Embrace your Inner Child: Imagine, Design, and Create a New Library Space

This session will include special guest speaker, David Vinjamuri, who will share his work on the power of renovating your library space for the missing patron. And learn how to embrace your inner child with help from Jenise Sileo and Valerie Arnold, who will share some highlights from their library project that required bold choices to turn a forgotten space into a "new" vibrant community zone.

More than a Religion: Embracing Jewish and Muslim Culture in Books

More books embracing Non-Christian culture have been published in the last few years. We look to highlight various middle grade, teen and adult books that have been written about Jewish and Muslim characters, and how these characters' lives are reflected within their religious and secular worlds.

Policy-ing Teens: The Process of Policy-Making

A one-size-fits all conduct policy doesn’t always work for our teen patrons. Learn from three library systems how they crafted policies to meet the needs of their teens and how they got the rest of their staff on board. Bring your own policy wins to share and all of your thorny questions about teen use of the library

Creating Visibility & Belonging: AAPI Collaborations with Libraries & Authors

WeAsian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) comprise 11% of NJ’s population and are fast-growing, yet it is a vastly under-served community. Author Marina Budhos will highlight a reader’s theater program at local schools. Amber Reed (AAPI Montclair) and Ariel Zeitlin (Montclair Public Library) will discuss their collaborations, and the vital role of the library. These are inspiring models for NJ libraries and organizations seeking to create greater visibility, inclusion and belonging for the AAPI community and beyond.

Empowering Hygiene Initiatives around the Garden State

Libraries across New Jersey are integrating health and wellness stations and menstruation kits into their library’s services to make sure young patrons have what they need to maintain proper hygiene and keep their dignity. Join librarians from Bound Brook, Hoboken, Cherry Hill and Elizabeth to learn about each public library’s hygiene initiatives and find out how to get services like these off the ground and implemented into your library.

Diversify Your Readers Advisory from Picture Books to Young Adult

Library staff have the potential to hand patrons books that better make them understand themselves, their fellow community members, and the world. Knowing what books exist is the first step to getting them in patrons’ hands. Come to learn from six youth services professionals about diverse nonfiction books and books featuring transgender characters, characters with mental and physical disabilities, gender non-conforming kids, and U.S. American Indians and Alaskan Natives characters.

Let’s Talk Zines: Break the Barrier of Having Zines in Your Library

Zines are the easiest way towards inclusive collaboration between your library and your patrons. Join our discussion about breaking barriers that might stop you from including zines and zine making in your library programming. We’ll talk about what zines are, why they help with mental health, how easy they are to create and share, and ways to offer them alongside other forms of standard library publications. Bring your curiosity and questions for this discussion.

World Language Collections -- At Any Size

Building inclusive world language collections to reflect your community means meeting unique challenges. Learn how to identify the diverse ethnic, cultural or linguistic groups in your service area, and how to catalog, process, display, and promote world language collections to increase visibility to patrons. Gain advice and tips from those who’ve built collections at small to large libraries, and take home a resource listing vendors and sources for World Language materials.

Literacy for All: Supporting Dyslexic and Neurodivergent Children and Teens in the Library

Did you know that 1 in 5 people are dyslexic? Yet, it’s still one of the most misunderstood learning disabilities, continuing to mystify librarians and educators alike? Join youth services librarians Brie Mintz and Jen Apgar for a session covering various ways to break barriers in supporting neurodivergent and dyslexic children and teens throughout the library and schools. We will discuss programming ideas, outreach opportunities, resources to support your patrons and students, and inclusive collaboration!

A Week in the Life of an Accessible Library

Experience a week with the New Jersey State Library Talking Book & Braille Center. Discover the unique ways TBBC provides reader’s advisory, circulation, collection development, outreach, and programming to those with low vision, blindness, or a physical, perceptual, or reading disability that prevents them from using regular print materials. Learn about the diverse range of services and resources available, including success stories from TBBC’s efforts to break down barriers to ensure that all may read.

NJ Library Association Conference

Young Adult Services Section