Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being for LIS Students: Navigating the Challenges of Graduate Studies
2025-03-19 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Denver)
Master’s students in library and information science (LIS) programs face unique challenges that can affect their mental health and well-being, from academic pressures and financial stress to job uncertainty and balancing personal commitments. This session will explore the mental health struggles common among LIS students, including feelings of isolation, burnout, and vocational awe. We will discuss strategies for fostering resilience, building supportive networks, and promoting inclusivity within LIS programs. Participants will also learn how institutions and peers can better support student well-being, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable pathway into the profession.
Session archive
About the panelists:
Jacque Composanto (she/her) is a Collection Development Librarian at Auraria Library. She collects resources in the humanities for the three schools on Auraria Campus: the University of Colorado Denver, the Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the Community College of Denver. Jacque is passionate about student engagement and learning.

Cate Johnson (she/her) is the Art Librarian for the Dallas Public Library system. She connects
patrons to the wider art community of Dallas-Fort Worth by curating shows, teaching
workshops, maintaining public art studios, and general library duties. She spends her
time looking into historical craft techniques and advocating for access to the arts.
Phoebe Lett (She/Her) is the Library Technician: E-Resource Purchasing Specialist at the University of Denver. She has worked in academic and public libraries. She also has 10 years of outdoor education experience, including working at the Denver Zoo. She will graduate this spring with her Masters of Library and Information Science degree and is passionate about the accessibility of resources and intellectual freedom.

Martín Martinez (he/him) is a Public Services Specialist at the Auraria Library that serves three higher education institutions: University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan University of Denver, and Community College of Denver. Martín is a student supervisor who works at the Ask Us Desk. He recently graduated from San José State University with a MLIS. His research interests include emerging technologies, gaming, and anti-racism efforts in the LIS.

Laurel Schwaebe (she/her) is a Creative Technology Specialist at the Auraria Library. She trains students in creative technologies including 3D printers, vinyl plotters, and camera equipment. She has a BA in Film & Digital Media from the American University in Washington, DC, as well as an MS in Marketing from the University of Colorado Denver and an MLIS from the University of Denver. She is passionate about digital preservation and educational equity.

Joshua Herrington (he/him) is a Business Research & Instruction Librarian at the University of Colorado Boulder. He leads the Business Library instruction program, conducting
information literacy instruction sessions, creating online learning modules, and providing in-depth research help. Joshua is passionate about critical pedagogy and supporting student learning.

Demystifying Genre
2025-03-19 14:00 - 15:30
Nothing is scarier than trying to help a fan of a genre you yourself don’t enjoy. You want to help that, for example, Romance reader, find the perfect book, but you are having trouble knowing where to begin because…eek!… you don’t read Romance. You are afraid they will find out you are a fraud. How can YOU possibly help THEM?!? Never fear, in this program, Readers’ Advisory expert, Becky Spratford, will teach you the basic appeals of the major genres, give you the inside track on what a fan of that genre is most drawn to, and provide you with talking points to get your genres readers to tell you what they want. This program focuses on providing you with a diverse and inclusive list of up-to-date authors; only authors will be discussed. You will leave this session with the confidence and skill to help fans of every genre, regardless of whether or not you have ever read a book in that genre yourself. And that will leave a trail of happy patrons in your wake.
This 90-minute workshop is the third in the “Readers Advisory Workshop Series” for Colorado library professionals.
Session archive
Others in the series

RA for All: Flip the Script and Think Like a Reader
Booktalk Your Way to the Friendliest Library in Town

All registrants will be provided links to recordings of each session regardless of their ability to attend.
About the presenter
Becky Spratford [MLIS] is a Readers’ Advisor in Illinois specializing in serving patrons ages 13 and up. She trains library staff all over the world on how to match books with readers through the local public library. She runs the critically acclaimed RA training blog RA for All. She is under contract to provide content for EBSCO’s NoveList database and writes reviews for Booklist and a horror review column for Library Journal. Becky is a 23 year locally elected Library Trustee [still serving], a former Board member for the Reaching Across Illinois Library System, and currently on the Executive Board of the Illinois Library Association. Known for her work with horror readers, Becky is the author of The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror, Third Edition [ALA Editions, 2021] and the forthcoming Why I Love Horror and You Should Too [Saga Press, Sept 2025]. She is on the Shirley Jackson Award Advisory Board and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association, currently serves as the Association’s Secretary and Co-Chair of their Library Committee. You can follow Becky on X @RAforAll.
RA for All’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement:RA for All’s programs are crafted and delivered with the understanding that increasing the collection, discovery, and circulation of titles written by marginalized voices in all public libraries is not a trend. It is a requirement. By contracting with RA for All, library organizations must take the position that libraries are not neutral, and understand that the goal is to become an anti-racist library, an organization that does the work to begin actively breaking down the walls of the systemic oppression of marginalized view points, walls which have been built over centuries but cannot be allowed to stand any longer. This work is not easy and will be uncomfortable at times, but getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is part of this process. RA for All is committed to helping you craft an actionable plan to begin this important journey.

