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2026 NDLA Conference
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Thursday, October 8
 

7:00am PDT

Registration & Breakfast
Thursday October 8, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Thursday October 8, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Event

8:00am PDT

Keynote Speaker
Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 10:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Speakers
avatar for Mona Susan Power

Mona Susan Power

Mona Susan Power is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe (Yanktonai Dakota), born and raised in Chicago, and currently living in Minnesota, where she's working complete a new novel. 

So far, she has published four books of fiction: The Grass Dancer (awarded th... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 10:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Keynote Speaker

9:30am PDT

Exhibits
Thursday October 8, 2026 9:30am - Friday October 9, 2026 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Visit the many vendors for all Library types and focuses. 
Thursday October 8, 2026 9:30am - Friday October 9, 2026 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA

10:00am PDT

Free Is Not a Workflow: Myths and Realities in OER Support
Thursday October 8, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Open educational resources (OER) are often presented as a straightforward solution to textbook affordability: find a free replacement, help faculty adopt it, and report the savings. In practice, OER support is shaped by mismatched expectations. Faculty may expect a ready-made replacement with all the convenience of a commercial platform. Librarians may undersell the instructional, technical, and accessibility work involved in adoption and adaptation. Administrators may support affordability in principle while leaving bookstore contracts, vendor platforms, staffing, and course materials workflows untouched.

This session takes a candid look at common myths surrounding OER and affordable course materials work, pairing each myth with a more complex reality and practical ways to respond. Topics may include weak metadata, aging repositories, limited creation and adaptation platforms, savings estimates, faculty labor, librarian skill gaps, accessibility, and the institutional silos that shape course materials decisions. Topics may include course redesign labor, accessibility, limited creation and adaptation platforms, licensing complexities, missed workflow handoffs, bookstore and vendor systems, unclear ownership of maintenance, and the institutional silos that shape course materials decisions.

Participants will leave with sharper language for naming these mismatches, strategies for avoiding unhelpful responsibilities, and practical approaches for building more realistic and sustainable support.
Speakers
avatar for Greg Argo

Greg Argo

Open Education & Affordable Content Librarian, Minitex
Greg Argo is the Open Education & Affordable Content Librarian at Minitex, where he supports libraries and educators working to make course materials more accessible, affordable, adaptable, and sustainable. He leads regional initiatives related to open educational resources (OER), affordab... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, for all libraries

10:00am PDT

Imposter Phenomenon - What it is and how to manage it
Thursday October 8, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Imposter Phenomenon (IP) strikes everyone at some point. In libraries, it happens more than people realize. This presentation was introduced as a poster presentation at NDLA 2025 but there were so many questions, it's worth giving more time. This session will cover what IP is, how it may present, what the effects can be on a person and their workplace, as well as ways that an individual and a workplace can help to alleviate someone's worries about their ability to succeed. 
Speakers
avatar for Karlene Clark

Karlene Clark

Education & Human Development Librarian, Chester Fritz Library
Karlene has been in libraries since 1999, and a librarian since 2018. She's been in established positions and in situations where she helped develop the position from the ground up. Each has been a wonderful learning experience, even if imposter phenomenon lurked in the background... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, for all libraries

10:00am PDT

SMART Goals Get Results: Think SMARTer, not Harder
Thursday October 8, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Creating SMART goals is an effective tool that provides clarity, focus, and motivation to achieve your goals. North Dakota Coordinating Council members Mary Soucie and Andrea Placher will focus on using SMART goals when applying for and writing Library Vision Grants. However, this session will be useful for all library staff in many facets of their work.
Speakers
avatar for Andrea Placher

Andrea Placher

Library Director, Williston Community Library
Andrea Placher started working at the Williston Community Library as the children’s librarian in 2011. In 2017, she took on the role of director with guidance and support. She is dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for everyone in the community. During her time in Williston... Read More →
MS

Mary Soucie

State Librarian, North Dakota State Library
Mary Soucie has served as the State Librarian of North Dakota since 2014. She believes that libraries serve as community centers, connecting all the parts of the community that they serve.  When she's not traveling for work, she loves to read, ride her e-bike, and be creative in... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, Academic

11:00am PDT

Collaboration in the High School Library: How Can We Engage Curricular Areas Beyond ELA?
Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
This session will focus on how to engage all curricular areas in your building. The presenters will focus on strategies to change how departments see the library, how time constraints and curriculum pressure often stop other areas (beyond ELA) from utilizing the library resources, and how to help align library skills to science, social studies, math, and elective standards. Participants will be able to share their successful collaboration ideas as well.
Speakers
SH

