In March of 2020 schools scrambled to move to remote learning. The Colorado state legislature recognized the need for quality free digital learning resources and passed C.R.S. § 22-5-119 setting up a repository of Openly-licensed Educational Resources (OER), administered by the Colorado River BOCES, and Colorado Empowered Learning with support from the Office of Online and Blended Learning at CDE. The OERColorado project is the fruition of that initial idea to two fully functional state sponsored curriculum libraries that serve both formal and informal educational communities in the state. Searchable access to quality open educational resources helps reduce costs, improve accessibility and equity, and lets Colorado learn with shared knowledge. The OERColorado project serves public educators and librarians, as well as adult education, preschools, homeschool, and other communities looking for educational materials. Open Education is a global movement to make access to knowledge more accessible and equitable by reducing barriers. Come explore the new OERColorado libraries, learn what demographics the project serves, and find out more about the practice of Open Education.
Visit us to learn more about the OERColorado.org curriculum libraries. These repositories provide Colorado's PK-12+ public educators access to free openly licensed education resources, lessons plans, full courses, professional development, primary sources, collections, etc.
Teens are important patrons in our libraries, with unique and evolving needs. Staff comfort levels, preconceived notions or stereotypes, and requests from organizations to justify teen services can create barriers to effective teen services – but they also offer library workers a chance to advocate for teens. Using psychology, biology, and what we know about teen lives today for a better understanding of teens and their current experiences can create an empathetic base for teen library services. In this presentation, we will share our approach to a training we share with staff to build understanding about teens, as well as some techniques for using this training and the information to advocate for teen services in your libraries.
Catherine was a teen librarian for 12 years before moving into the Teen Services Supervisor role at Arapahoe Libraries. She has spent lots of time visiting schools and talking about books.
Erica is a teen librarian at Arapahoe Libraries. As part of her outreach work, she spends a lot of time visiting schools to talk about books and implementing booktalk engagement techniques.
Do folks in your community have to drive 30 minutes to the closest doctor? Do patrons ever have to use your public computers for telehealth appointments, risking being overheard as they discuss private health matters? The Colorado State Library and the Office of eHealth Innovation have partnered on a pilot project to address the barriers some people face accessing web-enabled devices, digital literacy, and wellness and well-being in rural Colorado. This panel presentation will provide an overview of the project, detail the demonstrated benefit to communities that have a participating library, and outline best practices and crazy ideas that work. You’ll hear firsthand from librarians who implemented this project in different ways and from different parts of the state. Come find out what your library might need to help your community Connect to Health @Your Library.
Rural & Small Library Consultant, Colorado State Library
Kieran is the Rural & Small Library Consultant at the Colorado State Library. He is an engaging and enthusiastic public speaker focusing on customer service and policy. Based in Wetmore, Colorado, he has served as President of the Association for Rural & Small Libraries and has a... Read More →
As one of OeHI's Senior Project Managers, Ashley's work is focused on virtual health and digital health equity projects. She is passionate about leveraging technology to create a more equitable healthcare landscape, and working collaboratively with local and state partners to decrease... Read More →
Explore the transformative power of everyday library activism, focusing on the impact of small actions done by staff members in any position that collectively contribute to a vibrant and engaged community. Through insightful case studies, we will examine how seemingly minor efforts can lead to significant changes in perception, support, use of, and even funding for libraries. Join us as we delve into practical strategies and inspiring examples that showcase the pivotal role individuals play in advocating for the invaluable resources and services libraries provide. Create the future of libraries with us.
Having a job that feels meaningful and balanced is really important. Library employees often face challenges that impact their well-being. This presentation explores the concept of "languishing" in the library workplace, a state characterized by a sense of emptiness and stagnation, which can detrimentally affect individual and organizational outcomes. Drawing on recent research and practical experiences, this session aims to shed light on the various factors contributing to languishing in library settings, including workload, organizational culture, and the evolving nature of library services.
In 2019, the Boulder Public Library formed an EDI Team that not only persisted through our district transition, but served as the model for similar teams within the city. By focusing on internal practices that could be better adapted to fit with EDI values, the team opened up various avenues of cross-departmental collaboration. As a result, team members were able to create new programs to support staff (such as an affinity group and a buddy program), researched and created guidelines for accessibility, recruitment, hiring, and retention, and conducted an internal survey to identify EDI pressure points. In this presentation we hope give an overview of our road to creating an EDI team, including the obstacles we faced and areas we achieved success. As we continue into this new era of becoming a district, we'll also discuss some of the ways we were able to lend support and affect change. We will finish off with a Q&A.
What is it like to be blind? How do blind people move through the world? CTBL has created a programming kit so communities all over the state can learn more about their visually-impaired neighbors, discover the resources available to them, and how we can improve services, and the lives, of the blind. Through the Let’s talk about it!: CSL Big Red Resource Kits, your library, too, can help educate, engage, and explore the world of our blind friends.
