ArLA 2026 Annual Conference

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9:00am CDT

Overcoming Adult Services & Civic Engagement Barriers – GCL Style

Sunday October 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Garland County Library (GCL) Adult Services Specialist Paul Kagebein and Outreach Coordinator James Nowlin discuss GCL Adult Services Team initiatives to enrich adult community members' lives with engaging programs and outreach. Paul and James share efforts to address service gaps, remove barriers, and adapt ever-evolving library services to community needs and interests. Highlighted topics include a spectrum of service offerings, including: Utilization of physical and virtual spaces for programs, Emphasis of civic engagement programs/services aiming to empower voters and freedom of speech opportunities, Expansion of GCL's footprint in the community via outreach and remote services.Learning Goals: Identify service gaps and barriers, specifically with civic engagement or library services for adults; Learn about GCL Adult Services’ methods for addressing our own community opportunities; Provide the tools for you to formulate an actionable strategy based on your library’s resources, your services gaps, your community’s opportunities for increasing civic engagement

Speakers

James Nowlin

Outreach Coordinator, Garland County Library

James Nowlin (pronounced now… lin) is a native of NE Texas, and crossed the Red River to attend Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR. James started at Garland County Library at the beginning of 2014, and after a couple of trips to the wilderness to wonder, returned to GCL... Read More →

Paul Kagebein

Adult Services Specialist, Garland County Library

Paul Kagebein is a Hot Springs native and Iife-long resident. He has worked at the Garland County Library since 2013 and is currently GCL's Adult Services Specialist, where he facilitates and hosts a variety of educational and entertainment programs and services for adults in the... Read More →

Sunday October 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
TBA

Break Out Session

Track Whitaker Point Trail
Audience Public
global Y

9:00am CDT

The Next Big Thing Could Be the Same Thing: How to Adapt Programs You Already Have Planned For a Different Age Group.

Sunday October 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

TBA

Great ideas for programs can fall flat if the target group you planned and prepared for doesn’t show up. It's not a failure and nothing has to go to waste! It's an opportunity for an adaptation. Almost any program planned can be adapted and used for groups of various ages. At the end of this session, participants will come away with solid strategies of how to adapt a program to a variety of age groups. Examples will be shared that are themed for Summer Reading 2027, Program in Your Pocket and you can even bring in your ideas and get a fresh spin on the program from the presenter and other session participants!

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 →

Sunday October 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
TBA

Break Out Session

Track Arkansas Arboretum Trail
Audience Public
global Y

10:00am CDT

Punk Shows and Powerslams: Nontraditional Programming for Public Libraries

Sunday October 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

TBA

Presenters will outline innovative programs offered at their library that meet the needs of communities who may not typically utilize library resources. This session will demonstrate how nontraditional or entertainment programs can connect community members to new library resources, as well as strengthen relationships with local partners. An emphasis on collaborative planning and promotion both within library departments and externally with local partners allows for wider engagement with programs throughout the implementation process. Presenters will discuss programs like Rasslin’ at the Library, Punk Show and Makerspace Showcase, Audiobook Walking Club, Laman Con, Cringe Reading Night, and Storytime with Baby Goats to highlight these creative programming methodologies.

Session participants will be able to identify communities already being served by their library along with underserved communities; align library services to the needs of underserved communities through unique programs; create mutually beneficial partnerships that elevate library services; and determine new ways of connecting patrons to library resources, services, and collections.

This session exemplifies “New Trails in Library Service,” leading by example the ways in which libraries should center curiosity in their programming whether it's learning how to meet the needs of new patron audiences, tailoring existing collections or services to historically underrepresented communities, allowing programmers with niche interests build community around new ideas, or upending how “traditional” libraries present themselves to the communities they serve to reach new generations of library patrons.

Speakers