ArLA 2026 Annual Conference

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2:10pm CDT

Going Out with a Bang! America 250 Programming and Public Libraries.

Friday October 16, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT

There is still time to offer some America 250 programming to your library patrons. This session will discuss programming options for youth from preschool through high school that can still be done in the final few months of the celebration year. Attendees will share programming ideas with each other and leave with a few options for a Program In Your Pocket, how to use the puppet kit add on materials, and some final "Tea Party" activities and crafts. Participants will also leave knowing exactly what to do to make sure that their library's America 250 story is told in Arkansas and on a national level through the submission of statistics, pictures, evaluations and comment forms.

Speakers

Ruth Hyatt

Librarian, Arkansas State Library

Ruth Hyatt is a Librarian in the Library Development Department of the Arkansas State Library. She has 30+ years of experience in the field of Youth Services, as her mind was there even during the years when her body wasn't. Her core is curiosity and her heart is for sharing once... Read More →

Friday October 16, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
TBA

Break Out Session

Track Arkansas Arboretum Trail
Audience Public; K-12 School
global Y

2:10pm CDT

Where the Wild Things Play: How open-play programs boost literacy, community, and creativity.

Friday October 16, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT

TBA

Children are learning all the time through interactions with family, community, and the natural world. Areas of child development are all interconnected and simultaneous, making play such a great vehicle for knowledge. Research is being done now on whether children still have access to meaningful play.
Libraries are a great opportunity for open-ended exploration, creation, and play. Explore the different types of open play programs, why they are important in a library setting, and how they can be effective without too much chaos and strain on staff. Learn how to elevate play into purposeful interactions that are fun and create opportunities for learning.
At the end of this session, participants will know why open-play programs are beneficial, will be able to identify different types of play, feel empowered to design these programs and spaces, and see how libraries across the country are embracing the open-play models . This will be a power-point presentation with space for discussions and problem-solving together.

Speakers