How to Be a Librarian for Brain Health and Dementia
2025-03-25 12:00 - 13:00
Come ready with questions about brain health, memory loss, and dementia!
In this webinar, Kelly Osthoff, Senior Director of Programs for Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado, and Cristy Moran, Adult Library Services Senior Consultant for Colorado State Library, will guide librarians and staff from all types of library institutions through resources suitable for meeting the information needs of their community members. Ready resources, including webpages and websites that can be bookmarked on information desk computers, social media accounts and influencers (some care professionals and doctors included!), resource navigation directories, and academic journals and other sources suitable for students with high school and university coursework on brain health. Libraries often provide support for finding and filing applications for medical and other social services. This session may also prove helpful for people wondering where to start looking.
Attendees are asked to come prepared with questions they’d like to ask about available resources and FAQs from community members and other library visitors.
Session archive
Participants will:

Locate and save at least five websites to bookmark and social media accounts to follow for general public inquiries (e.g., caregivers, people with personal brain health and memory concerns)
Identify some academic and medical resources for supporting research for students from high school to university levels (e.g., journals, databases, books)
Connect with specific resources from Alzheimer’s Association and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment specific to brain health and memory care
Engage in conversation and Q&A with Alzheimer’s Association and Colorado State Library about supporting their communities

About the presenter
Kelly has 15 years of experience working in program delivery and assessment, organizational advancement, non-profit leadership. She has been a life-long volunteer with Meals on Wheels and advocate for older adults who had the pleasure of growing up in an intergenerational household, bringing a family connection to the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission.
She has studied Celtic and Gaelic history at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, has earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Denver, a master’s degree in Education from the University of Northern Colorado, a post-graduate certificate in gerontology from the University of Northern Colorado, and is currently pursuing a PhD in gerontology with a research focus on dementia caregiving in multi-generational families from the Lutheran Concordia University of Chicago.
She has been with the Association since March of 2015 and currently leads the Care and Support division of the chapter, providing leadership and quality assurance in programs and services execution. She also represents the Alzheimer’s Association on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Related Disorders Action Coalition.

Loneliness and Social Isolation: Tackling the Social Disconnection Epidemic
2025-04-02 14:00 - 15:00
The U.S. is currently experiencing a loneliness and social isolation crises. This webinar will discuss why we should care about loneliness and social isolation, the negative health consequences of these issues, how to recognize and identify loneliness and social isolation, and potential solutions for loneliness and social isolation including the role of community.
Session archive
About the presenter
Rebecca Mullen is a family medicine physician-researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine. She practices broad-spectrum family medicine in the outpatient and inpatient clinical settings and is an educator in the University of Colorado Family Medicine residency program. Her research and clinical interests include loneliness and social isolation, aging health disparities, dementia, LGBTQ+ and gender affirming care.

Aging at Your Library: How Colorado Libraries Meet the Moment for Aging Adults (AARP Livable Communities + Colorado’s Public Libraries)
2025-04-04 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-07 17:30 - 19:00
April is a month of celebration for libraries! This month, community members and partners are invited to join the Colorado State Library to learn about what your libraries are doing to support you through your silver, golden, and diamond years. Community members and library professionals will have two opportunities in and around National Library Week 2025 to learn together and forge new relationships.
In “Aging at Your Library: How Colorado Libraries Meet the Moment for Aging Adults,” Coloradan community members, partners, and libraries will learn about the Colorado public library ecosystem, find their local libraries, and learn how their libraries have built robust programs, curated resources, and fostered partnerships to meet the ever-growing needs of aging and older adults. As the state’s population trends bend toward aging and aging-in-place communities, the trends of Colorado’s public library services, resources, and partnerships follow. From tai chi classes and Ageless Grace programming to end of life and caregiving for adults educational series, Colorado’s libraries have responded to the call of their communities to meet them where they are and take them where they want to go. Colorado’s Associate State Director of Livable & Diverse Communities at AARP, Marissa Volpe, will share the vision, scope, and opportunities for work with AARP Livable Communities in Colorado. Together from the vantage point of the state library and AARP’s Livable Communities, participants will learn how they are connected to one another and how we all work to creating an age-friendly, inclusive Colorado.
This presentation will include examples from the field, highlighting different libraries’ offerings and introducing participants to the new, innovative ways libraries respond to their unique and dynamic communities.
This 90-minute webinar will include 30 minutes for community members to engage in direct conversation with their local library partners. Please come ready for robust conversation and an eagerness to meet and chat with fellow Coloradans working toward age-friendly communities.
LibraryLand, please visit the AARP Livable Communities page to learn about the community who will be attending and to locate the resources that are available for you, your neighbors, and your library.
Session archive
About the presenter
Cristy Moran (she/ ella) is a librarian, an educator, an instructional designer, and an information literacy specialist who has worked in libraries and education for over 15 years. Currently she serves at the Adult Library Services Senior Consultant for the Colorado State Library. She is a “librarian for librarians” and a library evangelist, bringing the critical often overlooked role libraries play as social and civic infrastructure to every room she’s in. Adults are her people no matter their age, identity, language, needs, aspirations, or contexts. Cristy’s professional library interests are wide-ranging and varied, but always centered on the users, patrons, and communities who we serve.
Spanglish is her superpower. Kindness punk is her praxis. She’d tell you wildflower seed-bombing is what she does for a living.

Application Assistance with Benefits in Action
2025-04-14 12:00 - 13:00
Benefits in Action is a Colorado nonprofit organization serving individuals statewide. We strive to increase understanding, access, and utilization of healthcare resources. Our team of navigators work with individuals to help them recognize the health-related benefits they qualify for, apply to those benefits, and utilize them as effectively as possible.
Session archive
About the presenter
Rachel Wise, Manager of Marketing & Outreach, supports the work of Benefits in Action by sharing information and resources, connecting with neighbors, and boosting brand awareness. She enjoys working with a compassionate team determined to eliminate barriers and support community wellbeing.

