2026 Core Forum

2026 Core Forum

2:30pm EST

How to Publish with Core 101Kimberely Edwards

3:30pm EST

America ByDesign/Gateway Library Video & Presentation

10:30am EST

Beyond the Desk: Implementing AI Chatbots to Transform Reference ServicesAmal Cavender Designing for Discovery: Creating Interactive and Engaging Library Spaces for Kids and TeensWendy Tressler • Julie Wheeler • Matt Brown • Deanna Jones Distilling Our Priorities: Iterative and Inclusive Strategic Planning in Challenging TimesCourtney Stine • Rob Detmering • Anita Hall Tackling Problematic Subject Categories In the Stacks: Promoting Inclusivity Through Signage, Marketing Efforts, and Strategic PartnershipsYelena Gordiyenko The ROI of Open: Communicating the Value of Transformative AgreementsMark Robison • Erika Hosselkus Yonder in the Graveyard Walk: Preservation and Connection in Louisville’s Historic Black CemeteriesKaira Tucker

1:00pm EST

Accessibility in the Research Data Ecosystem: Emerging Practices and Persistent GapsKelly Denny Beyond the Books: Sustainable Outdoor Spaces supporting Academic Libraries OR Learning in the Landscape: Sustainable Outdoor Spaces to support Academic LibrariesLisa Nickel • Heidi Greenberg • Michael Gutierrez Building the Learning Hub: A Flexible Model for Equitably Supporting Library LearnersTerry McQuown • Hillary Washburn From Assumptions to Insight: Attribution Theory in Library LeadershipJenny Meslener • Regan McClure Leveraging Librarian Expertise for Systematic Faculty-Acquired Subscriptions ReviewKayla Lenkner • Calida Barboza OCLC Sponsored Session

2:30pm EST

Cataloging Non-Roman Scripts With Help From AI: A Case Study of Chinese Language MaterialsAdrienne Sanders Chicago's 81 Club - Equity of Access to Library Resources for All StudentsKara Thorstenson Digital Preservation for LibrariansDerek Clark From Downtown Dreams to Funded Library: Aligning Civic Priorities and Community NeedsRob Remark • Debbie Joy Stuck in the Middle: Positionality and the Emotional Labor of Academic Library LeadersSusan R. Franzen • Kate Tallman The Plan, the Problem, and the Solution: Using Asana’s API and ChatGPT to Build a Web Interface for Liaison StatisticsBen Rawlins Why Retail Stores Learn Faster Than Libraries—and What Libraries Can Do About ItDavid Vinjamuri

3:45pm EST

Built to Move: Designing Active Play Spaces in the Modern Public LibraryPamela Jankowski • Aaron Hill • Annie Vedder From Pilot to Program: Designing a Novice VR Creation Badge in an Academic LibraryBeryl White-Bing Social Work Informed Library Services: They Do Teach That in Library School!Brian Real • Beth Wahler Sponsored Session The Tech Services Librarian Behind the Curtain: Building Relationships for Behind the Scenes PositionsEmma Beck • Challen Wright When Things Fall Apart: Learning from Management FailuresDr. Janette Klein

11:00am EST

After the Architects Leave: Lessons from 25 Years of Library Resiliency and Adaptive UsePat Losinski • Randy Gibson Designing for Inclusion: Creating Sensory Spaces for Neurodiverse Library UsersLauren Kehoe Navigating the Surge: Developing Policies for AI-Generated BooksLora Ericson • Stacey Wolf Top Tech TrendsAmanda Gray Perry Two Sides, Two Coins: Shared Print and PreservationShari Laster • Hannah B. Tashjian Understanding Career Advancement in Academic Libraries: Motivators, Barriers, and Pathways to LeadershipLauren Reiter • Ash Faulkner

1:30pm EST

Contributing Back: How Libraries Can Participate in Open-Source Communities Without a Developer on StaffChristine Peterson Modern Middle Leadership: Redefining How to Lead at the Most Crucial LevelJoLyn Reisdorf • Tracy Cornelius On Our Terms: Building a Community Subject Thesaurus for Radical MaterialsViolet Fox • Jesse Cole Safe by Design: Moving Beyond Technology to Create Safer LibrariesWendy Tressler • Andrea Quillici Stewards in the Storm: Preservation, Preparedness, and Community Memory in LibrariesDenise Lyons Unlocking the Library: Strategies for Creating an Open Access LibraryMegan Stuart • Allison McKenzie

3:00pm EST

ALA Core Best Furniture & Equipment: Trends, Innovation, and Smart Product Selection for Today’s Libraries Digital Collections Made Better: Accessibility, Discoverability, Usability How Public Libraries Are Advancing AI: A Panel on Strategy, Access, and InnovationJustin Bumbico • BJ Colvin • Anthony White • Oli Sandias • Vicky Varga Sharing Your Expertise Through Consulting: Core Library Consulting Interest GroupMichelle Frisque • Michelle Ornat Sponsored Session The Overlooked Advantage: How Different Thinkers Strengthen OrganizationsKaylee Yutzy When the Big Project Won’t Come: Leading Library Renewal One Phase at a TimeDianne Chia • Jared Hoppenfield • James Fulton

4:15pm EST

Access in Flux: What Librarians Need to Know About the Changing Scholarly LandscapeJohn Felts AI Use by Library Technical Services Workers in the U.S. and CanadaSean Kennedy • Arpi Anderson Designing for Behavior: How Space Planning Shapes Student ConductTravis Goode From Flat Files to Knowledge Graphs: Rescuing an Endangered Dataset with WikidataEmily Baldoni I Trust You: How Three Little Words Can Unleash Your TeamMarna Hosteller Librarian, Architect, and Community: A Cross-Stakeholder Conversation Assessing a Community-Engaged Public Library ProjectAlexandra (Alex) Hamby