Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Session 7: Breakouts
4:00-4:50 PM
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Session 7: Breakouts
4:00-4:50 PM
Embedded Files
Thank you for attending the 2026 CLA Conference. A Post Conference Email will be sent out after May 4th.
Session 7: Breakouts
4:00-4:50 PM
Mystic Ballroom AD
Mystic Ballroom AD
How to Help Those Who Can't Help Themselves
How to Help Those Who Can't Help Themselves
Presenter: Kathryn Deliktas; New Milford Public Library
Homeless People. "Unhoused." While we can wish for a more fair system that didn't allow such a drastic imbalance of equity, little is done in libraries besides providing the number for 211 or directions to the nearest shelter, or Social Services. What can libraries do to help the homeless have a purpose?
Sponsor: CLA JEDI section
Mystic Ballroom BE
Mystic Ballroom BE
Standing Strong: The Three-Legged Stool Approach for Libraries
Standing Strong: The Three-Legged Stool Approach for Libraries
Presenters: Jan Glover; Glenn Grube, Avon Free Public Library; Carol Mikulski; Pamela Monahan, Friends of Connecticut Libraries; and Susan Phillips, Hall Memorial Library/Ellington
The Library is the foundation of a community, supported by the Library staff, Trustees, and Friends group. Just as a stool cannot stand without all three of its legs, the Library cannot thrive without the harmonious support of all of its custodians. This panel focuses on the roles, responsibilities and interactions of each of the legs of the library stool.
Sponsor: CLA Member
Mystic Ballroom CF
Mystic Ballroom CF
Lessons Learned: Promoting Project Management Practices in Libraries
Lessons Learned: Promoting Project Management Practices in Libraries
Presenter: Kathleen Kasten-Mutkus, Southern Connecticut State University
This session explores the ways in which project management principles can support mindful, sustainable approaches to workflows and collaboration in libraries, and strategies for librarians to gain training and expertise in project management.
Sponsor: CLA Member
Conference Room 1
Conference Room 1
STEAM-Inspired Creative Writing: Using Euler’s Disk in Workshops for Tweens
STEAM-Inspired Creative Writing: Using Euler’s Disk in Workshops for Tweens
Presenters: Kimberly Behre Kenna and Rebecca Scotka, East Lyme Public Library
Children’s and YA librarian, Rebecca Scotka, and children’s book author, Kimberly Behre Kenna, discuss and demonstrate how to use STEAM concepts to inspire creative writing. They’ll share how using an Euler's Disk (a scientific toy that is spun to demonstrate physics concepts) led young writers in their workshop to think deeply about pacing, setting, character development, and plot.
Sponsor: CLA Conference Committee
Conference Room 2
Conference Room 2
Conference Closing Conversations
Conference Closing Conversations
Presenters: CLA Conference Committee Members
Debrief with your colleagues at the end of the conference about what you learned and what you want to bring back to your library.
Sponsor: CLA Conference Committee
Conference Room 3
Conference Room 3
Using DLD Tools to Tell the Story of Your Library
Using DLD Tools to Tell the Story of Your Library
Presenters: Barbara Ghilardi, CT State Library; Kymberlee Powe, CT State Library; and Ashley Sklar, CT State Library
This presentation will discuss using data to tell a story about your library. Using DLD tools, such as Fact Flyers, Summer Reading Infographics, trend reports, and data from the annual report, we will give strategies to craft a larger story about the impact of your library, services and programs.
Sponsor: CLA Member
Conference Room 5
Conference Room 5
Punk PCs: Alternatives to Microsoft in Public Libraries
Punk PCs: Alternatives to Microsoft in Public Libraries
Presenters: John Adams, Bibliomation, Inc.; Kayla Chamberlain, Booth & Dimock Memorial Library; Gina Monti, Bibliomation, Inc.; Daniel Paquette, Willimantic Public Library; and Jessica Woolford, Bibliomation, Inc.
Are you tired of keeping up with constant Microsoft updates, and their associated costs? You have other options! Hear from a panel of open source software experts, as well as staff from libraries currently using Linux Mint and Chrome OS. Participants will have the opportunity to take Linux and Chrome based operating systems for a “test drive” on provided workstations.
Sponsor: CLA Technology Section
Conference Room 7
Conference Room 7
Making Story Time Magical
Making Story Time Magical
Presenter: Sarah Quigley (she/her/hers), New Haven Free Public Library
New Haven children's librarian, Sarah Quigley, regularly draws crowds of 50+ attendees to her weekly story times. Join her to learn tips and tricks for adding sparkle to story times. She'll share a crash course in acting, tips on using literary devices to make stories come alive, ideas for building community around story time, and much more.
Sponsor: CLA Member
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