ArLA 2026 Annual Conference

Name: Building Confidence and Community with Adult Programs
Start: 2026-10-17T09:00:00-0500
End: 2026-10-17T09:50:00-0500

Building Confidence and Community with Adult Programs

Saturday October 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

TBA

Description:

Battle burnout by incorporating your own interests into programs. Everyone has something that they are passionate about. Share those interests with your patrons and help them find a new hobby. Create new regular patrons by hosting a variety of weekly, low stress programs where patrons can find their niche.

By attending this session, attendees will learn how to incorporate their own interests and hobbies into new programs. Worry less about chasing trends to capture patron attention while still encouraging learning.

Programmers will gain confidence and become inspired to bring their own strengths into providing recurring events that build a regular audience.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the program, attendees will be able to do the following:

Design a program concept that transforms a personal hobby or skill into an engaging library event.
Apply techniques to empower fellow staff to lead programs based on their individual strengths and interests.
Differentiate between trend-based and authentic programming and select approaches that build consistent audience engagement and attendance.

The presenters will share successful examples with detailed programming information via handout materials and a shared Google Drive after the session. Thematically, it suits the conference with the focus on strengthening our communities through creating consistent positive events for patrons to connect with one another and learn new skills.

Speakers

Sara Stuart

Assistant Manager of Adult Services, Craighead County Public Library in Jonesboro

I am a librarian with 17 years of experience with this library system, most of it spent with adult programming. I am passionate about helping our patrons not only find the information they need, but also giving them opportunities to try new things and encourage lifelong learning... Read More →

Amber Heard

Adult Services Manager, Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library

I am an adult services manager with 8.5 years of adult programming experience. I believe that allowing patrons to explore new ideas and finding new connections are the most important parts of programming.

Saturday October 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
TBA

Break Out Session

Track Whitaker Point Trail
Audience Public
global Y

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ArLA 2026 Annual Conference

Sara Stuart

Amber Heard

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ArLA 2026 Annual Conference

Sara Stuart

Amber Heard

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