Kieran Hixon

When a Patron Needs More than a Book

Have you accidentally helped a library patron transform?
Are you ready to be an intentional champion for your library users?
Join us as we explore services that make all the difference. Together, we will share stories of extraordinary library moments and identify common ways library staff help people grow and learn in transformative ways. Walk away with an understanding of how libraries change lives and gain ideas for what you can do to provide more meaningful library services.

Colorado State Library Logo

When You are Engulfed in Flames: Recognizing and Overcoming Job Burnout

Job burnout is a response to stress that leaves you feeling hopeless, powerless, despondent and overwhelmed. But, don’t despair you can do something about it! During this session you’ll learn this doesn’t happen overnight. Our bodies and minds do give us warning signs, and if you know what to look for, you can recognize it before exhaustion and ineffectiveness set in.

Colorado State Library Logo

We Need to Talk: Overcoming the Fear of Having a Difficult Conversation

When faced with having a difficult conversation do you find yourself procrastinating, back peddling, dodging, panicking, or finding yourself filled with dread? Whether the conversation is with staff, a patron, your family, or an annoying neighbor this session will help to move you forward. These conversations don’t have to be difficult if you prepare in advance and leave your emotions out of the equation.

Scouting Possibilities: Intergenerational Programming

Often, library work finds librarians and staff siloed into age-restricted spaces. Intergenerational programs present a challenge to the structures of our physical spaces, collections, and areas of expertise and experience. In this workshop, librarians and staff will discover the value of designing programs for participants of different age groups, traversing generational divides with intentional opportunities to learn from one another and cultivate mutually beneficial relationships.

Suzi Tonini

How to HESTL

Highly Effective Schools Through Libraries (HESTL) is a credentialing program with a dual purpose: (1) recognize outstanding school library programs and (2) provide guidance in school librarianship best practices. The program includes pathways for teacher librarians and library paraprofessionals, and the Colorado State Library provides personalized support to achieve credentials.

Babi Hammond

Learning from Your Patrons: An Introduction to User Research

User research doesn’t need to be time-consuming or expensive. A single librarian can conduct and analyze simple patron evaluations with technology readily available in nearly any library. Small scale research projects, done at regular intervals, can continuously improve library services, and help you to see your library through your patron’s perspective.

Babi Hammond

Working with WordPress

This session can cover anything from the basics of creating and editing content to more advanced topics such as working with themes and creating a usable site design.