Join your fellow library colleagues at Camp ArLA’s Crafting Unconference to help chart a new trail of creativity, connection, and learning. Bring a craft project, share techniques, exchange ideas, or simply explore a new hobby alongside colleagues. Whether you're an experienced maker or a curious beginner, you'll find opportunities to build connections and discover new ideas in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Together, we'll create a space where creativity flourishes, skills are exchanged, and new connections are forged, one stitch, fold, brushstroke, or bead at a time. As we explore new trails in library service, let's also explore the creative journeys that inspire and sustain us.
Saturday October 17, 2026 8:00am - 10:50am CDT Exhibit Hall D
In a small departure from previous years, we’re thrilled to host a panel of authors in conversation with one another as they discuss their work, impacts of libraries and archives, and intellectual freedom. The slated panel includes Alice Driver, an award-winning investigative journalist and J. Anthony Hopkins Award winner for her book Life and Death of the American Worker; Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch, dean of the Graduate School and professor of History at Arkansas State University, author of Better Living By Their Own Bootstraps: Black Women’s Activism in Rural Arkansas, 1913-1965; and Olivia Paschal, Arkansas native journalist, historian, and author of the forthcoming book Something in the Water. Box lunches provided.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Communication, Arkansas State University
Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Communication at Arkansas State University. 2021-2022 American Council of Education (ACE) Fellow. Former ACE Women's Leadership Program mentor, an ACE Council of Fellows Board member, part of the inaugural cohort of the America Council of... Read More →
I'm a journalist, historian, and editor based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Right now, I'm writing a book for Farrar Straus & Giroux about the history of northwest Arkansas—the region that incubated Walmart, Tyson, J.B. Hunt, and Bill Clinton—as an origin story for American neol... Read More →
Saturday October 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm CDT Exhibit Hall D
Discovery and Access Librarian, University of Arkansas Fort Smith
Andrea Parton holds her MLIS from Texas Woman's University and has been Discovery and Access Librarian for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith’s Boreham Library for 4 years. She strives to ensure easy, equitable access to resources for all patrons and helps student support efforts... Read More →
Academic Success Librarian, University of Arkansas Little Rock
Amie Johnson is an academic success librarian at the the University of Arkansas Little Rock. She has a masters of library and information science from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelors in anthropology from Austin College. Amie is an early career librarian with research interests... Read More →
Rare Books and Instruction Librarian, Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries
Miah Clark is the Rare Books and Instruction Librarian in Special Collections and the University of Arkansas. Their research interests include the fine press period and the works of William Morris, early print culture in the Pacific Islands, and primary source education through pedagogies... Read More →
Library Media Specialist, Pinnacle View Middle School, LRSD
Jodi Dildy is the Library Media Specialist at Pinnacle View Middle School in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she has served in the library for the past decade, including three years in her current role. A lifelong reader, Jodi is passionate about helping students discover a genuine love... Read More →
Youth Services Manager, North Little Rock Public Library System-Argenta Branch
I’m the Youth Services Manager at the Argenta Branch of the North Little Rock Public Library System, where I’ve worked for the past 23 years. I also spent 29 years in elementary education with the North Little Rock School District. I love reading to toddlers, teaching tweens sewing... Read More →
Community Education Associate, North Little Rock Public Library System-Argenta Branch
I’m a Community Education Associate with the North Little Rock Public Library System, where I’ve worked for the past 10 years. Before that, I spent 8 years in middle school education with the Lonoke County School District. Monday toddler Storytimes are my happy place, along with... Read More →
Community Educator, North Little Rock Laman Public Library
Alyssa is a Community Educator/Library Associate at the North Little Rock Laman Public Library. With a background in psychology and social work, Alyssa aims to bring themes of mental health and wellness to her colleagues and community through intentional programming. Outside of work... Read More →
Manager of Library Development, Arkansas State Library
As Manager of Library Development at the Arkansas State Library, Jennifer Wann (Jenn) is interested in developing statewide programs that assist libraries design services that meet their communities’ needs; foster best practices in library management and administration; and facilitate... Read More →