Implementing customer service standards at our library helped make our visitors feel welcome, our staff feel comfortable, and our supervisors evaluate staff equitably. You’ll learn what makes a good standard, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to get everyone on the same page quickly.
Post-COVID teens have a refreshed desire to expand their autonomy over their career track and a renewed sense that doing something they genuinely enjoy is more important than sure money. Feedback from local teens indicated that while the school had a “pathfinder” class, where enrolled students could spend a semester looking into an interest, its offerings were limited. They also noted that even if they found something they enjoyed and might like to pursue there were no clear “next steps” to guide them. Pine River Library along with the Youth Advisory Council from Bayfield High School built and put on a panel event at the library where these questions could be answered. The event hosted local community members who had all managed to do just that. This event was done ComiCon style with members of the Youth Advisory Council introducing each panelist, moderating the speakers to stay within the scope and time allotted, as well as preparing drop questions to keep the event moving once it had moved into its Q&A period.
In 2023, the Child and Family Library Services department at Arapahoe Libraries developed an outreach strategy to engage Spanish-speaking families in early literacy services and library resources. In this presentation, we will discuss how the department took an existing outreach program, Begin with Books, and developed an outreach pilot program intended to connect with Spanish-speaking patrons that do not have easy access to a library location. By collaborating with other departments like language services and mobile library services, the pilot was implemented in fall of 2023. Currently in 2024, we are taking the feedback received and lessons-learned to inform our new approach to connecting with Spanish-speaking families. Based on community feedback, programs and services in languages other than English are a high need. Focusing our resources to try and meet this need is important because it aligns with our library district values of inclusivity and a growing community with shifting needs. We are excited to share our newfound best practices for reducing barriers and reaching underserved populations.
In today's libraries, it is common to have a workforce spanning multiple generations, each with its unique strengths, perspectives, and work styles. This fun, engaging session aims to explore the challenges and opportunities that arise when managing and collaborating with a multi-generational library workforce. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics, values, and motivations of different generations, including Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. We will delve into strategies for fostering effective communication, teamwork, and mentorship across generations, recognizing that diverse perspectives can enhance creativity and innovation in library services. We will also playfully address common stereotypes and misconceptions, helping participants to build empathy and create an inclusive work environment where every generation feels valued and empowered. Through interactive discussions, attendees will leave with practical insights and actionable steps to embrace the diversity of their library workforce.
Alternative Literacy is the process of teaching children and young adults literacy skills through non-traditional means. In this presentation, I cover three big examples of this: graphic novels, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), and video games. Further, I provide an overview of how educators, librarians, and individuals can implement them into their work or daily life. In this presentation, you can expect to learn: -What Alternative Literacy is and What Benefits it Has -Definitions of Graphic Novels, TTRPGs, and Video Games -Why Graphic Novels, TTRPGs, and Video Games are effective in teaching literacy -How to utilize Graphic Novels, TTRPGs, and Video Games in Libraries and Classrooms
In this presentation, you will learn about how to develop a collection that serves best the Spanish-speaking population in your school: Some of the topics included are alternative vendors and publishers to buy books in Spanish, how to include different voices and perspectives in your collection and some of the best practices for developing a bilingual collection. This presentation is based on my experience as a first-year school librarian in a bilingual elementary school where 50% of the students speak Spanish at home.
The Community Resource Coordinator position at Jefferson County Public Library allows the library to be a welcoming space for all patrons while protecting staff capacity by leveraging existing community organizations. By building bridges between community resources and bringing those resources directly to the library, this position has helped reduce barriers of access for those resources while meeting the needs of the libraries most vulnerable patrons. This presentation will discuss the specifics of this role, strategies for building community partnerships, and the impact this role has had on patrons and staff.
This presentation will allow participants to understand the WHY and HOW behind Universal Design for both infrastructure and programming. Through this understanding, common misconceptions will be reviewed as well as a discussion of when Universal Design may be more difficult to implement. Additionally, disability language, identity, and appropriate accommodations will also be reviewed through discussion and scenarios. This presentation will then give folks tools, strategies, and resources to use on Monday for their own Universal Design journeys. Dr. Miranda Martino and Melisa Beavers, two experts and implementers in Universal Design, will be sharing their stories intentionally through this session that focuses on elevating the voice of the disabled community.