Sarah Hicks

High School Librarian, Minot High School

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, School Libraries

11:00am PDT

ILL Bridge Update
Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
This session provides an update on the ILL Bridge project, a collaborative interlibrary loan initiative designed to streamline resource sharing across North Dakota and South Dakota. Attendees will gain insight into the technical implementation of the to-be-named system, including the current rollout status and the organizational structure between state libraries and ODIN's support role. We will discuss the project's impact on ILL workflows, share lessons learned during the initial configuration phases, and outline the future roadmap to Go Live in 2027 and beyond. This session is for all library types and anyone involved with ILL, Patron Services, Reference...really just about everyone can benefit from the work that is being done with this project!
Speakers
avatar for Online Dakota Information Network

Online Dakota Information Network

ODIN Director, NDUS CTS - ODIN, NDLA
The Online Dakota Information Network (ODIN) supports a consortium of libraries serving academic, public, school, and special libraries across North Dakota with two shared library management systems (Alma & Polaris). In addition, ODIN participates in collective eResource purchasing... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, for all libraries

11:00am PDT

Strategic Alignment of Student Success With Innovative Library Services and Programmes In Academic Libraries
Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Speakers
MA

Myrna A. Douglas

Librarian-in-charge, University of the West Indies (Mona Campus)
Ms. Myrna Douglas is Librarian-in-charge of the Law Branch Library at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus. She is also Coordinator of the Technology, Innovation Support Centre - Intellectual Property (TISC-IP) Helpdesk which is a strategic partnership between The... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, Academic

12:00pm PDT

Lunch
Thursday October 8, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Thursday October 8, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Event
  • about <br>

1:30pm PDT

Academic Library Meeting
Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Meeting, Academic
  • about <br>

1:30pm PDT

Public Library Meeting
Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Meeting, Public Libraries
  • about <br>

1:30pm PDT

School Library Meeting
Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Meeting, School Libraries
  • about <br>

2:30pm PDT

AI and the library world
Thursday October 8, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
We will talk about ways to use AI and how we can promote it to students and teachers.  Since AI is here to stay (whether we embrace it or not) how can we make it work to our favor besides just basic lesson plan ideas and presentations. 
Speakers
JF

Jessica Fritz

Librarian, Rugby Public Schools
Elementary teacher turned K-12 librarian.  I have a love for reading and technology (when it works).  Mother of 3 boys, wife to my HS sweet heart who is like a big boy at heart, and cat mom! 
Thursday October 8, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Poster Session, School Libraries

2:30pm PDT

Great Reads from Great Places
Thursday October 8, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
This poster session will highlight what the Great Reads from Great Places program is, as well as changes for 2026-2027. 
Speakers
TK

Tammy Kruger

Literacy Specialist, North Dakota State Library
Tammy Kruger is the Literacy Specialist at North Dakota State Library. She has professional background in numerous library types -- academic, school, medical, public, and now government -- as well as early childhood. In her spare time, she fosters dogs and flexes her DIY skills with... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Poster Session, Public Libraries

2:30pm PDT

Red & Share
Thursday October 8, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Taking withdrawn books that are still good and giving them back to the community thru partnerships and community events. Learned about at Portland PLA (2022), started that August and have given away 10, 699 books to date
Speakers
CF

Christina Freitag

Processing Associate II, Fargo Public Library
Christina has worked at the Fargo Public Library for almost 20 years!
Thursday October 8, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Poster Session, Public Libraries

2:30pm PDT

Succession Planning for the Team Leader
Thursday October 8, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Have you ever started a job and had less than no documentation or instructions on how to begin? Nonexistent onboarding? "Figure it out" instructions? It is 2026, and we are bringing people back to the moon. We are no longer leaving our successors in the dark to our positions, whether we plan to leave them or not.
This poster will detail a detailed yet attainable outline for creating a successful offboarding plan to ensure the next person in your position is as situated for success as possible.
Speakers
MS

Maddie Sharpe

Downtown & Development Librarian, North Dakota State University
Maddie Sharpe (she/her) is the Downtown & Development Librarian at North Dakota State University in Fargo. Having transitioned from Director of Lake Region Public Library in Devils Lake, she now oversees the downtown branches of NDSU Libraries and advocates for the Libraries' development... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Poster Session, for all libraries

3:00pm PDT

Collaborate with NDVS/SV
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Learn about our resources that include braille, large print, tactile graphics, and 3D models. We can work with you to make these resources available to your patrons and help you determine how these materials can complement your curriculum and collections. Whether you’re looking for more reading material choices for a low vision student who needs large print, wanting to enhance a blind middle schooler’s science curriculum with tactile graphics or 3D models, or want to enable a sighted parent to read with a braille-reading child, find out how our collection can be borrowed to help meet your patrons’ unique needs. 

