending
Wednesday Breakfast Options
Summary
Legislative Breakfast
Wednesday Breakfast Options
Marketing and AI: Tools to help you take your Canva Designs to the Next Level
Wednesday Sessions, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
In Your Own Backyard: Community-Powered Programming for Kids, Teens, Adults
Wednesday Sessions, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
A Good Librarian’s Guide to Murder: Youth Programming Related to Murder Mysteries
Wednesday Sessions, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Fun with a Purpose: Creating Teen Programs That Nurture Growth
Wednesday Sessions, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Responding to ICE in the Library
Wednesday Sessions, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Connected to Coverage: How Libraries Can Help Pennsylvanians Access Healthcare
Wednesday Sessions, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
It's only Copy, Right?: How to Navigate the Complex World of Copyright Law for Library Professional
Wednesday Sessions, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Opening Doors, Opening Minds: Libraries and Dementia Friendly Partnerships
Wednesday Sessions, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
From Copy Machine to Community: Zines in Libraries
Wednesday Sessions, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
The Power of Fandoms
Wednesday Sessions, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
From Interview to Archive: Building a Sustainable Oral History Workflow
Wednesday Sessions, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Come Chill Out at PaLA: Introduction to Sensory Social Justice and Literacy
Wednesday Sessions, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Smart Art for Kids – Reinforcing math concepts through the expression of art
Wednesday Sessions, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
From Idea to Execution: A Workshop on Program Design
Wednesday Sessions, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM