Events

Events

Tue, Sep 22, 2026 / 2:00pm to 3:00pm

As academic libraries face ongoing retirements and organizational restructuring, early career librarians are increasingly assuming supervisory or managerial responsibilities earlier in their careers. Yet questions remain about how prepared they feel for these roles and what kind of support contributes most to their confidence and effectiveness. This presentation reports the results of a national survey conducted in 2024 exploring early career academic librarians’ perceptions of their readiness for management. The survey gathered quantitative and qualitative data from over 70 respondents with fewer than ten years of professional experience across a range of academic library settings. Findings suggest that while many early career librarians find themselves in management positions, fewer feel adequately equipped to take them on.

This presentation will share key data themes on how library managers did and did not feel prepared, highlight respondent narratives, and discuss possible implications for library administrators, professional associations, and LIS programs. There will also be opportunities for participants to discuss their own management situations and brainstorm how to best support new incoming managers. Attendees will gain insight into how institutions can better support leadership development for early career professionals and foster more intentional management onboarding within academic libraries.

Presenters:

Cathy Austin is the Director for Collection Management & Strategy at Mississippi State University. She graduated with her MSIS from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2019.

Lauren Geiger is the Director of Digital Archives at Mississippi State University. She graduated with her MLS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019.

Register to attend

Hosted by FLVC

Wed, Sep 23, 2026 / 9:00am to 9:45am

An orange background with a green teapot adorned in multi-colored flowers in the upper right corner. The teapot is tipping forward to the left and curly tendrils of vines pour out with the letters E, R, M, and T. Each letter is the color of orange sorbet and are adorned in multi-colored flowers. The text is in yellow and eggplant colors. The CARLI logo appears in the lower left corner.

An orange background with a green teapot adorned in multi-colored flowers in the upper right corner. The teapot is tipping forward to the left and curly tendrils of vines pour out with the letters E, R, M, and T. Each letter is the color of orange sorbet and are adorned in multi-colored flowers. The text is in yellow and eggplant colors. The CARLI logo appears in the lower left corner.

 

The Electronic Resources Management Tea is every fourth Wednesday of the month from 9 - 9:45 am on Zoom, September through October 2026. 

 

Wed, Sep 23, 2026 / 11:00am to 1:00pm

Location: Marshall Brooks Library, 1 Maybeck Place, Elsah, IL 

Directions: Principia College is located in Elsah, Illinois, 12 miles north of Alton, off the Great River Road, Route 100. To reach the campus entrance coming from Alton on Route 100, turn right at Elsah Road, bearing right to Mill Street. Go halfway through the Village of Elsah to the first stop sign. Turn right and go up the hill.

Parking: 

  1. Check-In at the Gatehouse: When you drive up the hill to the campus, stop at the staffed main entrance. Tell the attendant you are visiting the Marshall Brooks Library. They will provide a complimentary visitor pass and a laminated physical campus map.
  2. Locate Chapel Circle or Wanamaker Lot: The library is centrally located right off Chapel Circle (east of the dining hall and south of the School of Government).
  3. Visitor Parking: You can park in the designated visitor spaces along the main academic loop or use the nearby Wanamaker Hall lot, which includes standard parking as well as spaces equipped with EV charging outlets.
  4. Walk to the Library: The parking areas sit right on the main loop, placing you within a 1- to 2-minute walk from the library's wheelchair-accessible front entrance.Note: Avoid parking directly on unmarked campus roadways or service drives, as roadside parking is strictly limited to 30 minutes with your hazard lights blinking.

Lunch: CARLI will order lunch for all guests.

Registration: To register, please click on the "Register" tab above. The registration deadline is September 21. 

If you have any questions, please email .

 

Thu, Sep 24, 2026 / 10:00am to 11:00am

Ever feel your pulse spike the second a conversation starts turning sideways? De-escalation doesn’t have to mean bracing for impact. Real conflict resolution starts before the spark even catches.

