2026 NDLA Conference: Full Schedule

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3:00pm PDT

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

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 →

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

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

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

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>

2026 NDLA Conference

3:00pm PDT

Emily Stenberg Brown

Michele Willman

3:00pm PDT

Cassandra Klos

3:00pm PDT

Tammy Kruger

3:00pm PDT

Online Dakota Information Network

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