2025 ALD/ACRL-WA and ACRL-OR Joint Fall Conference

Program schedule subject to change. Additional sessions are being finalized; check back soon for more!

Location Information:

Wollenberg Auditorium and the Lobby are located in the Rose Center for the Arts.

Physical Science Rooms #102 & #104 are located in the Physical Science Building.

In-Person Schedule

Friday, October 17 | 7:30 - 8:30 AM

Check In & Breakfast | Rose Center for the Arts Lobby 

Pick up your name badge and enjoy a breakfast snack before our Opening Keynote.

Opening remarks will begin at 8:20 AM.

Friday, October 17 | 8:30 - 9:30 AM

Opening Keynote with Kelly McElroy | Wollenberg Auditorium 

Friday, October 17 | 9:45 - 10:30 AM | Breakout Sessions I

Designing for the Student: Creating the Odegaard Library Wellness Room | Wollenberg Auditorium 

How do you know when to engage with a hot topic in librarianship like student wellness? A project could fizzle out before it gets started, or turn into a program that changes the trajectory of your library. Staff in Odegaard Undergraduate Library will share how we dug into our values of student-centeredness and student autonomy to design the Odegaard Library Wellness Room out of an underutilized quiet study space. This presentation will focus on sharing the design vision for the Wellness Room, how we gained buy-in from library leadership through values-based advocacy, and how participants can harness their own values for impactful student success projects in their library.

     Emilie Vrbancic, Undergraduate Experience Librarian, University of Washington Libraries
     Lily Larson, Peer Research Consultant, University of Washington Libraries

Advocating for our Values: A Consortial Approach | Physical Science Room #104 

 Friday, October 17 | 10:45 - 11:30 AM | Breakout Sessions II

Library + Art: Creating Authentic Connections through Library Instruction | Wollenberg Auditorium 

Developing creative work in academia may feel foreign to many students outside art programs, but we’ve seen its potential to unlock authentic, creative thinking around complex topics, enabling students to develop a more personal relationship to concepts introduced by textbooks and lectures. Join Arts and Humanities Librarians Megan Smithling (University of Puget Sound) and Ray Zill (The Evergreen State College) to explore how you can integrate art into library instruction. We will introduce basic strategies, provide examples (such as using artist books, zines, and Makerspace materials), and open it up for discussion for all to share.

     Ray Zill, Art & Humanities Librarian, The Evergreen State College
     Megan Smithling, Arts & Humanities Librarian, University of Puget Sound

Experiencing User Experience: A Workshop Introduction to UX Research Methods, Part II | Physical Science Room #102 

One common value across academic libraries is a focus on student-centered approaches. User experience (UX) research methods provide processes to directly connect with this value by centering our users, especially students, in our evaluation and improvement of services, spaces, and resources. This interactive workshop will provide the opportunity to practice a UX research technique and analyze artifacts generated in real time to identify relevant data that can be used to make meaningful changes. Participants will discuss opportunities to incorporate similar activities at their own libraries, as well as practical elements for implementing UX research when capacities may be limited.

     Leah Cover, Information Literacy and Assessment Librarian, The Evergreen State College
     Amy Coughenour, Program Manager, Diversity & User Experience, and Consortial Training Coordinator, Orbis Cascade Alliance
     Beth Filar Williams, User Experience Research Librarian, Oregon State University Libraries
     Thomas Dodson, Web & Discovery Librarian, Southern Oregon University
     Jan Juliani, Special Collections & Digital Projects Librarian, Southern Oregon University

[1 Hour] Resisting Generative A.I. in Academic Libraries | Physical Science Room #104 

In her zine, “A Librarian Against AI or I Think AI Should Leave”, Violet Fox (2024) argues Generative AI (GenAI) goes against the core values of librarianship, urging readers to resist common justifications for its use. Since her zine was published, GenAI continues to cause social, political, and environmental harms. Despite this, many academic library workers are expected to develop GenAI expertise and incorporate GenAI into various aspects of our work. For example, vendors such as EBSCO and ExLibris are deploying GenAI research assistants in their discovery platforms. Universities are increasingly interested in “leveraging AI” to support their missions and address funding shortfalls. As individuals, library workers may experience implicit or explicit pressure to develop GenAI expertise, utilize GenAI tools, and/or lead workshops on the topic. To lead from our values, this 1-hour unconference session asks: How is GenAI showing up in your work, library, and institution? And how are you resisting?