Spirituality in the Library Workplace: Bringing Your Whole Self to Work
2025-04-23 13:00 - 14:00
Library employees face numerous challenges that impact their mental health and overall well-being. While libraries focus on creating inclusive and welcoming spaces for their patrons, how can we also nurture the well-being of our staff, particularly through practices of spirituality and mindfulness?
This panel will explore the role of spirituality in the library workplace, discussing how it can contribute to mental health, resilience, and a more balanced work life. We will examine the intersection of spirituality and inclusivity, providing strategies for fostering a respectful and supportive environment for diverse spiritual and religious beliefs. Through a blend of philosophical insights and practical recommendations, this session will highlight ways to integrate spirituality into workplace culture in a way that respects personal boundaries and enhances collective well-being.
Session archive
About the panelists
David Fasman is the Curator of the Beck Archives of Rocky Mountain Jewish History and an Assistant Professor at the University of Denver Libraries. His research interests include Nazi-Era Looted Books and the provenance of antiquarian Judaica. David received his MLIS in 2020 and has worked in a variety of archival and library jobs.

Born and raised in the state of Assam in north-east India, Deeptangshu Das (he/him) is currently a Ph.D candidate at the University of Denver and ILIFF School of Theology’s Joint Doctoral Program in Religion. He has been simultaneously working as a graduate student assistant at the University of Denver Main Library’s Research Center for the past three years. His research areas include Hindu and Buddhist Goddess traditions; Religion in Media and Popular Culture; Feminist and Queer Studies. Prior to joining the Ph.D program, he also holds over eight years of teaching experience as Assistant Professor in different universities across India.
David C. Kemp (They/Them) uses decolonial and liberationist perspectives to critically analyze the intersections of LGBTQ+ issues, Christianity, human rights, and social media with U.S. culture, nationalism, and politics. They received a B.S. in Global and Multicultural Issues from East Texas A&M University in 2018, and an M.T.S. with a Social Justice and Religion Concentration from Southern Methodist University in 2021.David is a current third-year Ph.D. Student in the University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology Joint Doctoral Program in the Study of Religion (JDP). David works at the University of Denver Libraries Research Center doing one-on-one research and teaching consultations, as well as assisting students, faculty, staff, and visitors with general research help and database navigation. David has also been a Certified Candidate for Ordination in the United Methodist Church since 2018 where they have participated in leadership opportunities like guest preaching, facilitating Bible Studies, organizing outreach events, and speaking at conferences and workshops.
Ibrahim Mohamed (he/him) is a Systems Librarian at Auraria Library, which provides academic resources for the University of Colorado Denver, the Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the Community College of Denver. He also serves as a board member of the Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL). His research interests include Library Services Platforms, Data management/ migration, and leadership in Libraries.

Jessi Jones (she/her) is the Collection Development and Cataloging Librarian at Iliff School of Theology and the E-Resources Cataloging Technician at the University of Denver. Naturally, she believes that libraries are vital community hubs where information should be freely available to all. In her current roles, she does her best to maintain diverse and up-to-date collections and that they are readily accessible. Her hobbies include traveling, playing tabletop and video games, and crocheting.

Kathryn E. Shenk (she/her) is a Science & Math Librarian at James Madison University Libraries in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Kathryn received a BA in Religious Studies from William and Mary and a
MSLS from the University of Kentucky. She provides information literacy instruction and support to the Biology and Chemistry & Biochemistry Departments. Kathryn enjoys bringing the sciences and religion into conversation with one another.

Sho McClarence (they/them), is the Writing Center director at Iliff School of Theology and works extremely close with the Iliff School of Theology’s library department as well as the library at the University of Denver. Sho’s focus is on writing and researching well and has 6 years of library experience in reference and access services. Sho is a PhD candidate studying the intersection of marginalization and spatial theory, and hopes to apply this work to libraries and library resources in the future.

Medicare 101with Benefits in Action
2025-04-30 11:00 - 12:00
New to Medicare or need updated information on plan options? Join a Medicare counselor from Benefits In Action for this unbiased review of the A, B, C and D’s of Medicare. Learn important coverage dates and steps to avoid healthcare fraud and abuse. Benefits in Action is a Colorado nonprofit organization serving individuals statewide. We strive to increase understanding, access, and utilization of healthcare resources.
Session archive
About the presenter:
Karen Curosh, Medicare Counselor with Benefits in Action, is a retired attorney. She specialized in estate planning, charitable giving, and nonprofit organizations. Karen volunteers with Benefits in Action to help people navigate the complicated world of Medicare.

Turn the Page to Health: Diabetes Education Opportunities for All Coloradans
2025-05-08 12:00 - 13:00
In 2024, nearly 1 in 10 Americans were estimated to have diabetes. Additionally, approximately 98 million Americans are at risk for developing the disease, with 80% unaware of their risk. In Colorado, it’s projected that 1 in 3 residents could develop Type 2 Diabetes within the next six years. This webinar will explore ongoing efforts to prevent and treat diabetes, as well as highlight free educational resources available to all Coloradans.
Learn about the diabetes education programs any Colorado libraries can promote and connect with their communities and library patrons. These education programs can be accessed virtually or in person. Libraries need only reach out to our presenter, Kristen Hinkle, to bring this essential health education program and service to their neighbors.
Session archive
About the presenter
Kristen Hinkle is a certified health coach (NBC-HWC) with the Adams County Health Department, working with the Diabetes Education and Prevention Team. In addition to facilitating healthy lifestyle change programs, she actively partners with organizations to raise awareness about available diabetes education opportunities. Together with her team, she is committed to providing comprehensive support and resources to all Coloradoans seeing to prevent or manage diabetes, empowering them to take control of their health.

