During this session, School Library Media Specialist Ashley Ziegler will discuss the books that are nominated for this year's Arkansas Teen Book Award! Over the last few years, the Arkansas Teen Book Award Committee has worked diligently to transition this award into a program comparable to the Charlie May Simon Award or the Arkansas Diamond Award. I will be engaging the participants by discussing each of the books nominated for the Arkansas Teen Book Award. I will also discuss the timeline for the award and give them examples of how they can implement participation in the award in their school or public libraries. This is a great program for libraries to get behind because it encourages reading for both middle-grade and secondary level students. After this session, attendees will know all of the titles nominated for this year's Level 1 & Level 2 Arkansas Teen Book Award. They will learn enough about each book to go back and encourage others to read them. They will also learn various ways to get involved with the Arkansas Teen Book Award Committee and how to promote the award in their library. This session is great for school library media specialists and public librarians wanting to promote this year's nominated books and the award. It is also great for anyone interested in hearing some awesome book talks and adding new items to his or her TBR! A copy of each book will be on display, so each attendee can pick it up, look at it, read the blurb, etc.
Libraries often face uncharted terrain that requires creativity, curiosity, and courage in order to make space for all patrons and library workers. We are one of the last inclusive spaces open to everyone in our communities. However, many of our buildings have not been designed to accommodate sensory sensitivities. Studies show that sensory overload is a near universal experience for both neurodiverse and neurotypical library workers and patrons. Together, we can chart a new path that considers the needs of everyone who comes into our library environments.
This panel session will examine the science behind library spaces focusing on cognitive load and differences in sensory processing. Panelists will offer perspectives from multiple library types and from various lenses: from libraries that have built sensory spaces, as neurodiverse library workers, and as parents and library users.
Whether your library has the space for a full sensory room or you are working within a limited footprint and budget, this session will help you identify accommodation strategies that work for your community.
Learning Objectives
Understand that sensory overload while closely tied to neurodiversity can affect everyone
Gain insight from multiple perspectives on sensory experiences in libraries
How to create sensory kits even if you don’t have space to set aside for a room
User Experience and Assessment Librarian, University of Central Arkansas
Jessica Riedmueller is a long time member of ArLA. She has led many CIs and Committees over the years and has been Secretary of the organization twice.
1. A few topics that will be discussed in this session include the background of the Mabee-Simpson Library, an introduction to the process of beginning to weed a collection when it has not been kept up, tips and tricks for gaining buy-in from administrators and those who can help with collection evaluation, and finally, future steps the Mabee-Simpson Library plans to take and that can be adapted for other libraries.
2. A. At the end of this session, participants will be able to describe the process of weeding and be able to describe what weeding may look like at their institution.
B. At the end of this session, participants will be able to articulate the reasons why weeding is a valuable action within a library to peers, interested parties, and administrators.
C. At the end of this session, participants will be able to integrate the advice given in this session into their respective libraries through a Q and A at the conclusion of the program.
3. This session best coincides with the theme of “Reading the Landscape” as this case study was born out of the need to update the Mabee-Simpson Library with modern standards and needs of the modern patrons.