     Emily Spracklin, Teaching and Learning Librarian, Western Washington University

Friday, October 17 | 11:45 - 1:00 PM | 1 hour 15 minutes

Lunch | Rose Center for the Arts Lobby 

Join Us for a Library Tour at Lower Columbia College!  | 12:15-12:45 PM 

Take advantage of the lunch break to explore the beautiful library at Lower Columbia College. This guided tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the library’s resources, services, and spaces that support student success. Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP to reserve your spot!

Friday, October 17 | 1:15 - 2:00 PM | Breakout Sessions III

Cultivating Empowered Leadership: Redefining Student Roles in Academic Library Work | Physical Science Room #102 

What if student assistants were seen not just as support staff, but as emerging leaders in our libraries? This session shares concrete examples from Cal Poly Humboldt and Washington State University-Vancouver, where student-led projects—from redesigning research guides to creating learner- and community-centered displays—give students agency, responsibility, and transferable professional skills. By intentionally leading from our values of empowerment, authenticity, and shared ownership, we are reimagining the role of student assistants in academic libraries. Participants will explore how transformational leadership values can reshape student employment, offering concrete strategies to design projects and environments that empower students, build confidence, and foster mentorship.

     Camille Charette, Access Services Specialist, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt Library
     Xandra Gradine, Collections Analysis and Student Projects Specialist,  California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt Library
     Natalie Luther, Adjunct Faculty Librarian, Washington State University

Desk Duty: Intentional Values-Based Service Design | Physical Science Room #104 

Our team of librarians found success and community through re-framing our workloads using a value-based assessment. Mapping these values, we created a strategic plan focused on an intentional return to professional reference presence in the library. We then assessed our workloads and proposed a new model that reflected our identified professional values and respective workloads.
We will present our successes resulting from a return to high-impact, in-person reference service by librarians at a physical reference desk; as well as how collocating our reference librarians with our circulation professionals has developed a stronger understanding of shared values, and a clearer delineation between the professional and peer-to-peer services in the library.

     Jason Hall, Reference Librarian, Seattle University
     Ekaterini Papadopoulou, Reference Librarian, Seattle University
     Jennifer Bodley, Reference Librarian, Seattle University
     Heidi Hetzel, Access and Affordable Learning Librarian, Seattle University

Lightning Talks: Resources & Outreach | Wollenberg Auditorium 

1. The Human Library at LWTech

The Human Library is a nonprofit organization started in Denmark. Individuals volunteer to become books and share chapters of their lived experiences on topics that are underrepresented, unusual, or otherwise interesting. The Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) Library started our Human Library Project in Spring 2025 to engage staff and faculty across the college in authentic and vulnerable conversations. The project works to break down stereotypes, overcome interpersonal barriers, and add to our collective pool of resources. Learn about our experiences running this program and the benefits we’ve seen to our college community. Then interview a human book to understand the strengths of this dynamic, interactive format!

      Stirling Holland-Stone, Faculty Librarian, Lake Washington Institute of Technology
      Katherine Kelley, Faculty Librarian and Library Chair, Lake Washington Institute of Technology
      Sue Wozniak, Faculty Librarian, Lake Washington Institute of Technology

2. Exploring AI Tool Inclusion in Syllabi

Generative AI tools have become increasingly common within higher education for both research and writing. While some faculty members encourage student use, others are more hesitant or hostile towards GenAI. This lightning talk will discuss preliminary findings of a syllabus analysis project examining how the Oregon State University Colleges of Business and Health online courses allow or prohibit AI. These findings can help inform instruction librarians on how to navigate a changing information seeking and use landscape and provide consistent information to their community.

     Zach Welhouse, Online Learning Librarian, Oregon State University
     Adam Lindsley, Engineering Librarian, Oregon State University
     Diana Castillo, Business/Social Science Data Librarian, Oregon State University

3. Flourishing in a Food Desert: Community Hubs and Communication Pathways in a Health Library

Located in North Beacon hill, the Pacific Tower houses health programs for Seattle Central College. This neighborhood is a designated food desert, limiting our busy students’ ability to be whole people. Our students’ need for food security support has been known for many years, but this project is the first step towards addressing it. The books and bites program was built with this need in mind while also encouraging usage of the library space for multi-point support, communicating and collaborating with the campus community. We will discuss some of our metrics for success and pathways for making this work sustainable.