CLEL BELLS: What are they and how do I use them?
2025-05-08 13:00 - 13:45
Join the CLEL Bell Chairs to learn about the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy Book Awards. Discover new English and Spanish titles that align with the Every Child Ready to Read skills of Read, Sing, Talk, Write and Play and how you can use them in storytime or to strengthen your reader’s advisory skills. This webinar will be recorded and shared with participants who register.
Session archive
Session slides (PPT)

Social Security 101 with Benefits in Action
2025-05-12 14:00 - 15:00
Join us to learn about the basics of Social Security: What it is, what all those acronyms stand for – SSA, SSID, etc. – and how to apply and help people understand and find resources to apply for them.
Session archive
About the presenter
Eric Gonzalez is the lead Social Security navigator for Benefits in Action. He has helped people apply for SSDI and SSI benefits for five years. He also manages the seasonal Benefits in Action VITA Tax Program. Eric is committed to quality outcomes for his clients.

SHIP Partners & Services Manager (State Health Insurance Program)
2025-06-05 10:00 - 11:00
In this hourlong webinar, Colorado library professionals will be invited to learn about the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) and how to connect their senior neighbors and library visitors with crucial healthcare services, meet affordability needs, access benefits, and overcome the barriers that often leave seniors confused and frustrated. While some library staff operate as SHIP counselors in their areas, others navigate neighbors to where those counselors are and to resource networks that can better serve them. Other libraries use their network of neighbors to recruit SHIP counselor volunteers and staff, providing opportunities for neighbor-to-neighbor and peer support. How we support our communities depends on what we know is out there for us to tap into as a resource. This webinar seeks to answer that question for Colorado library workers.
Session archive.
About the presenter
Kathy Madden works for the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Insurance and has been the SHIP/SMP Partners Services and Training Manager for the past 12 years. She has spent most of her career training all over the country on a variety of topics in the Human Services realm before joining SHIP.
She has experience and knowledge about Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare-related topics. Kathy is passionate about advocating for seniors and understands that consumer education is key to beneficiaries making informed Medicare decisions and preventing fraud and abuse within the Medicare program. She is excited and honored to help consumers, stakeholders and partners navigate the complex Medicare system.

Cultivating Library Joy: Finding Fulfillment in Everyday Work
2025-06-10 13:00 - 14:00
This panel will explore the concept of “library joy,” focusing on the moments of fulfillment and positivity that library employees experience in their work. Participants will reflect on personal experiences, share stories, and identify ways to foster a joyful work environment.
Through guided questions, we will examine how joy contributes to professional satisfaction, the role of patrons in creating meaningful interactions, and the importance of maintaining joy amidst the challenges of library work. Together, we will discover strategies to cultivate a culture of joy and well-being in the library space.
Session archive
Book recommendation- 101 Seeds for Library Joy
About the panelists
Jennie Bachelor (they/them) is an Adult Services Librarian with Jefferson County Public Library (Belmar Branch) , which provides services to those living in, and around, Jefferson County in Colorado. They spend much of their time connecting patrons with information and resources, as well as planning and implementing programming for adults, and hosting book clubs. They’ve worked at several public library systems in Colorado and are particularly passionate about intellectual freedom, whether it be restricted access to subscriber only content newspaper articles, or the ongoing challenges to programming and books in schools & libraries. They want to spend the rest of their library career trying to be the openly LGBTQ+ librarian that they needed when they were a young/new adult. Hopefully, they succeed.
Marie Bayer/she/her is currently the Adult Services Librarian for the Lakewood location of the Jefferson County Public Library. Although, I assist patrons of all ages on a daily basis, my focus is to support library associates with all things related to serving adults in our library: assisting
patron in technology and other information needs, planning and facilitating programs for adults of all ages (my passion being older adults). In my roles at CAL, I am co-chair of the CAL Adult Services Interest Group and a member of the Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Jenny Bowers (she/her), Professor, is the Social Sciences Librarian at the University of Denver where she supports students and faculty through instruction, research consultations, and collection development. Her research focuses on critical approaches to teaching with archival materials in the social sciences, critical visual literacy, and popular press reception of the early twentieth-century archaeologist, Harriet Boyd Hawes.
Deborah Bumbie-Chi is the E-resources Access Librarian at the Auraria Library, which serves the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Community College of Denver, and the wider community. She has 10+ years of experience working in academic libraries in various roles and is interested in accessibility, open-access, information literacy, AI, and learning design. She just completed her PhD in Library and Information Science and is working on becoming a certified accessibility specialist.
Ashley Fahey is a Youth & Family Services Librarian at Douglas County Libraries (Lone Tree) who inspires young readers to discover the joy of reading through engaging storytimes and programs. She served on the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL) CLEL Bell Awards committee in 2021-2023 and is currently co-chair of the Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) Mentorship Interest Group. Ashley is a 2022-2023 Colorado Association of Libraries Leadership Institute (CALLI) graduate. Areas of professional interest include career mentoring, leadership development, and mental health in library work.

Kara Lucas Is an Outreach Librarian at Front Range Community College – Westminster. She realizes the importance of programs and events as a way of facilitating student engagement. She especially enjoys the research and teaching aspects of librarianship. Kara formerly worked in a public library system and has experience serving patrons from different demographics. She also has an advanced degree in philosophy.

Ibrahim Mohamed (he/him) is a Systems Librarian at Auraria Library, which provides academic resources for the University of Colorado Denver, the Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the Community College of Denver. He also serves as a board member of the Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL). His research interests include Library Services Platforms, Data management/ migration, and leadership in Libraries.

