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2026 NDLA Conference
Type: Concurrent Session clear filter
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Friday, October 9
 

10:00am PDT

Librarian of Things
Friday October 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
In this session we will explore the evolution of a specific kind of collection - the Library of Things! We'll take an in-depth look at collection development, potential funding opportunities, developing policies, and what to do when the mixer goes missing!
Speakers
TS

Tina Stockdill

Tech Specialist, ODIN
The Loud Librarian - I've spent more than 10 years in libraries: special, school, and academic, and now working with ODIN to provide support to our consortium libraries and their communities. I love my family, reading, gardening, kayaking, animals, and have even been known to explore... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, Public Libraries

10:00am PDT

Playing to Your Strengths: Maximizing Your Potential
Friday October 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Discover how recognizing and leveraging your natural strengths can boost your confidence, improve teamwork, and make your daily work more energizing. In this session, we’ll explore simple strategies for identifying what you do best, aligning tasks with strengths, and building a workplace where everyone shines. Come ready to reflect, share, and leave with practical tools to help you do more of the work that lights you up.
Speakers
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 →
Friday October 9, 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

Tabling with Pride - Meeting your Queer Community Members at their Point of Need
Friday October 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Join EDI/LGBTQ2S+ Committee Co-Chairs Rachel Waldo and Montana Ackman as they combine peer-reviewed research and lived experience to show you the unique needs and challenges facing our local queer community members. They will explain how tabling at local Pride events allows libraries to build trust with our local queer community members and meet them at their point of need.  They will also share practical guides, helpful tips, and resources created by the EDI/LGBTQ2S+ Committee with the goal of empowering YOU to go forth and confidently meet your queer community members at their point of need by tabling at your local Pride event!

We will also hold a Q&A at the end of the session as time allows.
Speakers
MA

Montana Ackman

EDI/LGBTQ2S+ Committee Co-Chair, NDLA
Montana Ackman is the Administrative Assistant for the Williston Community Library and is a 2026 Co-Chair of the EDI/LGBTQ2S+ Committee of NDLA.

She is a library kiddo turned library staff member who was beyond ecstatic when she was hired as a part-time Circulation Clerk at the Williston Community Library during her junior year of high school. She since earned her Associate in Arts at Williston State College and has held a... Read More →
RW

Rachel Waldo

Teen & Young Adult Services Librarian, Dickinson Area Public Library
Rachel Waldo is the Teen & Young Adult Services Librarian for the Dickinson Area Public Library and is a 2026 Co-Chair of the EDI/LGBTQ2S+ Committee of NDLA. Based out of Dickinson, North Dakota, Rachel attended Dickinson State University and graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, for all libraries

11:00am PDT

Copyright, OER, and Open Access: The Basics
Friday October 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
This presentation will give an overview of copyright, OER, and Open Access geared towards public and K-12 librarians.
Speakers
avatar for Kelly Kornkven

Kelly Kornkven

Library Director, Mayville State University
Kelly Kornkven is the library director at Mayville State University. As part of her position she is the administrator for the university’s library science minor which includes the coursework required for K-12 teachers to become credentialed school librarians. She has participated... Read More →
BF

Brittany Fischer

Librarian, Unaffiliated
Friday October 9, 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

LSTA Input Forum
Friday October 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Jason Matthews will facilitate an input forum for all interested NDLA attendees, including librarians and library employees, to share their thoughts on NDSL's current LSTA programs and services. We will review current programs and services and identify needs and wants, which NDSL will consider as part of its upcoming five-year LSTA plan.
Speakers
JM

Jason Matthews

Consultant - Conducting LSTA Evaluation for North Dakota State Library, JM Strategies, LLC
Jason Matthews is the owner of JM Strategies, a Bismarck-based firm providing strategic planning, facilitation, research, public relations, and public affairs services. The North Dakota State Library has contracted with JM Strategies to evaluate its Library Services & Technology Act... Read More →
Friday October 9, 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

Small Changes, Big Impact: Affordable Ways to Implement Universal Design
Friday October 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Adjusting your library for Universal Design doesn’t have to break the bank! There are strategies for making library spaces more accessible with little to no cost. This program will discuss practical accessibility ideas, including free and low-cost changes. Presenters will also provide aspirational ideas for bigger budgets. Topics include digital spaces, physical spaces, and event planning.
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 →
HB

Hannah Beebe

Research & Instruction Librarian, VCSU
Hannah Beebe (they/them) is the Research & Instruction at Valley City State University. They are the lead of digital accessibility work at the VCSU library and have been a member of the NDLA EDI committee since 2024. They were diagnosed with ADHD in graduate school, which spurred... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, for all libraries

1:30pm PDT

Legislative Bootcamp: The Who, What, When, Where, and Why of the North Dakota Legislative Process and How libraries can be involved
Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
Legislative processes can be convoluted at the best of times and downright enigmatic at the worst. This session’s goal is to provide an overview of the ND legislative process and what can be expected at each step along the way. Approaches libraries can take to help advocate for themselves, as well as keep patrons informed on pending legislation without violating anti-corruption laws, will also be discussed.
Speakers
DG

Dylan Gonser

Adult Services Librarian, Grand Forks Public Library
Dylan is an adult services librarian and has worked for the Grand Forks Public Library since 2021. Originally from Dickinson, he received his B.A. in History from Dickinson State University and after starting at GFP_, earned his MLIS from Louisiana State University. Dylan has been... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, Academic

1:30pm PDT

What lies beyond the OPAC? Boldly going where the patrons are!
Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
As patron expectations shift toward intuitive, app-driven interfaces, the traditional OPAC is no longer the Final Frontier for discovery of your collection. This session explores how ODIN is moving beyond traditional catalog searches to create a dynamic, patron-first digital ecosystem. We will fly over Undiscovered Country and dive into our recent implementation of Vega Discover and Mobile, illustrating how these tools modernize the user journey and provide more intuitive search experiences, merges physical with digital, and aims to meet patrons where they are. On our Journey Home, we will discuss other tools and services we are working on to create a personalized experience for patrons while also providing library staff with better data on there collections and patrons. SO set your phasers to 'discover' and join us as we step into the transporter and beam up a new patron experience!
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 →
Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, for all libraries
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1:30pm PDT

What Should I Read Next? A Roundtable on the Best Books for Middle and High School Readers
Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom
The presenters will identify and discuss the best books for middle and high school readers. The presenters will invite collaboration from participants in sharing the most popular genres and reading trends in an effort to help librarians curate their collections with things kids truly want to read.

Presenters will share their top and bottom checkouts as well as highlight reading trends from their own libraries. The session will feature books in many fiction genres as well as graphic novels and low-readability/high-interest books.

Participants should leave with a list of books that their students will want to read.
Speakers
SH

Sarah Hicks

High School Librarian, Minot High School

KH

Karen Hannegrefs

Librarian, Minot North High School
DS

Dawn Seopa

Librarian, Jim Hill Middle School
CH

Courtney Heilman

Librarian, Erik Ramstad Middle School
AS

Alison Steele

Librarian, Central Middle School
Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Grand Oasis Hotel Minot - Grand Ballroom 1505 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703, USA
  Concurrent Session, School Libraries
 

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