     Adrianna Martinez, Faculty Librarian, Seattle Central College
     Maria Arteaga Cuevas, Circulation Clerk; Seattle Central College
     Paige Kabeary, Circulation Clerk, Seattle Central College
     Katy Dichter, Faculty Librarian, Seattle Central College

Friday, October 17 | 2:15 - 3:00 PM | Breakout Sessions IV

Lightning Talks: Mentorship | Physical Science Room #104 

1. 5 Ways to Create Intentional Co-Curricular Spaces of Learning and Mentorship Through an Zine Internship Program

In what ways have you tried to engage your students to be critical thinkers, research savvy scholars, and student organizers? What if your instruction could extend outside the classroom? How might managing student workers be both a learning and mentorship opportunity for both librarian and student? This talk will present the process of creating relevant, inclusive library internships from scratch. Come learn how one small liberal arts library worked to create a student worker position that encourages leadership, library skills, and experiential learning.

     Ann "A''misa" Matsushima Chiu, Social Sciences and Zine Librarian, Reed College

2. Student Work is Work: Building Foundational Professional Skills with your Student Workers

Participants will learn strategies and methods that I utilize in my role as the Library Reference Desk Assistant Program Supervisor at Reed College to instill foundational professional skills for library student workers. Managing student workers from a different generation as well as many who it is their first job is a daunting task. Not every student comes with the skills or intuition to hit the ground running in a student worker role, and as as a result managers can feel overwhelmed with how to install good foundational professional skills. Student workers are also navigating many first time obstacles as adults and can have unique needs, that go beyond the traditional manager/worker role. Practicing a holistic approach to managing student workers will help them learn those foundational professional skills, forge stronger interpersonal skills, and build confidence in other areas of their academic life as well.

     Carly Lamphere, Science Librarian, Reed College

3. Mentorship matters: sharing values, building values, shaping careers. 

A joint presentation from a mentor and mentee in the UW’s iSTAMP mentorship program on the value of structured programs to pair students with established professionals. We describe how the program became a vehicle to drive career-focused decision-making during graduate school; and how it challenged a faculty librarian to remain accountable to the ideals that inspired them to become an informational professional over a decade ago. We share how our mentorship relationship molded our professional values, and how the mentorship impacted our work – from securing a student job, to a mentee’s assignment informing departmental outreach goals.

     Ekaterini Papadopoulou, Health Science Librarian, Seattle University

     Anthony McKinnon, MLIS Student, UW iSchool

Artificial Intelligence: Is it transforming the landscape of the libraries? | Physical Science Room #102 

My presentation will provide basic concepts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its transformative role in the context of library services including collection development and management. It will highlight some of the benefits of adopting AI in the libraries such as enhanced user engagement, operational efficiencies, optimized costs and staff time. My presentation will also discuss some of the ethical concerns posed by AI and what libraries can do to efficiently adopt and regulate the use of AI so that it enhances efficiency and addresses the issues of bias , accuracy, authenticity, privacy and transparency of the data.

     Deepa Banerjee, South Asian Studies Librarian, University of Washington Libraries

Beyond the Fine Print: Centering Equity and Student Success in Academic Library Policy | Wollenberg Auditorium 

Let's have a real talk about library rules. This 45-minute session is for staff from community college and university libraries who want to look closely at how our policies might actually be putting up roadblocks for the very students we want to help. We'll dive into a facilitated, interactive discussion on making policy more fair. We'll brainstorm sustainable, common-sense solutions and share tips on how to communicate these policies to our diverse student body in a way that’s clear and doesn't sound like a lecture. Join us to make the academic library a genuinely barrier-free zone! 

     Carleigh Hill, Library Consortium Services Manager, Washington Community and Technical Colleges Library Consortium

Friday, October 17 | 3:15 - 4:00 PM | Breakout Sessions V

Providing Equitable Access to Course Materials to Students in Online Graduate Programs | Wollenberg Auditorium 

Equitable access to information is a core value of libraries. As more higher education institutions expand their online graduate program offerings, ensuring affordable access to course materials presents new challenges for academic libraries. In this presentation, I will share my approach to supporting students in newly developed online programs, highlighting key challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for enhancing access to course materials for online learners.

     Ngoc-Yen Tran, Scholarly Services Librarian, Seattle University

Exploring Belonging in Library Programming | Physical Science Room #102 

What does belonging look like in the library? In this session, we use collage as a form of arts-based inquiry to explore what it means to belong in the library, how to create a sense of community, and generate ideas that you can bring back to your campus. Along the way, we share how our own OSU Valley Libraries built sustainable programs that promote partnerships across campus. Based on our experience with programs like Crafternoons, Game Nites, and Calm Weeks, we discuss ways you can incorporate belonging into your library environment and help everyone feel welcome.