Talking Teen Services: Kids and Teens are Patrons, Too - Restorative Justice and Trauma-Informed Approaches in Public Libraries
2025-06-12 11:00 - 12:30
How can public libraries be truly inclusive spaces for youth and teens, especially those from marginalized communities? In this session, we will explore how traditional patron codes of conduct often alienate young patrons and discuss the role of trauma-informed library services in building a more empathetic and equitable environment. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to adopt restorative justice practices and communicate rules in ways that foster trust, understanding, and inclusion.
This will be an interactive learning opportunity. Please bring a copy of your library’s patron code of conduct with you for a group exercise.
Session archive

12th Annual Kraemer Copyright Conference
2025-06-16 08:00 - 2025-06-18 17:00 | ENT Center for the Arts, 5225 N Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, CO, 80918, United States
The 12th annual Kraemer Copyright Conference promises to be an exciting event, delving into how libraries can bounce back stronger after facing restrictive copyright rulings and ongoing challenges to equitable access. This year’s theme is all about advocacy strategies, fostering innovative partnerships, and highlighting transformative ideas that empower libraries to uphold their mission of providing public access to knowledge, even in the face of growing information privatization. Join us for a dynamic exploration of resilience and innovation in the library world!
Visit the Kraemer Copyright Conference website to learn more and to register!

Empowered De-escalation: Cultivating Safety in Libraries
2025-06-24 10:00 - 11:00
These days it seems like everyone is on edge and things can escalate quickly. This session equips participants with practical strategies to diffuse tense situations, effectively set boundaries, and approach conflict with confidence. Participants will learn the foundations of de-escalation along with how to keep themselves and others safe. They will be able to identify the different stages of escalation as well as strategies to manage stress and make decisions in heightened scenarios. This will be an interactive learning opportunity.
We Are Safer Together is an organization that facilitates inclusive, adaptive, and trauma-informed safety programs to inspire confidence and create safer communities.
Session archive
About We Are Safer Together
At We Are Safer Together, we believe empowerment and safety are intertwined concepts. When people feel safe, they are more capable of unlocking their full potential and living authentically. Our programs equip participants with the tools and knowledge to navigate life with confidence. From talks and workshops to comprehensive training programs, we teach personal safety, boundary setting, de-escalation, emergency preparedness, and self-defense skills. All our classes are adaptive, trauma-informed, and inclusive to fit the experiences and ability needs of participants.
Krista Hanley (she/her)
Krista Hanley is a writer, speaker, and violence prevention educator with over twelve years of expertise facilitating programs and speaking about the areas of violence prevention, trauma recovery, and self-defense. As a survivor of the Columbine High School shooting, Krista is dedicated to helping empower others to feel safer and more confident.
Kayla Berry (she/her)
Kayla Berry is a violence-prevention educator and organizational development expert dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to create safer communities. She builds culturally relevant and accessible violence prevention and conflict resolution programs and has over six years of experience in teaching kids, teens, and adults of all abilities.

Talking Teen Services: Strengths-Based Relationship Building Panel
2025-07-16 13:30 - 14:45
Curious about strategies for building meaningful relationships with tweens and teens that support positive interactions in developmentally appropriate ways? Join us for a panel discussion about strengths-based relationship building in teen and tween services. Panelists from several different Colorado public libraries will share their experiences including how they approach connecting with teens and tweens in both the fun and the challenging moments, ways they communicate with colleagues and patrons about how to do the same, and why they’re ok with being considered “cool but not that cool” in their communities of teens.
This panel discussion is part of the Colorado State Library’s Talking Teen Services series and will be recorded. It will be a 75-minute program and will include time for you to ask the panelists your own questions towards the end of the discussion.
Session archive.
About the presenters
Molly is a youth services librarian for Anythink Libraries in Bennett, CO. She graduated with her MLIS in 2013 from UWM Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has worn many different librarian hats since. Teens and youth services are her passion and she has formed unforgettable bonds with the kids and families she serves. In her free time, Molly enjoys reading comics, painting and playing video games with her family.

Mx Red (they/them) is the Youth Services Coordinator at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library in the Garfield County Public Library system. They have worked in school and public libraries, been a classroom teacher, worked in Youth Restorative Justice and teen mentoring programs. They were chosen by local youth as the Big Bear of the Year in 2023, and by CLEL as the Rising Star for Early Literacy in 2024.

Desireé (she/her) is a Teen Librarian at the Denver Central Library, and has been a librarian at DPL for 12 years. She has been working in public service for nearly two decades, with experiences ranging from early literacy volunteer management, recording studio coordination, and youth gardening. She is passionate about connecting communities through humility, collaboration, and creative problem solving.

Julia E. Torres is a nationally recognized veteran language arts teacher, librarian, and teen programs administrator in Denver, Colorado. Julia facilitates teacher development workshops rooted in the areas of anti-racist education, equity and access in literacy and librarianship, and education as a practice of liberation. Julia‘s work has been featured on NPR, AlJazeera’s The Stream, PBS Education, KQED’s MindShift, Rethinking Schools, Learning for Justice Magazine, School Library Journal, American Libraries Magazine, and many more. Her co-authored title Liven Up Your Library: Design Engaging and Inclusive Programs for Teens and Tweens is just the first of many forthcoming publications for librarians and educators.

