Library Journal and School Library Journal invite you to join usat our annual Public Library Youth Services Leadership Summit on March 30 (full-day) and 31 (half-day) at Broward County Library in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Check out our packed program below and register today!  

Meet Our Keynote! Neuroscientist Matteo Farinella, author of Neurocomic as well as many other educational comics, illustrations, and animations for children and adults, will discuss the role of comics in science communication and their potential for increasing scientific literacy.

Program 

Thursday, March 30

8:30 - 9:00 AM | Staff-Guided Tour of Library

9:00 - 9:45 AM | Continental Breakfast and Registration (Gallery 6, 6th Floor)

                                                                                                                                              9:45 - 10:00 AM | Welcome Remarks                                                                                  Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal contributor, editorial alumni, and Summit producer

Allison Grubbs, Director, Broward County Libraries Division (via video)

10:00 - 10:45 AM | Innovative Programming for Preschoolers                                       Learn about active and passive activities, environments, and programs that are inclusive and developmentally appropriate for your youngest patrons.                               

Pamela Hamlin, Family Literacy Specialist, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, MD                                                                                                                           Laura Koenig, Team Leader of the Central Library’s Children’s Services, Boston Public Library, MA                                                                                                                              Rachel Payne, Coordinator, Early Childhood Services, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

10:45 - 10:55 AM | Sponsor Spotlight-hoopla Digital

Sarah Helm, National Sales Manager

10:55 - 11:15 AM | Break

11:15 - 11:55 AM | Censorship: An Organized Response

Well-organized book challenge campaigns from politicians and parents have left librarians feeling attacked and often powerless. Presenters will share tactical ways that libraries can prepare for—and respond to—challenges and the emotional trauma that comes with them. Attendees will share their experiences and learnings during a facilitated discussion that will follow. 

Jen Cousins, Florida Freedom to Read Project

Jackson Gomes, Young Adult Internship Coordinator, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

James B. Jones, Library Regional Manager, Collection Management Services

Broward County, FL Libraries Division

Matthew Noe, Lead Collection & Knowledge Management Librarian,

Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 

11:55 - 12:20 PM | Facilitated Discussion on Censorship

Kiera Parrott, Director, Darien Library, CT  

12:20 - 12:30 PM | Sponsor Spotlight-brainfuse                                                                Jack Rothstein, Director, Library Services

12:30 - 1:30 PM | Lunch and Networking

1:30 - 2:10 PM | LGBTQIA+ Programs and Services

Librarians from around the country will share what they are doing to more effectively serve this community. We’ll engage in a facilitated discussion after the session and you’ll glean actionable ideas from our presenters and attendees to take back to your library.

Rebecca Oxley, Branch Manager, District of Columbia Public Library

Hal Patnott, Rainbow Services Librarian, Oak Park Public Library, IL

Jenna Spiering, Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina iSchool,

coauthor of LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Children’s Librarianship: Queer-Positive Policies, Programs, and Practices (ABC-CLIO). 

2:10 - 2:35 PM | Facilitated Discussion on LGBTQIA+ Programs and Services            Kiera Parrott, Director, Darien Library, CT

2:40 - 3:25 | Creating Community: Nontraditional Outreach and Partnerships

We’ll explore creative approaches for connecting with, and serving, hard-to-reach communities that aren’t utilizing library services or programming, identifying specific programs and supportive partners.

Maria Aguilar, Community Liaison, Central Arkansas Library System, Little Rock, AR

Marlon Moore, Community Engagement Coordinator, Outreach and Mobile Services, Miami-Dade Public Library System, FL

Dr. Sharetta Remikie, Chief Equity and Community Engagement Officer of Broward County, Community Services Council of Broward County, FL

Georgette Spratling, Library Manager, Youth Services Librarian, and Program Coordinator, North Miami Public Library, FL

Facilitator: Meagan Albright, Alvin Sherman Library, Nova Southeastern University, FL  

3:25 PM - 3:40 PM | Break

3:40 - 3:50 PM | Sponsor Spotlight-Baker & Taylor

Bobbie Bensur, Director, Children’s & Teen Services (CATS) and Paw Prints Publishing

3:50 - 4:50 PM | FAST LEARNING

No Escape!: Creating Programs that Keep Patrons Coming Back for More

Alli Boyer, Youth Services Associate/Teen Librarian, Cape Girardeau Public Library, Cape Girardeau, MO

Climate in Art 

Dayna Cortes, Library Media Project Specialist, Miami-Dade Public Library System, Miami, FL 

From Drab to Fab: Redesigning Teen Spaces

Stephanie Kuhn, Youth & Community Librarian, Medicine Hat Public Library, Alberta, CA

Little Leaders, Big Change Makers

Teresa Steinmeyer McKillop, Library Associate II, Children and Teen Services, Palm Beach County Library System, FL

Big Feelings: How to Cope with Emotions That Can’t Be Ignored

LaTrisha Milton, Youth and Family Services Manager, Houston Public Library, TX

Queer Reads Book Club

Cynthia Ryle, Youth Services Librarian, Waterbury Public Library, Waterbury, VT

Not Your Typical Summer Camp: Engaging Youth in Social Justice

Isaiah West, Teen Services Specialist, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, MD

4:50 - 5:00 PM | Closing Remarks

5:00 - 6:00 PM | Cocktail Reception Sponsored by The Friends of the Fort Lauderdale Libraries (6th Floor)

Friday, March 31

8:30 - 9:00 AM | Continental Breakfast & Reflection

9:00 - 9:40 AM | A Scientist’s Perspective on the Benefits of Reading Comics

Matteo Farinella, PhD, Scientific Multimedia Producer, Columbia University Zuckerman Institute, NY, and author of Neurocomic and other science comics.

9:40 - 10:25 AM | Real Reading: Graphic Novels and Audiobooks

Children and teens love them, librarians welcome them, but many parents, educators, and policy makers don’t consider them “real reading.” We’ll examine the data.  

Robin Brenner, Teen Librarian, Public Library of Brookline, MA, and editor, “No Flying No Tights” website.

Sarah Hashimoto, Editor, Library Journal

Facilitator: Florence Simmons, Associate Editor, School Library Journal 

10:25 -10:40 AM | Break

10:40 - 11:20 AM | Trauma and Mental Health: What We Know, What We Can Do 

An overview of trauma-informed care and the opportunities libraries have in the area of trauma-responsive services. Included will be information about a self-assessment tool to support your work. A facilitated discussion with attendees will cap the session.

Rebecca L. Tolley, Director of Research & Instructional Services, Sherrod Library, East Tennessee State University, and author of A Trauma-Informed Approach to Library Services (ALA Editions).

11:20 - 11:45 AM | Facilitated Discussion on Trauma- and Mental Health-Informed Librarianship

Kiera Parrott, Director, Darien Library, CT

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM | Equity in Summer Learning

Hear about a holistic framework and approach to designing programs that expand learning opportunities for kids over the summer and beyond. 

LaKesha Kimbrough, Senior Director, Birth to High School Programs, Sunborgh Center for Community Engagement, Seattle, WA in conversation with Daryl Grabarek.                          

12:30 - 12:35 PM | Close

12:35 - 1:35 PM | Grab-and-Go \ Networking Lunch

In Partnership with 

Gold Sponsor 

If you are a service provider or publisher and would like to sponsor the event, please contact Advertising Director Roy Futterman.