     Sara Trott, Equipment Coordinator, Oregon State University Libraries and Press (OSULP)
     Kelly McElroy, Student Engagement & Community Outreach Librarian, Oregon State University Libraries and Press (OSULP)
     Zach Welhouse, Online Learning Librarian, Oregon State University Libraries and Press (OSULP)
     Robin Weis, Public Information Representative, Oregon State University Libraries and Press (OSULP)

Live Your Values | Physical Science Room #104 

This interactive workshop uses Live your Values card decks to discover, share, and strategize around core values. Participants will identify individual values and consider actions that align with these values. We'll explore how a shared understanding of library, community, and individual values can guide practice and priorities and contribute to a culture that supports inclusion, excellence, and meaningful service.

     Lynn Kanne, Dean, Libraries & Employee Development, Seattle Central College
     Chisa O'Quinn, Director, Access, Community, & Opportunity, Seattle Central College

Friday, October 17 | 4:10 - 4:30 PM | Closing Remarks

Closing Remarks & Reflection | Wollenberg Auditorium 

As we prepare to head back to our libraries, join us for some closing words and an opportunity to reflect on what you've learned over the course of the day.

Virtual, Pre-Recorded Asynchronous Sessions | 45 minutes

Insights on student learning material preferences: Qualitative interview data to improve Open Educational Resources [45 Minutes] 

The best textbook in the world won’t help students who don’t read it, so what features do they find most engaging when they review course materials? Come hear highlights from 10 student interviews about their likes and dislikes when it comes to reviewing text or multimedia materials outside of class time. Students reflected on a range of topics, including digital accessibility, affordability, experiences with publisher access codes and web-based platforms, and other preferences related to teaching and learning. This presentation will be most helpful for people who select or create course materials, including Open Educational Resources.

     Marisa Petrich

Building Intentional Connections Among Washington Library Workers: Navigating Mentorship and Applying Peer Coaching Skills [45 Minutes] 

It is more important than ever to build intentional relationships with current and future library workers across the state. Understanding the goals our colleagues have and the obstacles they face are concrete steps to developing trust, a key component in organizational growth and change. In this session, learn how peer coaching skills can enhance a mentoring relationship, such as through the WLA Mentorship program, or can be applied to short term professional scenarios. Although asynchronous, watch with colleagues to try out peer coaching skills in the moment or you can practice later!

What is our part in re-localizing academic libraries in the Northwest? [45 Minutes] 

Deepening understanding of place is a strategic priority for our university, and our library’s circulating, interdisciplinary Northwest Collection is a natural but neglected fit for advancing this work in a time of shrinking budgets, intensifying storms, and demonization of social justice. Learn how a collection management plan has helped us—librarians with eclectic specialties—envision and act on ways of forwarding reparative collecting practices in this context. We will share an early look into survey results and geography-based collection assessment, among other practices in development, and invite participants to join us in the work of what librarian Amy Brunvand (2020) calls “re-localizing the library.”

     Neah Ingram-Monteiro, Teaching & Learning Librarian/Community Engagement Librarian, Western Washington University
     Sidonie Devarenne, Collection Management & Assessment Librarian, Western Washington University

 Shared Collaborative Conservation Services at University of Washington [45 Minutes] 

The University of Washington has explored shared conservation services for nearly ten years. We currently engage three staff to provide a range of conservation services for the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Henry Art Gallery, and University of Washington Libraries. We will discuss the challenges and opportunities of this collaborative model, including how we have promoted access to the UW's extensive collections; shared conservation expertise among collections care professionals and students; and provided collaborative conservation services at a time when fiscally sustainable solutions are needed.

     Stephanie Lamson, Director, Preservation Services, University of Washington Libraries
     Claire Kenny, Associate Conservator for Paper & Photographs, University of Washington Libraries

 Level Up Your Campus: How a TTRPG Guild Transformed Post-COVID Student Life [45 Minutes] 

Discover how Spokane Community College's library employee-driven gaming events evolved into a thriving student TTRPG Guild that revitalized campus engagement in the post-pandemic era. This presentation explores the intentional transformation of library space into a vibrant community hub, demonstrating how tabletop role-playing games became an unexpected bridge between academic and co-curricular student needs. Learn practical strategies for fostering organic student connections, rebuilding campus community, and leveraging creative programming to address post-COVID social isolation. From dice rolls to degree completion, see how one guild's quest became a campus-wide success story in student life innovation.

     Greg Bem, Librarian, Spokane Community College
     Jasmine Muller, TTRPG Guild Leader
     Skyler Seals, TTRPG Guild Leader

Please email [email protected] with any questions.