Balancing the Books: Addressing Economic Insecurity Among Library Workers
2025-08-06 13:00 - 14:00
Library workers face economic insecurity due to low wages, inadequate benefits, and unstable job conditions. This panel will explore the scope and impact of economic insecurity among library staff, highlighting the unique financial challenges they encounter in comparison to other professions.
Through personal stories, data, and expert insights, we will discuss how economic instability affects mental health, career advancement, and job performance. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to address economic insecurity in their institutions and actionable strategies for supporting financially vulnerable library workers.
Session archive
Resources:

Supplemental Resources from Kyra Hahn (PDF)
Economic insecurity: a socioeconomic determinant of mental health
Economic insecurity, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms: a longitudinal study on mental health
Economic Inequality and Mental Health: Causality, Mechanisms, and Interventions
Social Determinants of Mental Health: Economic Stability

About the panelists
Blanca Hernandez (He/Him/El) is an Instruction and Outreach Librarian at Erikson Institute (located in Chicago, IL) working with faculty and students to provide research and reference support, along with finding ways to connect the library resources to the Erikson communities and beyond. Blanca has also taught a semester long information literacy course to the PhD in Child Development program at his institute. His interests include bridging information gaps for patrons and has been involved in mutual aid work for several years.

Hannah-Jayne Duran (she/her) is the Processing Archivist at the University of Denver Special Collections and Archives. Her work includes the processing of new donations to the collection, and preservation and conservation work to preserve those materials for the long-term. She is an active member of REFORMA Colorado and is passionate about connecting communities to their histories.

Kali Draper is a Special and Digital Collections Archivist at Auraria Library, serving the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Community College of Denver, and wider community. She is passionate about the preservation and accessibility of unique materials, especially those that are significant to the history, culture, identity, and interests of users. A few topics relevant to her work at Auraria Library include Aurarian Displacement, campus history, Camp Amache, and wartime correspondence.

Kyra Hahn (she/her) serves as a librarian at the Blair Caldwell African American Research Library branch of Denver Public Library. Currently she works in providing library services and programming to older adults. Over the course of her public library career, she has worked in a variety of settings (suburban, urban, and rural) and worked in children’s and adult services, promoting lifelong learning. She’s been an advocate within the profession for promoting staff access to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness/PSLF program offered by the US Dept of Education as a way to increase financial security among staff. When not working, she enjoys travel, cooking, and listening to audiobooks.

Marcus Elmore is the Colorado Community College System’s Access Services Librarian, in charge of maintaining the online resources for 13 college libraries. He came to librarianship after earning his PhD in English literature and is deeply invested in the role and function of libraries in higher education. In addition to this, he earned a MSW from the University of Denver in 2018 and is passionate about mental health and community building.

The PRISM Project: Findings from impact research in Colorado prison libraries
2025-08-28 13:00 - 14:30
Are PRISon libraries Motivators of prosocial behavior and successful re-entry?
This was the guiding question of a multi-year outcomes and impact study in Colorado prisons, funded by the IMLS. Researchers from the Colorado State Library/Library Research Service, Renewed Libraries, LLC, and Remerg, a reentry resource hub for Colorado, have worked together to create a research blueprint and toolkit that can be adapted and used in other states and carceral settings, and a report that centers the experiences of people impacted by incarceration. Findings from the PRISM Project show how prison libraries support people who are incarcerated and their loved ones, as well as ways in which prison libraries can be improved.
Session archive
This 90-minute webinar, hosted by the Colorado State Library, will be relevant to library and information workers from all types of libraries, as well as system-impacted people, including those who work in or adjacent to jails, prisons, and other carceral settings.
Presenters: Amy Bahlenhorst, Erin Boyington, Charissa Brammer, Sara Wicen, Chelsea Jordan-Makely and Carol Peeples

Illuminate Colorado - Stewards of Children (Colorado Only)
2025-08-28 13:00 - 16:00
Targeted at directors and supervisors to make informed policy and procedures around children’s use of the library, Stewards of Children® is a trauma and evidence-informed training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.
You will learn: Simple, effective strategies for protecting children from child sexual abuse. The importance of talking about the prevention of child sexual abuse with children as well as your coworkers and neighbors. The types of situations in which child sexual abuse can occur. Signs of child sexual abuse in order to intervene and react responsibly. Facts about the problem of child sexual abuse in Colorado today. Only open to Colorado participants.
Registration is required and open to the first 25 participants. No recording will be shared.

Illuminate Colorado- Lines in the Sand (Colorado Only)
2025-09-09 13:00 - 15:00
By setting clear boundaries and limits, we can reduce the risk of child sexual abuse. Clear boundaries and limits are something we learn over time, through interaction and accepted patterns of behavior. How do we ensure that when our boundaries, or those of children and youth are violated, we stop a negative pattern of behavior from being normalized? Through education, vigilance and clear communication, we can minimize opportunity for child and youth victimization. This course will increase understanding of your own boundaries and prepare you to set clear expectations that lead to greater community safety.
You will learn to: Recognize important types of boundaries for physical safety. Identify grooming behavior patterns that can lead to sexual abuse. Respond to boundary violations and articulate clear boundaries and expectations.
This training is offered to target frontline staff that work with children.
Registration is required and only open to 25 Colorado staff. No recording will be shared.

The Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC): Department of Public Safety (Colorado Only)
2025-09-15 13:30 - 14:30
This training is for Colorado library staff only.
The Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC) is a centralized resource that gathers, analyzes, and disseminates all-crimes/all-threats information to private sector, local, state, tribal, and federal stakeholders throughout Colorado and the United States.
Within the CIAC is the Preventing Targeted Violence (PTV) team. The PTV team utilizes a multidisciplinary, public health-informed approach to preventing all forms of targeted violence. By building trusted partnerships, awareness, and providing support for local prevention efforts, the PTV team is working to equip communities with the sustainable resources and tools needed to prevent targeted violence.
Join us for an information filled session to learn more about how CIAC can support your library (big or small).
The webinar will be recorded, please register so we can send you the link to the session and recording afterwards. AI Captioning will be available live on the day of the webinar, please let us know if there are additional accommodations that might be necessary.
Webinar Recording may be viewed here.
About the presenters
Kelsey Grim is an Intelligence Analyst on the Preventing Targeted Violence team at the Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC). In this role, Kelsey focuses on domestic violent extremism by conducting research and analyzing intelligence associated with ideologically motivated violence and civil unrest. Prior to joining the CIAC, Kelsey worked in humanitarian aid and refugee resettlement, gaining valuable experience serving people who are often recovering from and fleeing violence and terrorism. Her educational background includes an undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and a masters degree from the University of Colorado, where her research focused on the psychology of mass violence and genocide, violence against women in international conflicts, and the intersection of misogyny, mass violence, and extremist ideologies in the United States.

