2018 MLA Annual Conference

Have you ever have a teen ask for something called a manga or graphic novel? Have you ever been confused by the plethora of options? Well then this panel is for you! Come join your speakers as they explain the differences between mangas and graphic novels and the genres to both.

Attend this session to learn about the importance of including world language materials in our collections and how you can start or expand your world language collections. You'll leave with tips and best practices, and you'll hear about innovative ways of collecting materials and connecting with the community, demand-driven acquisition, and self-publishing opportunities. Session presenters are members of MELSA's World Language group. The group has collaborated to create a list of world language vendors, which will be shared with session attendees.

Do you want to foster a greater relationship with the teens in your library, but don't know where to start? Have you tried and feel like you've failed? Our presentation team is here to break down the intimidation factor in working with teens in your library. Using current research, best case practices and our combined years of experience; the presenters will offer session participants a fresh look at working with teens in the library and how to make sure teens feel welcome and supported in our libraries.

Is your library accessible to people of all abilities? Join Dakota County Library staff and learn how they are working towards inclusion of people with disabilities of all ages in the areas of customer service, programs, outreach and space design. Explore strategies for community assessment and evaluation, and learn how librarians implemented programs in partnership with community stakeholders to inform more effective and inclusive library services for all.

Join the Reader's Advisory Round Table as we bring you reviews of 40 books in 50 minutes! Topics include diverse mysteries, steampunk fiction, memoirs, and "Can I Get a Do Over."

Drawing from Minnesota's vibrant community of professors, lecturers, writers, and librarians, the MCF-Shakopee Library has hosted an annual Chautauqua in the Minnesota Department of Corrections since 2015. Why? Because Chautauqua's original principles remain relevant today, particularly in our prison community. Dating back to the 19th century, the Chautauqua movement spread across the country each summer, bringing the talents and ideas of speakers, performers, and musicians to communities that might otherwise remain isolated from changing ideas and provocative visitors. As President Theodore Roosevelt said, Chautauqua is "the most American thing in America." Hear about how the singular event came to be, how it's grown & progressed, the people involved, how it's transformed our community inside & out, and what's in store for the future.

All library leaders are charged with presenting the library's mission, objectives and performance measures to their funding agencies - be it county, district or consortium. These larger administrative units often encompass numerous cities and townships. And while we present ourselves strongly to our larger parent organizations, we may be missing opportunities by not presenting to smaller, local city / township governments that fall within our service area. By providing regular updates to the staff and elected officials of these smaller communities, libraries are: "¢ Opening new communication channels for reaching potential customers "¢ Aligning service delivery for maximum congruency / relevancy to local stakeholders' priorities "¢ Demonstrating the value and utility of library services to an even larger audience This session will provide recommendations for establishing contact with local governments "“ as well as suggestions, tips and direction for creating effective presentations to share with these key local stakeholders.

Leadership is for everyone. It's for you! And we are here to help you with building your skills!! In this session, we will discuss the basics of using a podcast as a tool for training leadership skills and competencies. We will talk about the strategy we used to identify the competencies we are sharing in the podcast. We will talk, briefly, about setting up a podcast of your own if you want to do some training for your patrons, or staff, or other population. You will leave this session with ideas on leadership development and on learning by podcasting. Together we will enjoy discussing leadership!

In an effort to revamp their nonfiction collection and programs for adults, Riverview Library endeavored to use authentic community engagement techniques to discover the needs and interests of the West Side community. From community lead listening sessions, to sharing surveys, to data interpretation, to asking participants to respond to their findings, Riverview staff engaged the community throughout the entire process. In this session, Riverview staff will discuss what authentic community engagement is and what they learned throughout this process, including their successes, failures, plans for next time, and the joy and gratitude they felt participating in this work.

Usability testing can not only help you improve your library website, it can also be an opportunity to engage with and build empathy for your users. Members of the Hennepin County Library website team will highlight how they embrace website usability testing as an ongoing conversation with the public and staff. They will share tips they have learned about making the process meaningful, ongoing, and inclusive. If you would like an introduction to usability testing or would like to expand usability testing at your library, the lens of community engagement will give you a richer understanding of how to make the most of this tool.

Come and hear about services available from the Minnesota Braille and Talking Library including how patrons receive customized materials based on their reading interests. Session will include information on the download service, Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD), and the library's new online catalog.