Tina Stevens, Director of Franklin County Library, will move beyond rigid rules to explore empathetic, effective strategies for managing sticky situations and navigating high-stakes conversations. Script, scenarios, and field-tested takeaways will show you how to turn intimidating encounters into positive outcomes - all while protecting staff well-being.

This is not a dry lecture. It's a high-energy, real-world survival kit built for every public library worker, whether you started last week or lead your library system.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discover the power of scripts, situational rehearsal, and strategic staff tag-teaming to handle high-tension moments.
  • Identify creative, lighthearted ways to enforce rules without losing the patron’s trust.
  • Learn how supervisors can model accountability, offer constructive feedback, and build a psychologically safe culture where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities rather than failures.
  • Get tools and tips for reflection after difficult interactions end.

Presenter:

Tina Stevens is the Director of Franklin County Library in Winchester, TN

Register to attend

Hosted by NC LIVE
 

Thu, Sep 24, 2026 / 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Effective communication is at the heart of every library service. This webinar explores practical plain language strategies and introduces librarians to tools that support clear, accessible communication across programs, instruction, outreach, and resource development. Participants will learn how to transform complex information into user-friendly content, enhance the readability and visual design of library materials, and foster a culture of clear communication among staff. Through real-world examples and actionable techniques, attendees will discover how plain language promotes equity, improves user experiences, and strengthens the library’s role as a trusted community resource.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define the principles of plain language and explain its role in improving access, engagement, and trust in library services.
  • Apply practical strategies to simplify complex information while maintaining accuracy and meaning.
  • Evaluate and enhance the readability and visual design of library materials, programs, and communications.
  • Identify tools and techniques that support staff training and the integration of plain language into library instruction, outreach, and resource creation.

Presenter: 

Jessica Daly is the Health Literacy Coordinator at the R.A. Williams Library at AdventHealth University in Orlando, Florida, where she also serves as a faculty librarian with the rank of Assistant Professor.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Library Science from East Carolina University. A published author, columnist, and public speaker, Jessica is a dedicated health literacy educator and advocate. Her years of experience as a medical research librarian working within a large healthcare organization and as a family caregiver is where she learned the importance of health literacy for both patients and clinicians. 

Her contributions to the field have earned her several prestigious awards, including Hospital Librarian of the Year (2020) from the Southern Chapter of the Medical Library Association, the Exemplary Instructional Programs or Services Award (2022) from the Florida Library Association, and Librarian of the Year (2024) from the Florida Health Sciences Library Association. And most recently, Jessica was awarded the Innovative Program(2026) award from the Institute of Healthcare Advancement for the AHU Health Literacy Integration program.

She has earned her Consumer Health Information Specialization - Level I (CHIS) from the Medical Library Association as well as her IHA Health Literacy Specialist Certificate.

Register to attend.

Hosted by FLVC

Tue, Sep 29, 2026 / 2:00pm to 3:00pm

Academic libraries are increasingly exploring virtual reality, podcasting, AI, and other emerging technologies to enrich teaching and learning. Building a successful immersive learning program, however, requires much more than purchasing equipment. It takes strategic planning, faculty partnerships, instructional design, sustainable workflows, and a commitment to meaningful student engagement.

In this webinar, our presenter will share the evolution of the University of North Florida's Virtual Learning Center and offer practical guidance for developing an immersive learning program that aligns with institutional goals. Participants will explore strategies for creating collaborative partnerships, integrating emerging technologies into library instruction, supporting experiential learning, and assessing program impact. Whether your library is just beginning its immersive learning journey or looking to expand existing services, attendees will leave with practical ideas and a roadmap for building a sustainable program.