Sydney Johnson is an Intelligence Analyst on the Preventing Targeted Violence team at the Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC). Her primary focus is on non-ideological targeted violence, including mass public attacks, workplace violence, school attacks, and hate crimes. Prior to working in the CIAC, Sydney received a Bachelor of Science from Metropolitan State University of Denver and a Master of Science from King’s College London in Forensic Mental Health Research. She has worked as an emergency medical technician and within the co-responder program for Englewood and Littleton, CO Police Departments.

Leveraging Annual Data with the LRS Report Template
2025-09-18 13:00 - 14:00
Have you ever wanted a faster, easier way to create a quality annual report for your library’s board? There’s a new tool from Library Research Service (LRS) that could help! This annual board report template uses a connection between Google Sheets and Google Slides to autopopulate preformatted charts in a slide deck with key statistics. Once this tool is set up, all you need to do is select the libraries you would like to compare, click a button to update the charts, and customize the text on the slides for your library. The finished product contains 17 visualizations covering everything from expenditures, collection, staffing, and salaries to visits, circulation, programming, and more. This slide deck is also customizable, so you can redesign or remove any slides.
In this training, we’re going to walk through the initial steps that all users need to follow to set up this tool for individual use and answer any questions you might have about it. We hope that each attendee can leave the session with a functioning annual board report template and feel confident about how to use it. This session will be recorded for anyone that is not available to attend at this time.
Sara Wicen is a Research Assistant for the Library Research Service office of the Colorado State Library. During her 3+ years in this role, she has gained invaluable experience collaborating with libraries across Colorado on a variety of research projects, delivering training, and creating data-driven content. She enjoys helping people conduct evaluations and making data accessible to wider audiences often through charts, infographics, data dashboards, and blog posts covering topics such as data collection, analysis, and visualization. She spends most of her free time exploring in the mountains.
Dana Petersen is a Data Coordinator and Web Developer at LRS. She has been a math and technology teacher and worked in two small public libraries. Dana likes the way data adds facts to the “feels”.
Watch the recording here.
Visit the LRS webpage which contains all of the instructions and links needed to create your own, personalized report.

Library Facility Management 101
2025-09-18 14:00 - 15:00
Welcome to Library Facility Management 101!
Join us for an engaging introduction to the essentials of managing library buildings. Whether you’re a library director, branch manager, or dedicated library supporter, this session is designed to give you a strong foundation in how library facilities function—from the inside out.

Registration is required.

Posting this on behalf of Carlos Baffigo from Building Basics for Libraries.

Unraveling Legacy Toxicity: Navigating Dysfunctional Environments in Leadership
2025-09-23 13:00 - 14:00
Legacy toxicity poses a formidable challenge for individuals stepping into leadership roles within toxic organizations or groups. This phenomenon entails inheriting a dysfunctional environment characterized by abuse, neglect, and resistance to change from previous incumbents. Addressing legacy toxicity requires a nuanced understanding of its roots and dynamics, as well as strategic approaches to mitigate its effects. In this discussion panel, we delve into the complexities of legacy toxicity, exploring its manifestations, impact on leadership effectiveness, and strategies for fostering positive change in challenging environments.
Session archive
Book/Video recommendations

Leadership and Self Deception: Getting out of the box – The Arbinger Institute
Books and videos by Cy Wakeman
Toxic Dynamics: Disrupting, Dismantling, and Transforming Academic Library culture, Des Michalak, Dawes, Cawthorne
Organize Your Library! Developing the Collective Power of Library Workers (Critical Cultural Information Studies series) by Angelo Moreno Kelly McElroy Meredith Kahn Emily Drabinski
The Dysfunctional Library: Challenges and Solutions to Workplace Relationships by Jo Henry, Joe Eshleman, and Richard Moniz
Well-Being in the Library Workplace: A Handbook for Managers by Bobbi L. Newman
Necessary Endings by Dr Henry Cloud
Knowing When Its Time to Leave an Organization

About the panelists
Kat LeFevre (she/her) is the manager of the Jefferson County Public Library’s Patron Experience: Experience Design and the Lakewood Library. She oversees that patron experience to ensure every location is welcoming for all. In her 17-year library career she’s been a volunteer, substitute, Bookmobile driver, Outreach Librarian, Assistant Manager, Patron Experience Supervisor, and now Manager. These roles have given her a wide breadth of experience with different populations and staff groups which inform her current work.

Nina McHale is Associate Dean for Student & Scholar Services at the University of Denver University Libraries. Prior to this role at DU, she was head of Education & Research at the University of Colorado Anschutz Strauss Health Sciences Library and Director of Library Services at Red Rocks Community College. Her research interests include organizational communication, web content development and management, and marketing library services and resources.