Speakers
ES

Emily Stenberg Brown

Director of the Vision Resources Center, North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind
Emily Stenberg Brown is the Director of the Vision Resource Center at NDVS/SB where she has worked for 12 years. She has a master’s degree in information media and a license in School Library Media from St. Cloud State. She lives with her husband and 3 daughters in Minot where... Read More →
MW

Michele Willman

Vision Resource Center Specialist, North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind
Michele Willman is the Vision Resource Center specialist at NDVS/SB. She taught at the university level for 20 years before turning to librarianship. Her most rewarding workdays involve tracking down desired materials and getting them into patrons’ hands.  She lives in Grand Forks... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Lightning Session, School Libraries

3:00pm PDT

Polaris can do that!? Outreach Services and Reader's Advisory in Polaris Leap
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Speakers
CK

Cassandra Klos

Adult Services Librarian, West Fargo Public Library
Cassandra studied Music and LMIS s at Valley City State University. Post college, she volunteered and then worked part-time at Valley City Barnes County Public Library.  After being rejected for a part-time library position at another area library, she convinced herself that perhaps... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Lightning Session, for all libraries

3:00pm PDT

Ready, Set, Read! North Dakota Battle of the Books
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
This session will outline the ND Battle of the Books program, including rules, battle formats, book titles for 2026-2027, and more! 
Speakers
TK

Tammy Kruger

Literacy Specialist, North Dakota State Library
Tammy Kruger is the Literacy Specialist at North Dakota State Library. She has professional background in numerous library types -- academic, school, medical, public, and now government -- as well as early childhood. In her spare time, she fosters dogs and flexes her DIY skills with... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Lightning Session, Public Libraries

3:00pm PDT

The "4" Wins philosophy: Collaborative Purchases and Consensus Building
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Negotiating purchases beyond a single budget takes coordination, collaboration, and consensus building. In this session, I will explain what I call the "4 Wins" framework and how I use it to evaluate opportunities for collaborative purchases. I'll also work through a couple of examples of where we have used it and some of the roadblocks encountered. 
Speakers
avatar for Online Dakota Information Network

Online Dakota Information Network

ODIN Director, NDUS CTS - ODIN, NDLA
The Online Dakota Information Network (ODIN) supports a consortium of libraries serving academic, public, school, and special libraries across North Dakota with two shared library management systems (Alma & Polaris). In addition, ODIN participates in collective eResource purchasing... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Lightning Session, for all libraries
  • about <br>

3:30pm PDT

Alliterative Legislative Landscape: Looking at a Litany of Library Laws
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Join us for a look at the bills and laws that are reshaping librarianship across the country. This session will cover noteworthy legal decisions, proposed and/or passed legislation, and other, similar governmental actions. This session is intended to be informational with updates on the status of each action and what it might mean for libraries in ND. 
Speakers
avatar for Online Dakota Information Network

Online Dakota Information Network

ODIN Director, NDUS CTS - ODIN, NDLA
The Online Dakota Information Network (ODIN) supports a consortium of libraries serving academic, public, school, and special libraries across North Dakota with two shared library management systems (Alma & Polaris). In addition, ODIN participates in collective eResource purchasing... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, Academic
  • about <br>

3:30pm PDT

Manga & You: A Guide for the Confused Librarian
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Speakers
CC

Cole Cymbaluk

Research & Instruction Librarian, University of Jamestown
Cole has worked as the Research and Instruction Librarian at the University of Jamestown since September 2025. Before that he worked as paraprofessional at the Mandan Middle School Library and part-time with the Morton Mandan Public Library for approximately 3 years. Having just earned... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, School Libraries

3:30pm PDT

We Should Be Friends: What We Can Learn From Preschoolers (Or, Intersectionality Between Public and Academic Libraries)
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
When I started my current position, dropping from Director to a mid-level supervisor and librarian (that had to do RESEARCH), I was... trepidatious. However, in my first year as an academic librarian, I have found lovely points of intersection between public and academic librarianship, as well as opportunities for lucrative partnerships. This will explore some of these points and offer some ideas for programs and initiatives, though they will all be in the ideas phase, since I accidentally don't have enough time to do anything yet.
Speakers
MS

Maddie Sharpe

Downtown & Development Librarian, North Dakota State University
Maddie Sharpe (she/her) is the Downtown & Development Librarian at North Dakota State University in Fargo. Having transitioned from Director of Lake Region Public Library in Devils Lake, she now oversees the downtown branches of NDSU Libraries and advocates for the Libraries' development... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, Public Libraries
  • about <br>

5:00pm PDT

Silent Auction Opens!
Thursday October 8, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Thursday October 8, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Event
  • about <br>

5:00pm PDT

Vendor Social
Thursday October 8, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Thursday October 8, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Event
  • about <br>

6:00pm PDT

Awards Banquet & Auction
Thursday October 8, 2026 6:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom

Thursday October 8, 2026 6:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Event
  • about <br>
 

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Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
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