Presenter:

Beryl White-Bing is Assistant University Librarian for Virtual Learning at the Thomas G. Carpenter Library at the University of North Florida. She leads the library's Virtual Learning Center, where she develops immersive learning initiatives that integrate virtual reality, augmented reality, podcasting, and other emerging technologies into teaching and learning across academic disciplines. Beryl collaborates with faculty to design innovative instructional experiences, supports student engagement through immersive technologies, and explores new approaches to digital scholarship and experiential learning. She has presented nationally on virtual reality, library innovation, and immersive learning. Her work focuses on helping libraries move beyond providing access to technology toward creating meaningful, inclusive learning experiences.

Register to attend

Hosted by FLVC
 

Thu, Oct 1, 2026 / 9:30am to 11:00am

The Resource Sharing Committee meets monthly. This virtual meeting is held via Zoom / Conference Call. Contact for attendance details.

Sun, Oct 4, 2026 / 2:00am to 3:00am

Ex Libris will perform maintenance on our I-Share Alma and Primo VE environments to apply the latest release.

This upgrade will occur between 2:00am-3:00am Central.  Access to your environment may be unavailable during the time of installation.

Release and Maintenance Schedule
Alma Release Notes
Primo VE Release Notes
Ex Libris System Status Page - CARLI I-Share Environments are on Alma NA06 and Primo VE NA06

Mon, Oct 5, 2026 / 2:00pm to 3:00pm

Library websites may meet technical accessibility standards while still presenting barriers for users with dyslexia, ADHD, visual stress, and other reading differences. Building on earlier accessibility audits and direct feedback from a blind student worker, Hirons Library and Archives expanded its focus from screen-reader compatibility to readability and cognitive accessibility. Those earlier assessments demonstrated that automated testing and vendor documentation could not substitute for the experiences of actual users. 
 
This presentation focuses on the library’s implementation of NC State University Libraries’ open-source Readability Widget. The widget allows users to apply the OpenDyslexic font, select a warmer background, highlight links, and hide distracting images, giving readers greater control over their digital environment. The session will examine the research behind these options, the technical challenges of adapting the widget within Springshare, mobile usability, and the collaboration required among librarians, web developers, faculty, and students. It argues that readability is not an aesthetic preference but an essential dimension of accessibility. For small libraries, meaningful progress does not necessarily require expensive software or outside consultants; it can begin with open-source tools, user feedback, thoughtful experimentation, and a willingness to design for flexibility rather than a single “typical” reader. 

Presenter:

Russell “Rusty” Michalak is Director of Hirons Library and Archives at Goldey-Beacom College. His work focuses on accessibility, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and the ways small academic libraries can translate research into practical improvements for users. He has written extensively about digital accessibility, including studies of library databases and screen-reader use, and more recently about readability and neuro-inclusive web design. His approach emphasizes listening to users, collaborating across departments, and making small, meaningful changes that expand access without requiring large budgets or specialized teams.

Register to attend.

Hosted by FLVC 
 

Tue, Oct 6, 2026 / 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Academic library managers often feel pressure to resolve conflicts quickly – but fast fixes can miss root causes, erode trust, and allow problems to recur. This session introduces conflict transformation, a peace-building framework that moves beyond resolution to address the underlying dynamics driving workplace disputes. Drawing on frameworks including Dispute System Design, reframing, and community agreements, attendees will leave with practical, person-centered strategies for navigating team conflict and cultivating sustainable organizational change. 
 
Through interactive polls and a reflective worksheet, attendees will identify their own conflict management style and begin mapping a transformative approach to a real or anticipated workplace challenge 

Presenter:

Melissa Mallon, MLIS, is Associate University Librarian for Teaching & Learning at Vanderbilt University. Mallon has published, presented, and taught professional development courses in the areas of academic library leadership and management, online learning, instructional design, and the impact of information and digital literacies on student learning. Her books include Partners in Teaching & Learning: Coordinating a Successful Academic Library Instruction Program; The Pivotal Role of Academic Librarians in Digital Learning; and the co-edited volumes, The Grounded Instruction Librarian: Participating in the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning and Exploring Inclusive & Equitable Pedagogies: Creating Space for All Learners.

Register to attend.

Hosted by FLVC 

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