Melissa Beavers is the Manager of LINC Library Innovation Center in downtown Greeley. Melissa holds a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of North Texas and a Master of Arts in Literature from Colorado State University. She is a frequent public speaker and... Read More →
“I want a scary book!” How many times have we heard that statement from our upper elementary and middle school students? Despite the constant desire for more scary books, finding ones that are geared specifically to grades 3-8 can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task. Making sure we have books that allow our students to not only read something exciting and engaging, but learn something about themselves and the world, is one of the most rewarding parts of being a librarian. In this session we will look at the place horror holds in our collective experience, why our middle grade kids need and deserve to have a variety of titles at their fingertips, and have the opportunity to look at some amazing middle grade horror books that have come out in the last few years.
"Life is a daring adventure, or nothing at all" I've spent my career looking for the adventure in the everyday, even in small things. As a school librarian for the past 12 years I've had the distinct pleasure of bringing moments of excitment and engagement into my students lives... Read More →
Two things are clear: 1. Children diagnosed with dyslexia deserve to be supported with their reading needs; and 2. Their parents deserve our respect for their activism in getting help for their children. Beyond that, the waters—and the research gets muddy and maddening in trying to figure out what is truly effective. Join this session’s experts in learning about the current state of research as well as the current state of the dyslexia advocacy movement in Colorado. Become aware of some sensitive terms and where to find current online and audiobook resources. Discover how little we actually know and yet what is generally accepted and how you can shape your collection and your readers advisory to reflect the best of what we know.
Lu Benke brings to her presentations experiences from over 35 years as a children’s librarian (most recently at Poudre Libraries) as well as the best of recent research from her Master’s in Reading and PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. She... Read More →
In the 2020 Census, over 22% of Coloradans self-identified as Hispanic or Latino. In some of our communities, the population is more than double (and not always where you think!). As state population trends shifts and the demographics of our communities change, libraries look to how we can create welcoming spaces that leverage our existing missions and service models to serve those new community members. “Bienvenidos” offers insights from state and local demographic sources to discover who makes up the community we serve. It also features best practices built from bilingual and self-identified Latine library staff and librarians in our libraries. In the end, participants can use these insights to establish best practices for welcoming visitors to our libraries regardless of linguistic and cultural barriers.
Adult Library Services Senior Consultant, Colorado State Library
Cristy Moran (she/ her/ ella) is the Adult Library Services Senior Consultant at the Colorado State Library and is eager to consult with and support you in program development and facilitation, outreach, finding resources, assessment and evaluation, and collaborating with community... Read More →
Wondering how to get Spanish speakers to your library? Gain an understanding on how to serve Spanish speakers in your community focusing on your library collections, services and programming. Presenter has experience working with the immigrant community and recently served as an advisor for a research project on how public library staff can more effectively serve multilingual communities. The goal of the study is to make the voices of multilingual patrons heard. This presentation will cover results from this research project such as reading practices in their countries of origin, ways of locating new materials to read, and relationships with public libraries. Included will be programming, services and collection approaches on serving Spanish speakers in public libraries. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21 grant. Three partner libraries were involved in this study; Pueblo City-County Library District (PCCLD), Brooklyn Public Library (BPL, NY), and New York Public Library (NYPL, NY).
This presentation explores the transformative role of rural libraries in dismantling traditional hierarchies between floor staff and degreed librarians as well as highlighting their pioneering efforts in achieving equitable distribution of responsibilities. Rural libraries often challenge the institutional standard of requiring advanced master’s levels degrees for much of library work. By examining one little library on the eastern plains of Colorado, I hope to share the hard work and success stories of non-degreed library staff. The aim is to present and inspire a paradigm shift in internal equity within libraries between floor staff and librarians. We will focus on the crucial contributions all staff members make and advocating for a more inclusive and accessible approach to library services. The other goal of this presentation is to provide inspiration to staff who may not be able to access higher education.
Jordan M. Guerriero is an Assistant Supervisor with over 4 years of experience working in both urban and rural libraries. In addition to a vast history working in social work. Jordan's experience ranges from digital literacy, makerspaces, and even to storytime. She loves to work... Read More →
When families have the resources they need, communities thrive. This session will describe the power of referral to available resources to lift families out of poverty, improving resilience and long-term health and educational outcomes. Financial well-being is associated with improved nutrition and fewer cases of child maltreatment. Colorado is increasingly expensive, and many Colorado families have trouble meeting essential needs. Libraries are trusted messengers to help community members. This session will describe how to connect community members to WIC, TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid through the benefits enrollment platform Colorado PEAK, as well as lesser-known economic opportunities such as free tax filing, student loan repayment programs, energy assistance, and Colorado’s new paid family and medical leave program, FAMLI. The session will also address who is missing out on resources they are eligible for, why, and simple techniques for referral. It can be quick and rewarding to refer community members to resources.
Community Grants Coordinator, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Adriana (she/her/ella) has worked with diverse communities to prevent and manage chronic disease including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and has experience with teaching and group facilitation, all with a focus on health equity. She is passionate about community-driven, culturally... Read More →