Sharon L. Sherman received her PhD in Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado Denver, having completed her dissertation study in Jefferson County Schools. She has taught at the University of Northern Colorado (Lowry campus) and served as education director with Keshet of the Rockies in Denver. Dr. Sherman has also taught at two charter schools with DPS. She started at the Belmar branch of Jefferson County Public Library in December 2021 as a bilingual patron associate and enjoys leading story times in both English and Spanish as well as co-leading the adult Spanish language conversation group, Intercambio. Sherman is also active in the formation of JCPL’s workers union, presently serving on the 2024 bargaining team to obtain the union’s first contract.

Marcus Elmore is the Colorado Community College System’s Access Services Librarian, in charge of maintaining the online resources for 13 college libraries. He came to librarianship after earning his PhD in English literature and is deeply invested in the role and function of libraries in higher education. In addition to this, he earned a MSW from the University of Denver in 2018 and is passionate about mental health and community building.
Hannah-Renea Niederberger (they/them) is a Library Technician at the University of Denver Libraries. They are currently earning their MLIS at the University of Denver and hope to someday work in video game librarianship or video game preservation. They have been working in technical services for two years as the print approval technician, though before working at the university they drove the bookmobile at Arapahoe Library District. In their seven years of library experience, they have worked both in technical service roles and patron-facing roles, in both academic and public libraries.

Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops - Paonia Library (Delta County Libraries)
2025-09-24 09:00 - 15:30 | Paonia Library, 80 Samuel Wade Rd, Paonia, CO, 81428, United States
Join Kate Brunner and Kate Compton to connect and explore a variety of youth services-related topics with your regional colleagues. Once again, we’re inviting you to help us create the agenda based on your own curiosity and community needs. When you register, you’ll be asked to drag, drop, and rank a fresh list of potential topics by interest. We’ll prepare a unique program for your workshop incorporating participants’ highest ranked topics.
All events are in-person, full-day learning opportunities and lunch will be provided for all participants.
These workshops and all of the Colorado State Library’s youth services offerings are created by the librarians of the Youth & Family Services team. Our staff positions and operating expenses are paid for by Grants to States funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services which allows us to provide opportunities like this one at no cost to you or your libraries.
Below are the dates, locations, and registration links for all five workshops. Please note – start/end times and seats available vary by location. Be sure to read the information at the top of the registration forms for those specific details.
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025 (9am to 3:30pm) — Paonia Library (Delta County Libraries)
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (9am to 3:30pm) — Alamosa Public Library
Thursday, October 30, 2025 (9:30am to 4pm) — High Prairie Library (PPLD)
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 (9am to 3:30pm) — Ignacio Community Library
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 (9am to 3:30pm) — Loveland Public Library
If you have any questions about any of these events, let Kate Brunner know! Feel free to email her (brunner_k@cde.state.co.us) or call/text her work phone (720-595-9248). Please be sure to sign your initial text to help her identify who she’s communicating with if texting is your communication channel of choice.

Talking Teen Services - Understanding Teens: Intersectional Factors (part 1 of 3)
2025-10-01 11:00 - 12:00
Understanding Teens is a 3-part Talking Teen Services series facilitated by members of the Teen Services team at Arapahoe Libraries in Colorado. All three sessions do go together but they can also be attended independently. Attendees do not have to have to be present at a previous session to benefit from the content of the next.
Session 1 – Understanding Teens: Intersectional Factors
Teens are important patrons in our libraries, with unique and evolving needs. In this series of webinars, we will share our approach in working towards welcoming, inclusive teen services by using staff training. Our goals with our staff training are to establish a base of empathy through better understanding of teens and their current experiences, and to offer practical strategies in working with youth. We will hold three sessions in this webinar series; each session will include working through a different part of the training. We will share our adaptable outline and references for attendees who would like to use the training in their own libraries.
Our first session will be about intersectional factors that impact how teens show up in our libraries. We will think about how our own lenses might impact our responses, ways to plan and provide inclusive services, and practical strategies in supporting teens.
Please register individually for each session you wish to attend. You can register for Session 2 here and Session 3 here.
Session Resources:

Webinar Recording
CSL Webinars – Understanding Teens Handout
CSL Webinar Slides – Understanding Teens Intersectional Factors

About the presenters:
Catherine Boddie was a teen librarian for 12 years before moving into the Teen Services Supervisor role at Arapahoe Libraries. She has spent spent most of her career focused on community outreach, mentoring, and training.
Erica Schimmel is a teen services librarian with Arapahoe Libraries, primarily focused on outreach, programming, and strategic planning. She has been active on YALSA committees, and is an adjunct instructor with University of Denver’s MLIS program.
Anush Balayan is a teen services librarian with Arapahoe Libraries. She has been working with youth in public libraries for the last ten years.
The Colorado State Library’s Talking Teen Services sessions are recorded. After the event, the recording and any additional materials will be sent to everyone who registered.
If you have any questions about the event or how to register, please contact Kate Brunner, CSL Youth & Family Services Principal Consultant, at brunner_k@cde.state.co.us OR 720-595-9248.

In Practice: Library Conversations on Prevention
2025-10-02 13:00 - 14:00
Join fellow library professionals for an open, virtual drop-in session to share and discuss how your library has adapted policies and procedures in response to Colorado’s SB21-088, “Stewards of Children” and “Lines in the Sand” trainings from Illuminate Colorado.
This is a space to exchange ideas, ask questions, and learn from each other as we work to create safer environments for children and youth in our communities. No registration required. This discussion will not be recorded, but please reach out to Kate Compton (compton_k@cde.state.co.us or Polly Gallagher Gallagher_p@cde.state.co.us) if you are in need of any support around this topic.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/94012969549?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 940 1296 9549
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops - Alamosa Public Library
2025-10-08 09:00 - 15:30 | Alamosa Public Library, 300 Hunt Ave, Alamosa, CO, 81101, United States
