Caring for Our Collective - 2026 VLA VLACRL Annual Conference

Caring for Our Collective - 2026 VLA VLACRL Annual Conference

11:00am PDT

TICKETS REQUIRED: Town Point Virginia Fall Wine Festival

1:30pm PDT

FREE - Private Reading Room Tour at the Jean Outland Chrysler Library at the Chrysler Museum of Art

2:00pm PDT

FREE - Collection Highlights Tour at The Chrysler Museum of Art Early Registration and Badge Pickup

5:00pm PDT

Poster Sessions Conference Kickoff - Awards and Scholarship Reception and Cocktail Hour

9:00am PDT

Exhibit Hall Ribbon Cutting/Registration and Badge Pickup

10:00am PDT

Opening Session and Keynote Address

11:45am PDT

12:00pm PDT

1:00pm PDT

Cardinal Cup Author Spotlight featuring Alyssa Colman All Ages All Access: Building Digital Confidence Through Outreach Behavioral Agility for Community Care: Supporting Library Workers in Times of Change Blooming through Burnout: Collective Care in Libraries Building Community Connections with New Approaches to Book Clubs Law Without a Lawyer: Finding Reliable Legal Information Let's Talk About Sustainability Many Pathways, Real Careers: Professional Growth in Libraries Without the MLIS Not Just Another Paint Night: The Importance of Play in Adult Programming

2:00pm PDT

It Wasn't a Hiring Problem: Designing for Stability, Wellness, and Retention You're Doing Great, Sweetie: Investing in Library Student Workers' Success What The World Needs Now: Kindness featuring Rosemary Wells Book & Look: How to tailor your programming to your library's unique identity Card Not Required: When Public Space Meets Public Needs Chain Reaction: Two Tired Librarians + Two Book Bikes = Sparks in our community Clear Is Kind: Having Difficult Conversations That Strengthen Your Team Library Night Out: Designing Fun, Adult-Friendly Programming Read to a Librarian: How a low stakes library program can boost kids’ reading confidence The Power of (dis)Engaging with AI: Practicing Purposeful Use and Resistance From idea to impact: Publishing with the Virginia Libraries Journal

4:00pm PDT

Author Visit Pitch Session with Local Authors and Illustrators: Programs for Kids, Teens and Adults Breaking the Barrier: Actionable Resources and Staff Training for Robust ELL Programming From Incident to Insight: Shared Responsibility in Practice Libraries That Build Communities: Lessons in Partnership, Place, and Equity from Baltimore No Shame. No Stigma. Period. How Libraries Can Combat Period Poverty and Promote Menstrual Equity Reclaim your Spark of Joy: Supervising Through Burnout Underprepared and Under Pressure: Virginia Library Workers on the Book Challenge Crisis VIVA Annual Member Meeting

5:00pm PDT

REGISTRATION REQUIRED - Slover Tour - Hosted by the Youth and Family Services Forum The Slover

8:00am PDT

Registration and Badge Pickup/Exhibit Hall Hours

9:00am PDT

Academic Library Mentorship as Professional Development and Collective Care You’re Not an Island: The Role of External Reviews in Building Support through Community Creatures on Duty: Integrating Bioactive Terrariums in the Public Library Draw the Eye, Drive Circulation: Visual Tricks to Make Displays Move From Van to Victory: Strategies from 5 ‘Library on the Go’ Outreach Models Out in the South: Listening for Local Histories Programming for Adults with Developmental Disabilities shiFt happens: Supporting Staff During Rapid System Changes When Teens Run the Library: A Case Study

10:00am PDT

Is There a Doctor in the House? Science Sense: Helping students navigate information like scientists Autism and Access: A survey of the modern library Beyond Referral: Caring for our Communities Big Events, Big Feels: Starting and Evolving Large Scale Events with Staff Care in Mind From Collection to Community: A Model for Library Partnerships Lessons from VA250: Establishing Partnerships, Commemorating the Past, and Recognizing Your Local Heritage Rowing in the Same Direction: Public Library and Indie Bookstore Partnerships Rowing in the Same Direction: Public Library and Indie Bookstore Partnerships Storytimes from the Heart: Performing, Educating, and Staying True to Yourself as a Library Programmer

11:00am PDT

Health Matters: Caring for your Body while Taking Action Sharing the load: Envisioning onboarding as a collective responsibility The Gamified Librarian: Lessons from NOVA’s Micro-credential Evolution …Are Things Weird Yet? You Said They Would Be!: AI Futures, the Evolving Information Landscape, and Libraries Beyond Accommodation: Building Neurodivergent‑Affirming Academic Library Workplaces modation: Building Neurodivergent‑Affirming Academic Library Workplaces Bringing Zine Fest to the Library Growing Knowledge by Growing an Audience: Leveraging social media engagement for education and inclusivity Is Your Amygdala on Fire? Caring for Brains for Collective Good Leadership Isn't What You Think: What People Experience at Work Lockdown! Writing Your Emergency Procedures Reading Buddies: Big Readers, Little Readers, Lasting Impact

1:00pm PDT

Building Collective Care: A Sensory Screening Approach to Supporting Neurodivergent Learners What was that like for you? Graduating student experiences with instruction Adult Storytime Breaking the Barrier: Actionable Resources and Staff Training for Robust ELL Programming Caring About the Process: Bridging the Gap between County and Library Processes Creating a Community of Joy: Giving Voice and Choice to all Library Workers Help! The Book Police are Here: Empowering staff to defend challenges to graphic novels and comics History and Genealogy Departments: The Swiss Army Knife of Libraries The Slover Roll for Ambiguity: Critical Success Strategies for Cultivating Clarity in Ambiguous Roles Speak Up for Libraries: Learning to Educate, Advocate, and Lobby for your Library The Neuro-Inclusive Collective: Shared Strategies for Regulation and Belonging We’re Still Standing, What’s Next?! Stewardship in Technical Services